Wait, you're telling me her water broke and she got on a plane and flew from TX to Alaska

[LynneSin]

I mean geez, this isn't a 2hour flight from say Tampa to Philly (last flight I took). This is what - about 5-7 hours on an airplane PLUS getting thru security.

Something is fishy

[noel711]

1. That can't be true...

They tell you: when your water breaks,
you go to first ER, no matter where you are.
YOu are endangering the baby if you waste any time.

Been there, done that.

[Minimus]

9. Especially when you already know that you are having a special needs child.

How reckless of her!

[SteelPenguin]

10. That's not true

If someone told you that if your water broke you had to immediately head to the hospital, they were either incorrect. The only reason you would possibly need to do that is if you tested positive for Strep-B or some other specific case. Unless you have a specific health case like that you can have your water break and labor much more effectively at home, than in the hospital. it's just simply incorrect to say that you're endangering the baby by not immediately going there.

That said I can't imagine many women would want to labor on board a plane. Was this a private plane? No public carrier would let a woman on board who was in active labor.

[Virginia Dare]

18. I was told that as well...n/t

[redqueen]

33. Alaska Airlines

And LOTS of sources (doctors, midwives, books, etc.) advise pregnant women to go straight to the hospital or birthing place (not an airport / airplane) after their water breaks.

[JuniperLea]

52. That may be so...

Water broken or not, going into labor and getting on a plane for a 5-7 hour flight with your FOURTH child is horribly risky. All of the second and third babies in my family were born within 20 minutes of the first labor pang... and when I expressed my shock at a 20 minute labor with my third, the doctor told me it is quite common for "subsequent" children to require much shorter labor.

[BrklynLiberal]

56. 5th child.....

[JuniperLea]

60. Holy cow...

Even more so in that case!

My great granny had 15 kids during the depression... all at home. She said gramps "birthed" a few, then with the rest, her sister (my great aunt) came to stay the last month of each subsequent pregnancy... the doc just couldn't make it out to the ol' family farm that quick and gramps had had enough!

Here she is with 13 of them... two died as children.

[BrklynLiberal]

64. wow. Great family. The holidays must be fun...Do you have a big dining room? :D

[JuniperLea]

66. Dining room... card tables in the living room...

Sometimes card tables in the garage off the kitchen too! Good thing it's California... the picnic table on the patio has been used for Thanksgiving too:)

[SteelPenguin]

71. oh absolutely

When your water breaks you don't necessarily have to head right to the hospital. if you are still feeling the baby move, the water is clear, you don't have s specific health issue related to the pregnancy like strep-b etc. You should generally call your midwife or doctor and talk to them, but heading right in is not an absolute. You might have to, but good chances are you're fine laboring at home a while.

Getting on a long flight however? Nobody would recommend that. Nobody. Whether it's your first or fifth things can happen fast and while you don't need to immediately need to head to the hospital things can turn. Fast. There isn't a doctor or midwife in the world who would say it's ok to get on a 7 hour flight after your water is broken. Not one. Then on top of it not only was it her fifth, but it was premature, and known to have downs syndrome....It's absurd that she did and makes me raise an eyebrow to the story.

there's a big difference between not needing to immediately head to the hospital and getting on a long plane flight. It shows a big big lapse of judgement.

[Butch350]

150. Take it to web md - or answer the thread question...

[Mojorabbit]

82. Wasn't this her 5th child?

It has been years since I did any OB but I seem to remember learning that the labor time is significantly decreased the more children one has?

[SteelPenguin]

85. it can be

It's not a hard and fast rule, but GENERALLY the more kids you have the more likely your labor is to speed up. Every woman is different though. Some can have five six kids and still have labors that last days. others can have a speedy first labor, and the second drags out. But as I said, generally the more you have the shorter they are.

The thing is though when you go into premature labor with your fifth child, that you know could have some immediate issues after birth, no sane person boards a 7 hour flight. Heck no sane person boards a plane while in labor...ever....

[sunnystarr]

89. Alaskan rumor has it that this was her daugher's child

that she faked the pregnancy.

Bristol's pregnancy
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2008-07-25 07:27.
The rumor I heard was that Bristol has already delivered, and Sarah is passing the baby off as her own. Wow. Where do these rumors start? That particular rumor is so completely far-fetched, but at the same time not out of the realm of possibilities. Especially for someone who is adept at cover-ups. If it is true, it would certainly explain why she never mentioned her pregnancy until she was 7 months along, and it would explain her actions (or lack thereof) in Texas when her water broke. Once your water breaks, infection can occur. An at-risk baby is already fighting certain odds, why do something that could endanger your child's life before he is even born? That in itself showed seriously poor judgement on Todd and Sarah's part.

http://www.andrewhalcro.com/shadow_governor

That and the fact that Bristol stayed with her Aunt for an extended period of time.

Yes it's a rumor - but why would it have started if not for some bizarre behavior - including returning to work 3 days after delivery.

[Ilsa]

92. And knowing the baby has Downs Syndrome, an easy

delivery, even foe a supposed 5th baby, isn't a given. Some OBGYNs will do a C section to not "stress" the baby if there are heart anomalies.

I also think there is something weird going on. It doesn't pass the smell test. If the baby is Bristol's' wouldn't a record somewhere reflect that?

[marlakay]

182. it would also explain why after giving birth she went back to

work two days later! I thought that was nuts especially after something is wrong with the baby how cold can you get...listening to them going on and on about what a great mom she is with 5 kids, i am like sickened...how could any mom leave a baby after two days...and don't tell me because she HAD to work, i am sure working for the government she had at least 6 weeks.

[noel711]

102. Maybe things have changed in the last 25 years..

But we were told to: GEt moving once your water breaks.

BEsides.... you become a dripping, sopping mess.
WHo wants to traipse around with water soaking everything?
This isn't a time to sit around, make speeches and board planes.

Once labor starts, you don't linger.
YOu want it over with.

[likesmountains 52]

120. Not correct...if your water breaks and the baby's head is not in the pelvis

you run a risk of having a prolapsed cord..umbilical cord in the birth canal before the baby..and that is a medical emergency..

[SteelPenguin]

128. It is correct

It depends on the pregnancy, and how you're feeling. If the water is clear, and you feel fine, and the contractions (if you're having any) are spaced apart, and your'e feeling the baby move, and you're not streb b positive (which you'll know from tests prior to this point), you don't need to go to the hospital until your contractions are about 3 minutes apart. This is what most midwives will tell you. They'll also tell you to listen to your body and if it's saying to go to the hospital, to go to the hospital. No matter what you do, you should listen to your doctor or midwife, and when your water breaks you should call them to inform them of your progress.

