What is the problem? In the United States, over 3,000 babies are aborted every day. (Abortion Statistics, 2017) According to a medical dictionary, abortion is the “termination of pregnancy before the fetus is viable. In the medical sense, this term and the term miscarriage both refer to the termination of pregnancy before the fetus is capable of survival outside the uterus. ” (2) There are three types of abortion, therapeutic, elective, and spontaneous abortion. (4) Spontaneous abortion, also known as a miscarriage, is not by choice.
This happens when a pregnant woman loses her baby ue to an accident or natural causes. (4) Therapeutic and elective abortions, however, are by choice. Therapeutic abortions are performed if the pregnancy is life threatening to the mother or if the baby will be born with a genetic disorder. (4) Elective abortions are performed for many reasons. The Guttmacher Institute performed a survey in 2004 to find out the reasons why women have abortions. Of 957 women who had abortions, less than 0. 5% were victims of rape. 6% of the abortions performed were for reasons such as not mature enough, not ready, can’t afford a baby, and don’t want to be a ingle mother. (1) Majority of the reasons given for having an abortion are preventable. There are many pro-life organizations that will help these women throughout their pregnancy to support them, to keep the child or give the baby up for adoption. An elective abortion is performed by medication or vacuum aspiration, during the first trimester. (7) Often referred to as RU-486, the abortion pill can be used to terminate a pregnancy up until 9 weeks.
This pill works by destroying the baby and the uterus lining so the baby cannot implant to complete its life, “starving the baby”. (8) After the baby has been illed, the mother than will give “birth” to the remains, similar to having a menstrual cycle. Vacuum aspiration involves the mother being sedated, and a tube being inserted into her uterus, then the baby is suctioned out. (7) During the second trimester, procedures are even worse. One of the procedures is described as “the doctor pulls out the fetal parts with forceps.
The fetus’ skull is crushed to ease removal. ” (8) In other words, the baby is murdered and then fully taken out of the mother. For many people, that’s all they have to know to understand that abortions are cruel, for both he baby and the mother. For others, like Hillary Clinton, they believe that abortions should be performed up until the birth of the baby. (12) A baby is capable of survival outside of the womb at 22 weeks. (3) Lila Rose, president of Live Action, stated that nearly 13,000 babies are aborted after this period of development. 5) Lila also stated, “The abortion industry denies the science of fetal development and continues to advocate for aborting fully developed, viable children who can feel the pain of the abortionist’s needle that’s used to kill them. ” Each abortion is a ragedy, not only because an innocent baby has died, but also there are life-lasting impacts the mothers go through. (6)
Heavy bleeding, infection, incomplete abortion, allergic reactions, damage to the uterus and other nearby organs, and death are all risks that women face when choosing abortion. 8) In some cases where the aborted babies are still living, they are brought to a nearby hospital, and are left untreated, gasping for a chance at life, until their little hearts give out. (9) These mothers go through some emotional distress. They may become sterile or have future premature births, which leads to ealth problems for the baby.
Some women may develop mental problems. ““Researchers found that 44% of patients complained of nervous disorders, 36% had experienced sleep disturbances, 31% had regrets about their decisions, and 11 % had been prescribed psychotropic medicine. (11) These women, whether a fews days after having an abortion, or years later, may experience anxiety, guilt, grief, and alcohol abuse. There is also a link between abortion and Breast Cancer, which was published in 1957. (11) Many consequences occur from having an abortion. Abortions are physically and emotionally affecting women nder the age of 15 to women who are 40 years and older. (1) It has been found that black and Hispanic women are more likely to have abortions than other ethnic groups. (6) Women all over the world who choose to have abortions are affected, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic status.
History of the Problem? Abortion has been an issue since the early American colonies. (13) Prior to the 1850s, abortion was legal in the first trimester, or it was classified a misdemeanor in majority of the states. Then, abortion was made illegal by the American Medical Association in all states. In 1973, Roe v. Wade made abortion in the United States legal, and Doe v. Bolton made it legal to have an abortion on demand throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy. (13) Nellie Gray, a pro-life activist organized the first annual March for Life in 1974. (13) Months after Roe v.
Wade, other pro-life activist came to Nellie Gray’s home to discuss how they were going to deal with the anniversary of the legalization of abortions. (15) They decided that the March for Life would begin on the first anniversary of Roe v. Wade, January 22nd, 1974. In 1980, pro-life activist opened up agencies, Pregnancy Help Centers and Crisis Pregnancy Center, to help women with unwanted pregnancies to choose life with the use of other alternatives, such as adoption. (13) American Collegians for Life, another pro-life agency, was founded in 1988, and in 2006 was renamed Students for Life of America (SFLA).
