Alex Dacy, a woman with a genetic disease, has been documenting her pregnancy for the past 22 weeks in an effort to challenge the stigma and dispel ableist ideas surrounding disability, pregnancy, and parenthood.

Through her Instagram posts, she aims to initiate conversations about disabled parenthood, which she believes is heavily stigmatized in society. Alex has spinal muscular atrophy type 2, a genetic condition that affects the motor neurons responsible for muscle movement. Since unexpectedly becoming pregnant, she had to halt her treatment.

Despite being considered a high-risk pregnancy, Alex is under the care of a full team of doctors. She emphasizes that many women with her disease have given 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡, acknowledging the challenges involved but emphasizing the possibility. The main concern for her will likely be her respiratory health, and she may require a C-section.

Alex also reveals that she will need to be intubated during delivery for the sake of her safety, although she acknowledges that it is not an ideal situation. She responds to numerous ableist questions and comments she receives online, challenging the notion that disabled individuals are incapable of caring for babies. She asserts that disabled people should not be underestimated and demonstrates her range of movement in a video response.

Unfortunately, Alex expresses her disappointment with non-disabled individuals assuming her capabilities and expressing unsolicited ableist opinions about her parenting abilities. She questions whether they are projecting their own nervousness and insecurities onto her due to their lack of exposure to disabled women in pregnancy. Alex believes that these views stem from stigma, people’s discomfort with disability, and a lack of education, representation, and visibility.

Unfortunately, Alex expresses her disappointment with non-disabled individuals assuming her capabilities and expressing unsolicited ableist opinions about her parenting abilities. She questions whether they are projecting their own nervousness and insecurities onto her due to their lack of exposure to disabled women in pregnancy. Alex believes that these views stem from stigma, people’s discomfort with disability, and a lack of education, representation, and visibility.

In her quest to end the stigma, Alex advocates for an end to bump shaming and body criticism. She receives comments criticizing the size of her 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 bump, and she firmly asserts that all bumps and bodies are different, valid, and worthy.

Alex has faced comments suggesting that she is not even showing or questioning her pregnancy altogether. To counter these claims, she shares comparison photos of her pre-pregnancy and current appearance, highlighting the individuality of pregnancy experiences.

Alex’s openness about her pregnancy as a disabled woman aims to challenge societal perceptions, foster understanding, and promote inclusivity and acceptance for disabled parents.

Alex’s openness about her pregnancy as a disabled woman aims to challenge societal perceptions, foster understanding, and promote inclusivity and acceptance for disabled parents.

Source: puppynew