It's just simply incorrect to say they need to rush to the ER as soon as their water breaks. My wife works in the field, and this is all stuff I've gleaned from her. When her water broke we didn't head to the actual hosptial till 12 hours later, though we met with the midwife once at the office during that time. Much better to labor at home if you can.

but god sakes don't get on a plane.

[likesmountains 52]

129. well, I work in the field too, and if a woman calls and thinks her water broke..we advise them to go

to the hospital and get checked...especially if she was only 8 months and was having a baby that could have heart defects..

[mzmolly]

174. Speaking from personal experience, when my water broke I was told to go into the ER

immediately. Not that everyone will be told the same thing, however.

[Mother Of Four]

139. Uhm-

It is true, due to the danger of a prolapsed cord. Especially since in her story she was preterm labor.
Even if it's an amniotic leak, they suggest going to the hospital because of the increased risk of infection.

After four other births, her time from active labor, to transition, to birth typically would be short. Add to that the preterm labor, the ability of the cervix to soften faster because "It knows what it's doing now" and the danger of a prolapsed cord becomes serious.

THEN add to that, not only was she preterm- she was giving birth to a child with special needs?

From a medical perspective this doesn't add up.

This is from the ADN-
Still, a Sacramento, Calif., obstetrician who is active in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said when a pregnant woman's water breaks, she should go right to the hospital because of the risk of infection. That's true even if the amniotic fluid simply leaks out, said Dr. Laurie Gregg.

"To us, leaking and broken, we are talking the same thing. We are talking doctor-speak," Gregg said.

http://www.adn.com/626/story/382864.html

Something is "Fishy" here..and it's not her wanting her son to be a fish picker.

[roguevalley]

55. a straight flight from Anchorage to Phoenix is nearly seven hours.

from texas its longer if she can get a straight flight, which most aren't. I don't believe it.

[Kber]

83. I hate to think this and even feel shitty typing it, but

as a fundy who couldn't abort, but knew she was carrying a baby with downs, maybe engangring the baby wasn't a huge concern? Maybe she was OK with nature taking it's course, so to speak.

Or, maybe she was on a private plane with excellent medical staff on board, so she figured that traveling with her doctors was at least as safe as going to a Houston area emergency room where no-one there would know her history or possible complications.

Yeah - I feel better going with the second thing.

[Virginia Dare]

111. I would say that was plausible however..

why add the part about giving the 30 minute speech? No way that's true. There is no way a woman could stand in front of a group of people and give a speech just after her water breaking. No way in hell.

[Kber]

178. My experience with water breaking was in the height of labor

with my kids being born within 3-5 minutes after the event, so, no, a 30 minute anything would not have neen possible for me.

So I tend to agree with you. The whole story seems a bit odd, at least to a woman who has gone through labor and delivery.

[TwilightZone]

2. That can't possibly be true, unless she's a complete moron.

Oh, wait....

[spanone]

3. private plane, no security

[LynneSin]

5. Even if it was a private plane that is a massive flight

seriously

[Tansy_Gold]

187. Reports say it was Alaska Airlines, not private

And she did not tell crew she was in labor.


Smart, real smart. :sarcasm:

[NYC Liberal]

6. Nonetheless, look at the time just flying.

[spanone]

19. i agree, it doesn't make much sense.

i ocasionally fly in private jets and there is no security

[Bluerthanblue]

32. especially with your fifth-

I didn't have five, but my grandmother did, and the labors were faster and faster with each one.

[JuniperLea]

53. 40 mins for my second... 20 for my third!

I barely had time to get to the hospital.

Yep, I've seen it with 20+ births in my family... I have a really big family... I mean, REALLY big family!

This is from 1984, and we've had many more since then!

[Lars39]

143. I was a fifth...I was born in a hallway.

Mom didn't have time to say boo.

[gal]

4. I have 5 kids to

and I was told not to even fly after a certain date.
That makes no sense at all.

[redqueen]

7. What are you, the mommy police?

Why are you attacking motherhood?

:sarcasm:

[demodonkey]

8. And, it was a high risk pregnancy and a special needs baby??

:shrug:

[chatnoir]

11. Yep and Yep

Curiouser and curiouser.

[helderheid]

205. indeed indeed

[crimsonblue]

12. it was a private flight

her oil buddies paid for it. duh

[TwilightGardener]

20. Yes, but--unless she brought an OB team with her, what would have

happened if her labor progressed during the flight? Who would deliver a high-risk baby, from a high-risk older mother--the PILOT?

[crimsonblue]

28. Jesus

:D

[redqueen]

36. On Alaska Airlines? Really?

Source?

[Fla Dem]

81. No Alaska Airlines...press release from Alaska Governor's Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 08-060
Palin Family Welcomes Fifth Child
April 18, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin and her husband Todd
welcomed the arrival of their fifth child this morning. The Palins were thankful that
the Governor’s labor began yesterday while she was in Texas at the Governor's
Energy Conference where she gave the keynote luncheon address, but let up enough
for her to travel on Alaska Airlines back to Alaska in time to deliver her second son.
Trig Paxson Van Palin was born at 6:30 a.m. and weighs six pounds, two ounces.
The Governor and Trig are both doing well and resting comfortably.
The family released the following statement:
"Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would
face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this
gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every
baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place.
We are truly blessed."
The Palins have four other children including Track, 18, Bristol, 17, Willow, 13 and
Piper, 7.
###

[Virginia Dare]

13. Yes, there is some discussion of the oddities about the story here..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6816033

[book_worm]

14. Who? Palin is pregnant?

[BklynChick]

15. I was 40 when I had my daughter and was considered high risk. no way you'd be flying at 9mo.

even low risk you're not supposed to fly past 7 mo. I smell a rat. A big one.

[DemsUnited]

16. Just say it. The rumor is that the baby really belongs to Palin's teenage daughter

and that Palin is pretending it's hers to cover for the daughter.

Apparently, the things that fueled the rumor are:

1. When Palin first announced she was 7 months pregnant it blew everyone away because she didn't look pregnant at all.
2. Palin's sixteen year old daughter was home for months with mono during the pregnancy.
3. The water broke in Texas story is just plain weird.

None of us know if any of this stuff is true, but you can bet the National Enquirer, fresh off its Edward's scoop, will be looking into it pretty closely.

[Virginia Dare]

17. She took only 3 days maternity leave....n/t

[Midlodemocrat]

48. I don't think we have to wait for them.

If the baby IS her grandson, I think the father of said baby will want his 15 minutes of fame. JMHO.

Now, I do admire that she is raising this child, but I don't think this kind of 'cover up' or lie in a family bodes well for the healthiness of their family.

