Trigger Warning: Child Loss
Dear Neighbor,
While strolling through our neighborhood with my daughters, I noticed the sign in your yard that states, “Every day in Pennsylvania a baby is killed in late-term abortion.” After reflecting on the message of that sign, I felt moved to share my personal experience with you.
At 32 weeks and 5 days pregnant, I received the devastating news that my son had passed away. I was induced and gave birth to a beautiful boy, but he was silent. The sorrow in the delivery room was palpable, with only our tears echoing in the space where a joyful welcome should have been. We had desperately longed for him after enduring years of infertility. The grief of losing him is profound and something I will carry with me forever.
Since that heart-wrenching day, I have connected with other mothers who have faced similar losses. I want to share a couple of their stories with you.
Stories of Other Mothers
One mother learned that her child had multiple anomalies rendering the baby “incompatible with life.” Knowing her baby would not survive after birth, she made the heart-wrenching decision to deliver her child early. This allowed her precious baby to experience life, however brief, before passing away. By choosing this path, she effectively took her baby off life support. This is labeled as a “late-term abortion.”
Another mother went for her anatomy scan at 21 weeks, only to discover her child had anencephaly, a condition where parts of the brain are missing. There was no chance for survival outside her womb; her body was the only thing sustaining that baby. Faced with this unbearable reality, she opted to terminate the pregnancy through a dilation and curettage (D&C), sparing herself the physical agony of labor, while already grappling with the emotional pain of knowing her child would never live. This too is categorized as a “late-term abortion.”
The term “late-term abortion” lacks a medical definition and is not recognized by physicians treating these women. The stories I’ve shared would typically fall under “termination for medical reasons.” Statistically, abortions performed after 21 weeks account for only 1% of all abortions, and these two mothers represent that small fraction.
These are not women who casually decided, at 30 weeks, that they no longer wanted a child. They are women facing unimaginable circumstances and forced to make heart-wrenching decisions. They are mothers choosing to spend precious moments with their child, aiming to create lasting memories in mere seconds. Yet, they face shame and political exploitation for the most difficult choices they’ve ever had to make, often influenced by signs like yours that promote misleading narratives.
Having experienced the agony of losing a child and holding my deceased son, I can assure you that if I had known his death was inevitable, I would have chosen to spend any amount of time with him alive. I would have made the choice you refer to as a “late-term abortion.”
I urge you to stop politicizing this pain. Show empathy and think of the mothers like me when you perpetuate the false narrative surrounding “late-term abortions.” These women are not monsters; they are mothers making the best decisions they can for their children.
Sincerely,
Your fellow neighbor and bereaved mother
Further Reading
For more information on home insemination and related topics, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy. Additionally, you can learn more about at-home insemination kits from Make A Mom. For more insights, feel free to visit this other blog post.
Probable Search Queries
- What is a late-term abortion?
- Stories of mothers who experienced late-term pregnancy loss
- Emotional impact of late-term abortion decisions
- Medical reasons for late-term abortions
- Support for mothers after pregnancy loss
Summary
This letter addresses the misconception surrounding late-term abortions by sharing personal stories of mothers who faced heartbreaking decisions due to severe medical conditions. The narrative highlights the need for empathy and understanding, as these women are not making casual choices but are instead navigating unimaginable grief and loss. It calls for an end to the politicization of their experiences and encourages a more compassionate discourse.