Thread by @SaraLederman

When I tell ppl I'm interested in abortion and pediatrics, they're perplexed.

"Why not OB-Gyn? Why not FM?"
"So you'll want to specialize?"
"We don't deal with abortion in peds"

We may not *deal* with abortion, but pediatric patients sure do. Buckle up, a thread.
1/6

According to the (literal) textbooks, an estimated 1/3 of teens will experience pregnancy by age 20.

That's a higher prevalence than childhood obesity (19.3% per CDC).

We don't think about pregnancy as a pediatric issue because we don't want to.

pediatriccare.solutions.aap.org/chapter.aspx?s…
2/6

In the '90s, 4 out of 10 adolescent women became pregnant at least once during their teen years, 40% of whom sought an abortion (which remains safer than childbirth, especially when you are 15 or younger).

aap.org/en-us/professi…
3/6

How great would it be to have your pediatrician prescribe mife/miso? Or counsel you on options?

I've seen 3 peds pts seek abortions over ~2 months. They get shuttled off to other states, other clinics sometimes far away.

The thing is: you can have kids and still be a kid.
4/6

Relegating reproductive justice work to 2 specialties is not only a weak strategy as a policy, it's simply not fair to the hundreds of thousands of peds patients who deserve healthcare that reflects their needs.

5/6

Despite my frustrations, I'm lucky to have found orgs like @JustThePill and @UnRestrictMN . Also grateful for badass pediatrician role models like @DrIrisB (who intro'ed me to @KatyMiller100 and @JGewirtzOBrien ).

Excited to explore more in #PedsMatch22 and beyond.

6/6