[mitchum]

107. I think that the father is being paid handsomely by Palin's corporate masters to NOT...

seek his 15 minutes of fame

[crispini]

62. Hoboy. Ye cats.

Indeed.

[Emit]

130. Is there a link to all that?

[Barack_America]

132. Here's the rumor...

http://www.reddit.com/comments/6f3nq/coverup_alaska_gov_palin_r_announced_she_was

Scroll down to jibegod's comments.

[tabatha]

21. I think this gels with the fact

that it is her daughter's baby.

[Fleshdancer]

22. 7 hour flight. n/t

[onenote]

23. do you have a link that says her water broke in TX?

The story I saw said she had some contractions. Contractions prior to water breaking is not at all unusual.

This story smells a lot like the Obama birth certificate story to me. Just dumb.

[Virginia Dare]

25. Here..

http://startelegram.typepad.com/politex/2008/04/governors-water.html

edit to say: This can't POSSIBLY be true.

[onenote]

37. thanks for the link

If true, that is very very odd, I agree.

[redqueen]

Your sniffer is off.

http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=8194634

[annabanana]

51. That's a helluva link!

It mentions the possibility of a VP call AND it tells the story of her delivery. (dated last April)

[redqueen]

61. Yeah she was being talked up as a candidate in Decmeber...

http://palinforvp.blogspot.com/2007/12/palin-to-appear-in-vogue.html


And here's a gossipy link about the "cover up".

http://www.reddit.com/comments/6f3nq/coverup_alaska_gov_palin_r_announced_she_was

[DemsUnited]

29. and here

http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=8194634

[Arkansas Granny]

24. I can't say that anything is fishy, but I can say that boarding a plane

after your water broke for a 5-7 hours flight sounds risky at the least. Since this was her 5th child (which probably would mean a shorter labor), and known to have special needs at that, why would she have risked giving birth on a plane without medical staff and facilities available? To me, that shows very poor judgment.

[Virginia Dare]

26. Not to mention that she supposedly gave a 30 minute speech..

AFTER her water broke. No way no how.

[Fleshdancer]

27. correction: Water broke, then she have a 30 min speech, THEN she got on the plane

http://startelegram.typepad.com/politex/2008/04/governors-water.html

From Alaskan NBC affiliate KTUU:

Just yesterday, Palin was in Texas at a forum on energy with Texas Gov. Rick Perry and executives from four other states.

The governor's water broke during the energy conference but she stayed and gave a 30-minute speech before boarding an Alaska Airlines plane home to deliver the baby.

Palin gave birth to Trig Paxson Van Palin Friday at 6:30 a.m.

No word on why Palin was so determined to make sure young Trig wasn't born a Texan.


...

Alaska Airlines? Not a chartered plane??

[redqueen]

30. Alaska Airlines... there goes the popular "private plane" defense. (nt)

[LynneSin]

35. So she took Alaska Airlines

So add at least one hour wait getting thru the Airport.

[bethling]

134. Plus a stop over

Alaska doesn't have any direct flights out of Texas to Alaska, which means she almost certainly would have had to stop in Seattle.
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/alaska/images/asqxroutemap.pdf is Alaska's route map.

[undeterred]

140. Welcome to DU!

Yeah, I thought that didn't sound quite right.

[TwilightGardener]

31. This is insane. This can't be true.

[Bluerthanblue]

34. it could be true, but it sure doesn't

show someone who is making a very good decision when lives are in the balance.

This was foolish, and dangerous.

[BklynChick]

38. I don't think they would let her on the plane. Huge risk for them.

[LongDistanceRunner]

193. apparently she didn't even tell the airline she was pregnant

and for all we know she might not have been

[ctw1]

40. or the whole thing is a farse...

With all that has been dug up in the past 4 hours... i am surprised at the pick.

[BklynChick]

41. I wonder if the baby even really has down's syndrome?

[ctw1]

46. that's not important (for this, or any discussion), but...

if this really is a cover up... i hope this story has legs... i'm waiting for drudge... if it is her kid, or her daughters, it is a strange story.

[TwilightGardener]

43. A 44-year-old woman (high risk) with a known-birth-defect baby (high risk)

pops her membranes before the pregnancy is at term (high risk) and she finishes a speech (presumably while gushing fluid) and then gets on a plane--with her FIFTH delivery imminent. Just doesn't make sense.

[Barack_America]

44. She said somewhere (I can't remember where now) that it was a "slow leak"...

..of fluid. But I don't even know what that means, if it's possible, etc.

[TwilightGardener]

47. That is possible--but why fly? Why not head to a hospital and at least

get checked out and have the baby's heartbeat monitored to make sure everything's OK? Weird story.

[Arkansas Granny]

69. When you look at the other fact, whether it was a slow leak or not is irrelevant.

She was high risk, the labor was premature, they already knew the baby had Downs Syndrome. Her decision shows an amazing lack of judgment and responsibility.

[Ilsa]

93. That could be a sign of other problems, like

prolapsed cord (risk of cutting off blood supply and oxygen to fetus), breech or partial breech. Flying home with a leaking placenta for a high risk pregnancy is irresposible and stupid.

[Ilsa]

95. I'm a nurse and it sounds dangerous. Slow leak might be due

to a prolapsed cord or a breech baby. Prolapsed cord could cut off blood supply and oxygen to the fetus.

[Barack_America]

96. Thanks for that perspective...

I still cannot imagine that ANY physician would recommend that she fly home under those circumstances. So that part of the story at least has to be a lie. Or there's a physician in AK that needs to lose his/her license.

[Arkansas Granny]

50. No, it doesn't. If this is true, it shows a stunning lack of judgment.

[Virginia Dare]

108. When my water broke..

I could barely stand the 20 minute car ride that my physician told me had to be made IMMEDIATELY, to get the hospital. I mean it was a GUSHER. The pressure afterwards is incredibly uncomfortable. No way you could stand there and give a 30 minute speech, then get on a plane and ride 7 hours. I just don't believe it.

[noel711]

115. Exactly my point....

If that happened to you,
you wouldn't wait another minute.

The whole thing is either fishy, or bogus.

[kath]

179. more detail - leakage of fluid started, then she gave a speech around EIGHT HOURS LATER.

see post #172, below, for details and link

[kitkat65]

39. It certainly calls her judgement into question, don't you think?

[Barack_America]

42. Guys, I'm sorry that I started this...

This morning all of these "Palin's 16 year old daughter is pregnant" threads popped up, apparently due to some guest on Thom Hartmann's show saying this...

So I figured I would try to find the source of the rumors and post those sources here for DUers to analyze and critique.

I never meant it to seem as though I was attacking her as a mother. And I most certainly was not judging her daughter.

