Why a 20-Week Abortion Ban Should Concern All Women

home insemination Kit

Every morning, I scroll through social media to catch up on what I’ve missed overnight. At this point in my life, my feed is filled with joyful pregnancy announcements and adorable baby pictures. I genuinely enjoy these updates. However, lately, I’ve noticed a surge of discussions surrounding Planned Parenthood and abortion rights.

Initially, I hesitated to watch the videos circulating online, worried about how they might affect me, but I was pleasantly surprised. Yet, I can’t shake the anxiety over what lies ahead for access to reproductive health services. Planned Parenthood has weathered many storms, but the current political climate, with new abortion restrictions cropping up everywhere, is particularly alarming for women.

As an OB/GYN who trained in a conservative state where my hospital didn’t perform abortions due to state funding restrictions, I rarely encountered women needing these services. Nevertheless, I’ve always identified as pro-choice, believing that no one should judge a woman’s reproductive choices unless they’ve walked in her shoes.

When I became pregnant with my second child after a brief attempt to conceive, I felt optimistic. The pregnancy seemed normal at first; my genetic screenings came back negative for various serious conditions, and we found out we were having a girl. I indulged in shopping for cute baby clothes and nursery items, excited to share the news with my son.

However, during our 19-week anatomy scan, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The sonographer struggled to capture clear images of our baby’s heart, and I sensed something was wrong. He used medical terminology that made my heart race. When he touched my hand and reassured me that it wasn’t my fault, I knew we were facing a serious issue.

After a series of examinations, we learned that our baby girl had a congenital heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot. While this condition is often manageable with surgery, we soon found out it was more complex than we initially thought. The diagnosis changed to Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve, which meant our daughter’s condition was severe. The implications were grim: she could struggle to breathe at birth, and her chances of survival were uncertain.

Faced with this heartbreaking reality, my husband and I spent the weekend in turmoil. We debated the possibility of termination, knowing the prognosis was bleak but wrestling with our fear of making the wrong choice. As we navigated our emotions, I felt torn between wanting to spare our daughter from suffering and the guilt of choosing to end a life.

We sought a second opinion from a renowned pediatric cardiologist, and while the diagnosis was confirmed, the potential future we faced was overwhelming. The thought of subjecting our daughter to extensive medical procedures, with the risk of a painful and complicated life, weighed heavily on us. It felt inhumane to bring a child into the world under such dire circumstances.

Ultimately, we made the agonizing decision to terminate the pregnancy. Our state’s laws required a 24-hour waiting period, and the process was emotionally taxing. I cried throughout the procedure, and even the doctor was visibly affected. Just when I thought I was reaching a semblance of closure, my water broke, plunging me back into chaos.

This experience solidified my belief in the importance of accessible reproductive healthcare for all women. A 20-week abortion ban is not just a legislative issue; it directly impacts women’s lives and choices. For more information on navigating these topics, you can check out our other blog posts on related matters.

In summary, the story of navigating pregnancy complications and facing the difficult decision of termination highlights the urgent need for reproductive rights. Women must have the autonomy to make choices about their bodies and futures without unnecessary legal restrictions.