Peggy Robertson is in a serious bind. Because her husband is self-employed, they had to apply for their own health insurance. But the company that they chose would only accept her husband and 2 children, not Peggy. Why? Her children were born by c-section, and they assumed that the birth of any additional children would require a c-section. And they don't pay for those.

In fact, they said the only way they would cover her is if she got sterilized.

You heard right.

Watch Peggy's story:

Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Trisomy 13 is a rare chromosome deformity, and the worst of all possible diagnoses -- babies rarely survive past the first week of life, if they survive their birth at all.

This story of a Dallas family facing -- and accepting -- this news is just amazing.

A warning: this video is not for children, and you will probably break down in tears (as I did).

Watch Choosing Tomas: a family's decision to let their son live, if only for a short time. 

We've seen some fabulous bellies in our Painted Belly Contest. It's just too bad we didn't ask for video -- apparently, dancing bellies are the new fad.

I was sort of speechless when I saw this Pregnant Belly Dancer, but was even more surprised to see that women (plus one) are busting moves all over the place -- and documenting them on YouTube. See more mammas-to-be get down at urlesque.com.

In 2006, a mom in New Jersey had her newborn daughter taken from her custody while still at the hospital. Mom's offense? She wouldn’t consent to a c-section as she was about to give birth.

What happened next was heartbreaking. Doctors claimed the baby was in distress, but Mom had a vaginal delivery of a perfectly healthy girl. Nevertheless, the hospital determined that she had abused her child by 1) refusing the c-section and 2) acting "erratic" while in labor.

In the course of that day, it came out that Mom had been under psychiatric care for the last 12 years. She and the father were officially charged with abuse and neglect.

The child has been in foster care for 2 years now. Two weeks ago the judgment against the father was reversed, but the judgment against the mother stands. Read that full ruling here.

Here's another legal point of view: Is a Woman a "Person"? New Assaults on Pregnant Women's Civil Rights in a NJ Case.

And check out our Babytalk article on this very issue: Coercive C-Sections

What do you think about this?

Thinking of starting or adding to your family? Get a jumpstart with What to Expect Before You're Expecting, a new comprehensive preconception guide co-written by Heidi Murkoff, a Parenting contributing editor. Packed with valuable information, this latest in the What to Expect series tells you how to detect signs of ovulation, which foods can boost fertility, and smart ways to get into shape before you begin your adventure.

Murkoff also addresses some of the tougher issues, such as infertility, ovarian cysts, in vitro fertilization, and miscarriage. A convenient planner is included for detailing your health history (as well as your husband’s), keeping a food diary, and logging your menstrual cycles.

Here’s to happy and healthy babymaking!

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