I deleted that other thread and requested it be locked, which it was.

But, at the end of the day, it does appear that there are some bizarre circumstances behind the rumors.

[BklynChick]

45. I don't take it as you attacking her as a mother. But attacking her as a liar is fine.

I'm a Mom and found no offense with what you posted.

[Barack_America]

49. Thanks. I just found it all so bizarre...

But I've never had a child, so I wasn't sure what to make of it.

I'm feeling quite badly about it all now.

[chatnoir]

136. Don't feel bad!

You weren't attacking motherhood AT ALL but rather what appears to be a total liar and fraud.

[JuniperLea]

58. Attacking lies is a good thing... don't get down on yourself

The lies just happen to be about a pregnancy. It's not your fault she lied about a precious event.

[Left Is Write]

78. The KTUU story, which confirms she spoke for 30 minutes after her water broke

and then boarded a non-private plane for the long flight, gives me cause to question her judgment if nothing else, rumors about her daughter aside.

As the mother of a child who spent seven days in the NICU with a mysterious bacterial infection, I cannot fathom taken that kind of chance.

[Virginia Dare]

109. I'm not..

The story is extremely suspect which makes me think she's hiding something. Don't let the concern trolls scare you.

I thank you for bringing it up.

[Barack_America]

158. Thanks a lot for that.

It's greatly appreciated.

:hug:

[TexasObserver]

54. the story is very fishy, and that suggests a high level cover up

Whatever the reasons or the theories, her story of the water breaking, the speech, and the long flight to Alaska simply do not make sense. Who the hell is going to take a sitting governor whose water has broken on a flight of 5000 miles?

They had to be in Alaska because that's where the baby was being born. That's the rational answer.

And if she wasn't having the baby, who was? We can all draw that conclusion, too.

[Barack_America]

65. .

Like I said before, I've never been pregnant, but I also found it odd that she announced her pregnancy at 7 mos. and everyone was shocked because she wasn't showing at all. Then she delivers one month later and was described as "heavily pregnant" during that conference in TX.

Is that possible?

[TexasObserver]

94. Admittedly, this is speculation.

But one plausible storyline.

Your daughter tells you she is preggers. Several months preggers. You're a hard core conservative on abortion and such. You are the governor. You have extensive health care for you and your children. If the girl can have the child in Alaska, the thing might be pulled off.

The governor announces her pregnancy very late, then suddenly has the baby early. Maybe the daughter goes into labor, and they have to hurry the governor back to Alaska.

It's possible the story they told is true, that the governor didn't tell or show for six months, and that she suddenly at 7 months did. Or that she really did have her water break and fly 5000 miles thereafter.

We are not speculating on something that has not been a hot topic in Alaska. If it is an issue for them, it should be for us.

[Virginia Dare]

110. At the very least the story about the water breaking is made up..

I'll never believe that to be true, so it makes me wonder what she's hiding and why.

[proud2BlibKansan]

57. I was told to stay off of airplanes during the last 6 weeks

AND if my water broke I was to go to the ER immediately.

[Arugula Latte]

87. Yep -- The airlines aren't supposed to allow women who are that pregnant to fly.

I wouldn't have dared to board a plane when I was that pregnant. No way, no how.

[Kool Kitty]

188. Yep.

That's what I was told, too. When your water breaks, you are supposed to get to the emergency room. That was approximately thirty-five years ago, and I don't think that warning has changed. (I am assuming you are younger than I and have been told this more recently.)

[nichomachus]

59. Didn't I see this episode on Desperate Housewives?

The fourth season began airing on September 30, 2007,<46> and its main mystery revolves around new neighbor Katherine Mayfair and her family, who returns to Wisteria Lane after twelve years away, whose daughter remembers nothing about living on Wisteria Lane. Also, Lynette battles cancer; the newlywed – but unhappy – Gabrielle starts an affair with her ex-husband Carlos; Susan and Mike enjoy life as a married couple and learn that they are expecting a child; Bree fakes a pregnancy and plans to raise her teenage daughter’s illegitimate child as her own; and Edie schemes to hold on to her new love, Carlos. A gay couple from Chicago – Lee (Kevin Rahm) and Bob (Tuc Watkins) – become residents of Wisteria Lane when they move into the house formerly occupied by Betty Applewhite (Alfre Woodard), and Gloria and Alma Hodge.

[BklynChick]

63. that's what right wing Fundies like Bree and Palin do when their teenage daughters are pregnant

They cover for them. I hope she gets caught.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

67. no wonder they called him Trig

b/c it looks like there is a triangle involved here.

[PBS Poll-435]

88. Diet Coke Keyboard/Monitor SPEW

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Fleshdancer]

68. Another CORRECTION: baby came a month early.

http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=8194634

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Gov. Sarah Palin gave birth to her fifth child at about 6:30 a.m. Friday morning.

Trig Paxson Van Palin was born at Mat-Su Regional Hospital about one month before he was scheduled to arrive.

Trig Palin weighs six pounds, two ounces.

:wtf:


I officially call BULLSH*T on this story.

[Barack_America]

73. This is highly unusual, right?

I mean for one to know that they're about to prematurely deliver a child with a known high-risk pregnancy and then decide to travel home on a plane rather than go to the hospital?

Unusual, right?

[Fleshdancer]

76. VERY much so. It's also dangerous.

I think the thread you started and then ended was on to something. At this point, I would feel better about her if she was raising a baby that wasn't hers instead of taking insane actions that put the life of her and her baby at risk. A mother of 4 other kids knows better.

[Barack_America]

79. I agree. That scenario is preferable.

And thanks about the other thread. I really wasn't trying to judge one way or the other, just to note how bizarre the accepted scenario was.

[LeftyMom]

125. Six pounds is pretty big for a month early. And babies with Down Syndrome tend to run small, iirc.

At a month early, they'd generally want to administer hormone injections to increase lung maturity prior to the birth if at all possible (unless labor was too rapid,) so yes, she would have been asked to head to the nearest hospital, or the nearest one with a NICU in case of problems with the birth.

But a six pound baby is "early" the way that a baby born seven months after a marriage is "early."

[Left Is Write]

157. My son was more than 10-1/2 pounds at 40 weeks -

he could EASILY have been six pounds a month early. However, you are correct that DS babies tend to run small and it is unlikely that a DS infant born a month early would be that large.

It also defies logic and reason that any OB worth his salt would give the green light to make a 30 minute speech and then embark on a journey from Texas to Alaska for a woman late in a high-risk pregnancy and ESPECIALLY if her water had already broken.



edited to correct crucial typo

[LeftyMom]

163. Agreed.

The only question would be whether to proceed directly to the nearest hospital or go to one a bit farther away that had better facilities for a high risk, premature birth such as a NICU.