SFLA launched their Pro-Life Field Program, creating over 500 pro-life student organizations to help women with unwanted pregnancies. (13) Since Roe v. Wade, activists have been fighting to protect the unborn child and to help the mothers find alternative answers. 6) The rate of abortion has decreased within the years and that has given pro-life activist hope that Americans, and women facing unexpected pregnancies, are rejecting abortion and choosing life. 58,586,256 babies have lost their lives from abortions since Roe v. Wade. (6) In 1995, Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe of Roe v.
Wade, declared that she is pro-life and regrets her original case. (13) In 1998, she told the Associated Press, “I’m 100 percent pro-life. I don’t believe in abortion even in an extreme situation. If the woman is impregnated by a rapist, it’s still a child. You’re not to act as your own God. (16) Norma became very involved in anti-abortion movements and traveled around the country to speak out against abortion. She was arrested, as well as another activist, while protesting abortion outside the Senate’s office during a meeting. Sandra Cano, Mary Doe in Doe v. Bolton, was tricked into her involvement in legalizing abortion. 19) During the two cases in 1973, Sandra was a poor uneducated woman and was at the courthouse to file for a divorce and unknowingly became involved in the case Doe v. Bolton. When Sandra found out what was happening, she ran away to seek help. 19)
She spent her life trying to get Doe v. Bolton overturned. In 1997, at an event at the National Memorial for the Unborn, Sandra stated, “I pledge that as long as I have breath, I will strive to see abortion ended in America” (19) Another social movement that has had an impact on abortion is the nationwide 40 Days for Life campaign. 13) Originated in Bryan/College Station, Texas, after Planned Parenthood was opened, four individuals created this campaign. Their vision is to “access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion. ” (14) After their first campaign, the local bortion rate dropped by 28 percent. (14) After their sixth campaign, Abby Johnson, Planned Parenthoods Employee of the Year, changed her mind about abortion and joined 40 Days Of Life. About 75 abortion clinics have been closed since this campaign was established.
In 2013, Planned Parenthood in Bryan/College Station closed and is now the international headquarters for 40 Days of Life. (14) Why is it a Problem? 2 more theories The theory of Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS) through a psychological perspective shows evidence that women can exhibit extreme negative psychological responses to abortion. 18) These following symptoms are just a few that women may experience, which can be long-lasting or recurring: depression, anger or guilt, low self-image, discomfort near babies or children, suicidal thoughts, and PTSD from the abortion experience.
These symptoms may also be present on or near the baby’s due date, which would have been their birthday, or the anniversary of the procedure. Advocates of PAS believe the legalization of abortions has been a setback for women, as these women suffer from these psychological consequences of abortion. (18) Not all who claim to be feminist support abortion. Early American feminists opposed abortion and believed in the worth of all human lives. (Foster, 2015) Mary Wollstonecraft organized Feminist for Life in 1792 in England.
Mary said that nature deserves everyones respect, and those that destroy embryos will be punished. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, co-editor of the feminist newspaper in the 1840s, referred to abortion as the murder of children before or after birth. (Foster, 2015) In 1868, Eleanor Kirk linked women’s rights to protect their unborn. These women knew how wrong abortion is, and fight for the rights of all humans. “We envision a better day, a day when omanhood is celebrated, mothers are supported, fatherhood is honored and every child is cherished. (Foster, 2015) Pro-life education and legislative efforts are playing a role in making an impact for the women who have unwanted pregnancies. (6)
Women are becoming more educated about abortions, and being introduced to alternative ways to choose life. There are many support systems that have been created with pro-life ? movements that help women continue their pregnancy, give their baby up for adoption, or even raise their child. Norma McCorvey fought to legalize abortion, only to regret that decision 22 years later. 6) She became a big anti-abortion activist and influenced many women to change their minds over the years to fight for the lives of the unborn. The biggest argument between pro-life and women’s rights movement is when is the baby considered human? Some people believe the baby is just a blob of cells for several weeks. From a scientific perspective, life beings at conception. (Agresti, 2014)
The human genetic composition is created during fertilization. At 2 weeks gestation period, the baby will begin to imbed on the uterus lining for development and growth. 0) At just 3 weeks of development, the brain, spinal cord, heart, and gastrointestinal tract have begun development. By week 5, a baby’s arms and legs have developed and there is a heartbeat. (10) Most women find out they are pregnant when they miss their period, or 3-5 weeks into pregnancy. The baby at this point is not a blob of cells, the baby is a growing human. We as a society are outraged when any harm comes to a child starting at birth, yet they are not outraged when harm comes to this “child” when within the protection of its mothers womb.
