Life Links 6/12/13

The New York Times has an article on women who were denied abortions because they were too far along and profiles a woman (S.) who didn't have an abortion, struggled in various ways after giving birth but now says her child is the best thing to ever happen to her.            

After S. urinated in a cup, she was led into a small room. She texted one of her sisters, "Do you think God would forgive me if I were to murder my unborn child?" It was the first time anyone in her family knew she was pregnant......

In the exam room, a technician asked her to lie down. She did an ultrasound, sliding the instrument across S.'s stomach: "Oh . . . it shows here that you are a little further along." She repeated the exam. S., she estimated, was nearly 20 weeks pregnant, too far along for this Planned Parenthood clinic.....

When I told Foster S.'s story, she wasn't surprised that S. ended up bonding with her baby. "That would be consistent with our study," Foster said. "About 5 percent of the women, after they have had the baby, still wish they hadn't. And the rest of them adjust." S.'s experience is also consistent with one of the most striking statistics from Henry David's Czech study. David found that nine years after being denied abortions, 38 percent of women said they never sought one in the first place. 

                   
The take of abortion advocates on this piece will be interesting.  Neither S. nor J. (another woman whose experience getting a late-term abortion was detailed) were delayed in seeking abortions by prolife laws.  Nor did either have a prenatal diagnosis which revealed problems with the child.  Both didn't realize they were pregnant until late into their pregnancy.  J. (age 38) thought she was too old to be pregnant and S. had spotting and typically had light periods.  I'm sure that won't stop abortion advocates from claiming these situations prove the need for more access to abortion. 


The BBC has a story on British immigration rules where one woman blames her abortion on the rules.

My doctor said: "This is disgusting. This could be the last time you could have children." But I didn't feel I had a choice. I came out of the doctors crying - a married woman shouldn't have to cry and be forced into a decision like that.

I've had some counselling, I've been depressed. It destroyed a lot of things in our relationship for months.

If it wasn't for the immigration rules I wouldn't have had an abortion.

Abortion Kermit Gosnell will plead guilty today to federal drug charges.


Planned Parenthood and ACLU have filed suit against Alabama's admitting privileges law.