[kath]

185. Actually, 6 lbs 2 oz would be pretty average for a 36 week gestation infant.

DS babies are somewhat small for gestational age, but 6lb 2 oz at 36 wks would still be well within the normal range.

on edit- and a DS baby at term (40 wks) weighing 6 lb 2 0z. would fall between the 10th and 25th percentile for weight - totally normal.

[Patiod]

70. To be fair, don't Alaskans use planes as their primary form

of transportation?

I'm not being sarcastic.

Of course, my knowledge of Alaska comes mostly from Dana Stabenow mysteries and a few memoirs by Alaskans, but in those books, everyone of all socio-economic groups uses small planes to get around. In one memoir I read, the pregnant women flew to the hospitla when they were ready to deliver if no one in town handled deliveries.

[Fleshdancer]

72. flying to the closest hospital is one thing...

but electing to take a 7 hr flight across country when you're 44, you know you are having a special needs baby, and your water breaks a month early is something completely different. We have more than enough hospitals here in TX for her to choose from.

[Lucinda]

74. Article at the time of the birth about the circumstances. (from April) LINK:

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/382560.html

Palin confirms baby has Down syndrome


By LISA DEMER
[e-mail]

Published: April 21st, 2008 03:31 PM
Last Modified: April 21st, 2008 03:32 PM

Gov. Sarah Palin was back at work today, holding a meeting on the natural gas pipeline three days after giving birth to her fifth child.

Palin was in Texas at a Republican Governors Association energy conference last week when early signs of labor began. She said she called her doctor early Thursday morning after some amniotic fluid began to leak. She talked over what was happening with her doctor, and they consulted about what to do.

She gave the keynote luncheon address, then she and Todd caught an Alaska Airlines flight back to Alaska. She said was never in full-blown labor on the plane but was having a contraction or two every hour....


More at link above

[Barack_America]

80. I just can't imagine that any doctor would recommend that...

If he or she was actually told that amniotic fluid was "leaking". To advise such a patient to actually board a commercial airliner?

There were at least a dozen scenarios for absolute disaster with that advice.

It just makes no sense.

[Lucinda]

84. Ive never been through leakage even once, much less after 4 kids

So I can't begin to know what I would have done under the circumstances. One would assume she knew her body pretty well by then, but who knows...

Wanted to share the article though since I ran across it...

[elehhhhna]

97. "leakage" twice, here, and once it starts, it does NOT STOP...

No way she gave a speech while "leaking". When your water breaks you go to the hospital immediately, to prvent infection and get labor started if necessary. I had my first kid 7 hours after the water started leaking, and the second baby 4 1/2 hours after it started. I CALL BS.

[Lucinda]

100. As the article mentions, her water didnt break, they said it was amnio fluid leakage and

she wasnt actually in full on labor...if the article was correct

[Nine]

101. What do you think "water" is?

I'll refrain from commenting on the rest of it for now, but leaking amniotic fluid = broken water. It's not always a gush when your water breaks, it could be a slow leak.

[Lucinda]

103. Yes and it can happen for a long time before you go into labor. I posted an article

which seemed to address some questions posed upthread. There is no point in us debating it since neither of us had the experience OR wrote about it. LOL

[Fleshdancer]

104. yes, and if it occurs a month before you're due

then the smart decision would be to get to a hospital, not an airport.

[Left Is Write]

165. When it happens a month early in a woman with a high-risk pregnancy

medical advice would be to get to a hospital, not give a speech and embark on a long airplane trip.

[Virginia Dare]

113. At any rate, would she have stood there giving a 30 minute speech..

knowing her water had broken and she's a month early? No, sorry the story just doesn't ring true.

[LeftyMom]

127. In which case you go in for monitoring and antibiotics. Especially in a high-risk pregnancy.

If it's too early to deliver the baby, there would generally be bed rest involved in the hope of keeping fluid levels up until the baby could be delivered more safely.

[LongDistanceRunner]

196. does it make it easier to get back to work when you were never pregnant?

I'll say!

[karynnj]

75. If true it is beyond stupid, inconsider and possibly immoral

babies especially not the first often arrive within that length of time - and there would be no certainty of a doctor on the plane not to mention, those are clearly not ideal circumstances. She risked the life of the baby and her own - for what? I know there were guidelines about how late in pregnancy it was ok to fly - they did not extend to when your water breaks.

This clearly shows a LACK of JUDGMENT. Not to mention, how considerate is it to the other passengers.

[krabigirl]

91. Republican family values at work!

[jackstraw45]

77. Daughter Bristol was holding baby today (pics)

And who is missing from this shopping trip?

[LongDistanceRunner]

197. couldn't go shopping because she's busy feeding the baby

[Stop Cornyn]

86. Some are saying her unwed DAUGHTER's water and she jumped on the plane to prepetuate the fraud that

it was her baby.

[Barack_America]

90. Yeah...

I started a thread on that earlier today with links to the news stories about her pregnancy (not showing when announced at 7 mos., but described as "heavily pregnant" when she delivered a month later)...

But...I was subsequently attacked for "attacking her motherhood" and deleted the post. But if you want any of the links I found, I could post them for you.

[chatnoir]

131. Could you? Didn't get to check them out

Before they were deleted.

[Heather MC]

98. She also gave her speech in Texas AFTER her WATERBROKE

COO COO COO COO

[Barack_America]

99. Check out post #54. nt

[Virginia Dare]

114. She's a 44 year old woman carrying a Downs child..

her water breaks one month early, she's facing a 7 hour flight home and she stands there and gives a 30 minute speech? I mean, really how stupid are we? This is not the fundies they're trying to sell this story to.

[Barack_America]

119. I think even the fundies will see right through this bullshit...

When it inevitably comes out. And this is too freaking bizarre NOT to come out.

Rachel Maddow already mentioned this story on Race to the White House. It's only a matter of time before somebody asks, "hey, was that safe?"

[sakura]

121. If nothing else, this shows extremely poor judgment.

She was travelling for 10 hours, minimum, while in labor? Down's children often have heart issues-- the fetus should have been on a heart monitor. My water broke early, and the doctors inserted a heart monitor right away, as a precaution-- I was older (all of 33), and near the borderline, age-wise for a high-risk pregnancy. This was a good thing-- my son was perfectly healthy during the pregnancy-- no Down's-- but experienced respiratory distress about five hours into my labor. Any pregnancy experienced by a 43 year old is considered "high risk", and many airlines won't let a pregnant woman fly after 36 weeks (preg lasts 40 weeks), due to fear of delivery while traveling. Palin shouldn't have been flying at nine months along-- apparently this was a very small meeting with governors from four states. Surely it could have been moved to Anchorage. This shows extremely poor judgment from someone who nominated to be only a heartbeat (or malignant biopsy) away from the presidency.

[kath]

172. Not only that - she started leaking fluid PRIOR TO 4 AM, then hung around to give a LUNCHEON SPEECH.

didn't get to the hospital in AK until 11:30 pm.
Details here:
Early Thursday -- she thinks it was around 4 a.m. Texas time -- she consulted with her doctor, family physician Cathy Baldwin-Johnson, who is based in the Valley and has delivered lots of babies, including Piper, Palin's 7-year-old.

Palin said she felt fine but had leaked amniotic fluid and also felt some contractions that seemed different from the false labor she had been having for months.

"I said I am going to stay for the day. I have a speech I was determined to give," Palin said. She gave the luncheon keynote address for the energy conference.

Palin kept in close contact with Baldwin-Johnson. The contractions slowed to one or two an hour, "which is not active labor," the doctor said.

"Things were already settling down when she talked to me," Baldwin-Johnson said. Palin did not ask for a medical OK to fly, the doctor said.

"I don't think it was unreasonable for her to continue to travel back," Baldwin-Johnson said.

So the Palins flew on Alaska Airlines from Dallas to Anchorage, stopping in Seattle and checking with the doctor along the way.

"I am not a glutton for pain and punishment. I would have never wanted to travel had I been fully engaged in labor," Palin said. After four kids, the governor said, she knew what labor felt like, and she wasn't in labor.

Still, a Sacramento, Calif., obstetrician who is active in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said when a pregnant woman's water breaks, she should go right to the hospital because of the risk of infection. That's true even if the amniotic fluid simply leaks out, said Dr. Laurie Gregg.

"To us, leaking and broken, we are talking the same thing. We are talking doctor-speak," Gregg said.

http://www.adn.com/626/story/382864.html

[Genevieve]

145. After?

This is such bullshit.
God, I hate Republicans.

[ecstatic]

105. She wanted a miscarriage. She is a hypocrite nt

[undeterred]

149. or its not her baby

[Hieronymus]

192. That's certainly a possibility ..

[Nine]

194. I don't think so.

If she wanted an abortion, she could have had a secret one. And if she had miscarried after making that flight, she would have been blamed for her foolish decision.

[sakura]

106. No direct flights on Alaska/Horizon between DFW and Anchorage.

Palin would have had to connect in Seattle, Alaska Air's major hub. On the Alaska Air site, total duration for DFW to Anchorage is listed as between 10 and 22 hours, depending on time of day.

That's best case scenario, of course. I've flown Alaska Air an awful lot for work, and I've been delayed almost every time.

Something just doesn't make sense here.

[Fleshdancer]

112. What about Houston? n/t

[sakura]

116. The meeting was in Grapevine, a suburb of Dallas.

286 miles from Dallas to Houston-- about a four hour drive. And according to AA's route map, the only Texas city they fly in or out of is Dallas. Alaska Air is very much a regional airline, serving mostly the Pacific NW.

[Fleshdancer]

117. oh, I didn't realize that

I guess I just assumed it was in Austin which I know wouldn't have a direct flight. This story gets more and more ridiculous.

[Barack_America]

118. Wow. That's really interesting. This is shaping up to be the oddest political story ever.

Even if her contractions subsided, she really put herself at serious risk of infection traveling this long after her water broke.

Unless....

[sakura]

126. There are other airlines she could have taken, though she didn't.

Alaska has three flights out of DFW per day-- a 7:30a.m. a 2:30p.m., and a 6:48 p.m. But American and plenty of other airlines fly from DFW to Seattle with more frequency-- there are 14 nonstops to Seattle per day. She could have taken one of those and then Alaska Air/Horizon shuttle to Anchorage and gotten home a lot more quickly. American also has a nonstop to Anchorage that has a duration of 6 hours and 40 minutes. But I'm sure she flew Alaska as some kind of state pride thing. To me, that makes this story even worse.

[vaberella]

137. Any chance of a private jet or something?! I'm really confused by all this.

It's almost soap like.

[sakura]

147. Nope. She flew Alaska Airlines nt

[Name removed]

122. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sunnystarr]

123. Well actually her water broke and she gave her speech

and THEN took the 7 hour flight home lol

[Missouri Girl]

124. I don't mean to be rude or crass, but to pile on:

Let me see if I understand this. This is supposedly a "mother of the year" person - PTA, home-schooling Mama, coach and all.

But, she doesn't tell anyone she's pregnant before 7 months along. Wouldn't you, as a pro-life woman with four children tell SOMEBODY outside of your husband or kids that you are expecting?

She finds out it is going to be a special needs child, with that and due to age, it is a high-risk pregnancy. Yet, she continues life as usual, traveling cross-country. Is that not potentially endangering that child?

Then, as she is halfway across the continent, her water breaks, she continues giving her speech. Is that not endangering that child?

Then, she leaves and I would think, checks out of her hotel to get her luggage, etc., goes to an airport, checks in, goes through the security checkpoint, waits for her flight. Then, she takes at least an 8-1/2 hour flight to Anchorage. That 8-1/2 hours is from DFW to Anchorage with a layover in Seattle. I got this information from Expedia.com. This 8-1/2 hour flight is the shortest of all 31 available flights. Most flights were 9-12 hours in length. Again, is that not potentially endangering that child?

She gives birth to this special needs child and returns to work in three days? I took 2 weeks off after a hysterectomy. Besides that, to return to work with a newborn after 3 days? She must be superwoman. I don't know ANY woman that could or has done that.

Then, she willingly is going to campaign for Vice-President, leaving that 4 or 5 month old baby. What does that say about family values? It almost seems like she is disregarding this child and his needs by embarking on the Vice-Presidency. That is the creepiest part of all for me.

I don't want to sound hypocritical in criticizing her for having a career and children. I have to say that, as a working wife and mother of 2 boys, I have endured an incredible amount of criticism from my Republican mother in law and my Republican grandmother for not staying home with my kids, even as teenagers. What on earth will they say about this?

[Nine]

135. I think that about says it all.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist or gossip-monger by any means, but this story just doesn't make any sense. A woman in her medical circumstances, of sound mind, would not give a 30-minute speech and then take a very lengthy flight back to Alaska to deliver... if she really wanted the baby to live. I simply don't believe she was trying to induce a stillbirth. I cannot believe the governor of a state would have such poor judgement. What's left? What other plausible explanation is there? The cover-up of a pregnant teenage daughter is actually the most charitable explanation I can think of.

[undeterred]

152. I can't get past giving the speech after her membranes break.

If that part is true, she needs a real lecture from her doctor.

[Barack_America]

160. As the story goes her doctor told her it was fine to stay for the speech...

AND subsequently fly home, without getting checked out.

No.chance.in.hell.any.doctor.said.that.

:crazy:

[undeterred]

166. Yeah, if somebody goes to fact check that

they won't be able to find that doctor.

[Left Is Write]

168. And even if they do - doctor refuses to talk, citing privacy laws.

[undeterred]

169. A doctor would not admit to giving such advice

for fear of losing their license. But I am betting no such doctor exists anyway. She was not pregnant a fifth time and visited no doctor in Texas.

[XemaSab]

189. The doctor DOES exist

Cathy Baldwin-Johnson is her name.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Cathy+Baldwin-Johnson&aq=f&oq=

[undeterred]

201. That doctor is in AK.

I thought she got checked by a doctor in TX when her water broke and that doctor gave her medical advice. So this was just phone advice.

[shimmergal]

176. The part about the flight, at least,

if true, is doing the public a disservice.

The story was related on the MSM today, not only "the facts" but with a sort of "Gee Whiz, what a remarkable woman" implication. Hearing just the official version, might other women think, "Oh then, that's OK" (to be out of reach of a hospital for so many hours under similar circumstances.)


I dunno about whether other parts are our business or not, but however well intentioned, if they're lying to protect the 16-year-old daughter, doesn't this show that even fundies lie when dealing with embarrassing sex-related things?

[Undercurrent]

133. I can't relate to this.

I have 2 kids, and my longest labor - from first contraction to baby in my arms - was 1 hour and 20 minutes. My second baby was just a hair over an hour. Something doesn't compute. She has 5 children, and with the vast majority of woman each labor is shorter than the last.

[IamyourTVandIownyou]

138. Bad judgement.

And what about fact she has chosen to run a campaign when she still has to take care of a newborn.

Bad judgement.

[hedgehog]

141. Here's what the Mayo Clinic has to say:

Many doctors recommend that women avoid flying after 36 weeks of pregnancy or if they're at risk of preterm delivery.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/air-travel-during-pregnancy/AN00398


Talk to your practitioner before flying. If you are more than 36 weeks pregnant, many airlines will not let you fly for fear that you'll deliver on board.

http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/travelduringpreg/a/aa052299.htm


Airlines do not want to be responsible for complications of pregnancy or childbirth, so if you are visibly pregnant, airline personnel may give you a hard time when you show up for your trip. Whether you are near your due date or just look that way, it's a good idea to bring a note from your practitioner saying that he has deemed it safe for you to travel by air.

http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5773,00.html


Pamela Waldrop Shaw was just three days shy of her due date when she got on a plane bound for Texas. A national sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics who'd led her team to a million-dollar sales year, the Fort Lauderdale-based Shaw was determined to attend the company's annual meeting and be recognized for her achievement. She wasn't going to let a little thing like her due date stand in the way. Four hours after touching down in Dallas, her water broke. The next day, she gave birth to her son, Thomas. Two days later, she collected her laurels. Shaw has a newfound perspective when reflecting on this experience: "I realize that I could have had Thomas on the plane. Flying at that point was not very smart."

Sure enough, you'd be hard-pressed to find an ob-gyn who'd sanction unnecessary travel late in one's pregnancy. Indeed, even Shaw admits her own doctor had tried to dissuade her from going on her trip. Most ob-gyns will tell you that if you have a choice, the ideal time to travel is during your second trimester. That's typically when you'll feel your best, have the most energy, and the risk for complications is relatively low.

http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/pampering/pregnancy-travel-guide/

[Genevieve]

146. Thanks! . nt

[Ichingcarpenter]

151. Can you change your title to draw more attention to it?

Your post really needs to be read.

[Ichingcarpenter]

154. You should make this a seperate post.... your links debunk the whole story

and even if she did do it, it shows that she does not have judgement to serve
because she put her own baby at risk

[hedgehog]

159. Feel free to copy the links and re-post. I'm a little bit shy about double-posting myself.

:blush:


BTW - Alaska Airlines doesn't say anything, but these folks do:

Northwest Airlines' policy states that pregnant passengers traveling within 30 days of expected delivery must provide a doctor's statement dated within 72 hours of departure indicating the due date and indicating that air travel does not pose a health risk. Women in labor will be denied boarding for safety reasons

http://www.nwa.com/travel/tips/tips.html


Passengers traveling in their ninth month of pregnancy must have an obstetrician’s certificate dated within 24 to 72 hours prior to their flight departure.



The certificate must state:

* The passenger has been examined by an OB and is physically fit to travel by air
* Departure and arrival destinations and dates
* The estimated birth date of the baby

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52347,00.html

[Ichingcarpenter]

162. Bookmarked so I can post this tomorrow after things calm down.

thanks

[undeterred]

142. This whole thing stinks as much as the John Edwards story.

I will be very surprised if she's not covering up for her daughter. In one sense its a noble thing to do, but its insurance fraud, and its not a good thing for a public official to do. She should not have allowed her name to be put in for VP and not think that this would not be discovered.

She is under investigation for lots of things. No stone will be left unturned. I feel sorry for her daughter.

[Genevieve]

144. This story is bullshit.

and my brother Scott (an OB-GYN) agrees.

[Barack_America]

153. Good to know. If you talk to your brother...

Could ask him if there is any way an OB/GYN would recommend she take that flight home? 'Cause she claims her doctor told her it was a-ok to hop on that flight to AK.

I'm pretty sure I already know the answer to this, but it would be interesting to hear what a professional has to say about her so-called medical advice.

[likesmountains 52]

155. No way...I have worked in OB for 30 years and there is no way...

[Ichingcarpenter]

156. There is a thread up stream where the Mayo Clinic says not to fly

That post should be a separate post to help organize the story and the facts.

[onenote]

184. the mayo clinic article indicates flying is not recommended after 36 weeks; palin was in her 32nd

ACOG makes a similar recommendation I understand, although their

Since palin delivered a month early, she was thought to be around 32 weeks when she flew to Texas and back -- on the outer edge of what is considered safe for flying, but still within the safe zone.

[bethling]

199. She was actually around her 36th

Actually a full term pregnancy is about 40 weeks - there's a little more than 4 weeks in a month. A month early would put her at (or around) 36 weeks.

Personally I'm thinking she just embellished the story because her flying back to Alaska to have her baby would just play well there. Rouse some state pride that she loves her home state so much that she wanted to have her baby there. I just can't imagine any woman whose water broke getting onto a plane.

[kath]

177. Please ask your brother to look at that photo of her

on Super Tuesday (Feb 5) and ask him if he's ever seen a G5P4 at 25 1/2 or 26 weeks who looked that un-pregnant. (36 weeks on Apr 18 works out to 25.5 or 26 weeks on Feb 5)
photo here - super tuesday: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3879039&mesg_id=3879345

Also, she's not that tall - a taller woman can hide a pregnancy longer, since, with a lengthier torso, there's more room for the uterus to grow *up*, before it bulges *out*. McCain is only 5-7, and Palin looked shorter than him in today's videos, probably while wearing heels. She's also significantly shorter than her husband and son. IF she was 6 feet tall, she might get away with looking not-pregnant at 26 wks - but IMHO, an average-sized G5P4 is sure going to show at 26 weeks, and at 30 weeks (the day she finally announced the pregnancy, March 5 or 6, when everyone said she didn't look pregnant)

[Ichingcarpenter]

148. I don't buy the story

and neither should any rational human being or mother.

[1corona4u]

161. Yeah, I think so too....

[workinclasszero]

164. Man this is seriously strange

I have never in my life heard of a pregnant women who's water broke taking 7 hours or so getting to the hospital.

And her daughter staying out of school for months for "mono"?

Something about this story smells....

Some one needs to start an investigation.:popcorn:

[vaberella]

167. This is crazier than anything "Days of Our Lives" could come up with. n/t

[Barack_America]

170. Lol. Maybe we'll find out that Ronnie Reagan isn't really dead...

..but has been in a coma in a jungle or something.

Really that's the only thing that can save them now. ;)

[Hutzpa]

171. Take a LOOK at THIS

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/v-gallery/story/339587.html?/news/alaska/v-enlarge/story/339587-a339583-t3.html

this might help explain some doubts, take a closer look at the 16 yo daughter...

[Colobo]

173. I hope we can bring Palin down quick.

[onenote]

180. that's an old picture.

based on the ages given for the kids, the picture was taken sometime in 2006 or 2007

[Barack_America]

186. I really think that photo is from 2006.

http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/story/8334949p-8231037c.html

[nini]

175. Normally, I would say this is ridiculous

and thought so beginning this thread.. but....................

the pics are a bit suspicious AND a 5th baby usually comes out pretty quick - like a couple hours. I know a woman who had her 3rd in less than an hour!

If she was pregnant she took one hell of a risk with her baby getting on a long flight like that with her 5th child. Not too responsible IMHO.

[Beausoir]

181. Wait..you mean some at DU are really losing sleep over Palin's amniotic fluid??

Let's call her afterbirth to the witness stand!

Let's really get to the "bottom" of this.

How DARE that woman give birth on her own terms???

WE must RAIL and FLAIL against this! It is, after all, OUR business where and when and how she gives birth. It's our business because we are good Democrats, dammit!!

[Ichingcarpenter]

200. Seems you are doing it and don't care about women either

defending someone that would take away you reproductive rights.

Don't give me this shit that its not our business and this might have
effects on the women vote. It has everything to do with this election
on integrity, accountability and truth.

What you don't care about those things dealing with the second highest office
in the land?

You are on my really stupid list that I keep.

[LynneSin]

202. Answer me this then

A woman first even travels to Texas knowing that she could give birth anytime and ESPECIALLY knowing she wants to give birth in her home state of Alaska.

Her water breaks but instead of checking with a doctor she continues on to her speach and then travels back to Alaska (a 10 hour flight if she can find direct).

Now the questions ISN'T about her having the right to put her unborn child at risk for an unnessary trip to a state that is at least a 10 hour flight away. The questions have been mounting that #1) She has an eldest daugher than may or may not have been pregnant. Daughter was out of school for several months with Mono (Btw, I was out for one month and I had Mono 20 years ago) during the time of the pregnancy. AND no one even knew Sarah was pregnant until she said something at 7 months and even then pictures showed that Sarah wasn't even showing. PLUS she took a high-risk flight from Anchorage Alaska to Austin Texas at the same exact time she was due - something totally unheard of even from the most progressive women out there.

So yes, I want answers. SO sue me

[zulchzulu]

183. She flew on Jesus Airlines

Those planes are wicked fast.

:sarcasm:

[suffragette]

190. So, that day she was at a press conference

http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/589097.html

GRAPEVINE -- Gov. Rick Perry, after speaking Thursday at a forum held by the Republican Governor's Association, told reporters that he plans on running for re-election in 2010.
Perry made the comments after holding a news conference about the presidential race with five other Republican governors: Sarah Palin of Alaska, Sonny Perdue of Georgia, Linda Lingle of Hawaii, Matt Blunt of Missouri and Jim Gibbons of Nevada.



And she likely took part in a closed door session with the other Republican Governors to listen to a sketchy, wealthy guy who apparently bought that privilege through donations to their organization:
http://cbs11tv.com/politics/perry.waiver.airfare.2.772356.html
The newspaper reported Perry met with Pilgrim in March and six days later donated $100,000 to the Republican Governors Association, a group chaired by Perry. The donation, given March 31, also helped pave the way for Pilgrim to address nine Republican governors during a closed-door energy conference in Grapevine to explain his belief that ethanol production is increasing feed costs for poultry and livestock producers.

Had her water break during a speech to this private little group.

Continued giving the speech

Sorry, I need a moment to :rofl:

Then took transportation to the airport.

The went through security and took a very long flight to Alaska.

Sorry, this'll just take a second: :rofl:

MY, what a very busy day she had.

[Nine]

191. Wait - her water broke at 4am *that morning*?!

Just re-read the story. I was under the impression that it happened just before the luncheon speech. Good grief. And don't give me any malarkey about how leaking amniotic fluid is different from water breaking or membranes rupturing unless you can find a source to back that up. Everything I've read says it's the same thing.

This is crazy. If the "grandmother" story isn't true, either she or her doctor is nuts. Or the water breaking in TX story was made up by Palin for dramatic effect.

[kath]

203. yep. By 4 am leakage had started and she called her doc, hung around until LUNCHTIME to give her

speech, then moseyed on home. Good children's hospitals in Dallas, Seattle and Anchorage, which she BYPASSED to go to her smaller local hospital. Didn't get to the local hospital until 11:30 pm ALASKA time.

[Thrill]

195. She hasn't been fully vetted. Dems need to keep digging. Or hold it until October

[Frank Booth]

198. I also heard that she has a forged birth certificate, and has dual citiizenship

with the Solomon Islands.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

204. I think you would be stupid to start an unsubstantiated smear

I think you would be stupid to start an unsubstantiated smear, even in jest.

Please put up or shut up.