She's a Child not a CHOICE

Human Life Alliance presents:

She's a Child

Not a CHOICE "

"

30th Anniversary Edition

Let’s focus on the actual questions surrounding abortion:

A

bortion. We won’t beat around the bush.

That’s what this magazine is about. It’s a topic that can cause uncomfortable silence…anger…shouting…it can even destroy a relationship.

We don’t know where you stand or how you feel about this controversial issue…maybe you’re prolife…maybe you’re pro-choice…maybe you don’t have much of an opinion at all.

You probably consider yourself to be a reasonable, open-minded person. You recognize that everyone has their opinions and respect that.

It’s said that in order to be truly open-minded— you need to be open to the possibility to learn something new.

This magazine presents a strong argument for why you should oppose abortion.

Are You Unbiased Enough to Read on?

It’s easy to get lost in the weeds with the multitude of issues surrounding abortion—foster care, overpopulation and poverty, single parent homes, and even child abuse. The pro-choice movement has moved abortion access forward in the United States by promoting abortion as a solution to these very real problems.

It’s been over 46 years since abortion became legally accessible in the United States. Has it been the savior that was promised? Since its legalization in 1973: ÒÒThe US poverty rate is higher.1

Are the "preborn" human beings and is it okay to kill them?

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ÒÒThe number of children in the US foster care system is up 26%. 2 ÒÒThe number of children born to single mothers has tripled. 3 ÒÒChild abuse continues to be a serious problem with over 670,000 confirmed victims each year. 4 This is compelling evidence that legal abortion will not stop these genuinely serious problems.

Let’s stop pretending.

A Mother Regrets Her Abortion

W

hen I became pregnant at 18, my first thought was to have an abortion.

The abortion would allow me to continue teaching ballroom dance and training for competition.

I expected to feel relieved when the abortion was over. I thought it would erase the pregnancy. I thought I could move on with my life.

I was wrong.

Although I didn’t feel this way before the procedure, it was now clear to me that the abortion ended the life of my child.

I felt guilty and desired punishment.

I deserved to suffer.

Afterward, the mere presence of my boyfriend caused deep hurt and pain.

I found it difficult to work.

In between student lessons, I’d retreat to the staff room and cry.

I soon found myself in a cycle of selfdestructive behavior that included an eating disorder.

Desperate for a fresh start, I broke up with my boyfriend, quit my job, and moved from the Midwest to Hawaii.

Although Hawaii was breathtakingly beautiful and bursting with life, I felt dead inside. It didn’t take long for me to realize I couldn’t escape from myself.

About two years after the abortion, I was living in Southern California when I began experiencing periods of intense anger followed by periods of profound sadness.

For weeks and sometimes months at a time, I was too fatigued to do more than eat a meal and shower during the day.

There were also periods when I seemed able to pull myself together and lead a normal life—at least outwardly.

This downward spiral continued until suicidal thoughts began to scare me.

That’s when I finally went to see a therapist.

With the help of counselors and supportive friends, my time of selfcondemnation and self-punishment came to an end.

Mother’s Day is particularly difficult.

If my child had lived, she may have had children of her own by now.

There will always be a hole in my heart—a hole in the fabric of our family and our community.

My child would have been 29 this year.

— Michaelene

 THE TAKEAWAY Whether it was yesterday, last month, or 25 years ago—you or someone you know might be struggling with a past abortion.

These struggles are not “all in your head.” Abortion can affect your life in ways you could never expect. It's okay to grieve and seek help and healing.

I was finally able to enter into a healthy grieving process.

As I grieved the loss of my child, I slowly became aware of how my choice to abort had impacted my family—a choice they only learned about when I decided to go public with my experience.

I was surprised and saddened that my parents, my sister, and even my living children struggled to deal with the loss of a family member through abortion.

In addition to coping with the fallout that my abortion caused in my family, there are still times that are painful for me.

After all, healing doesn’t mean forgetting.

Human Life Alliance is a non-profit, educational organization whose publications have reached over 228.1 million people around the globe. She's a Child Not a Choice was originally published in 1990.

© 2019 Human Life Alliance 1614 93rd Lane NE Minneapolis, MN 55449 humanlife.org | 651-484-1040 Social Accounts:

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Page 4 | © Human Life Alliance

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A HUMAN IS N O I T R O B A ATION R I G H TS V I O L

Is There

AFTER RAPE?

CINDY the mother

I became pregnant at age 18 through the rape by a neighbor. I was so numb that I felt like I was dead. My mother died when I was 12, and my alcoholic father abused my six younger siblings and me on a daily basis. Shortly after I found out I was pregnant my father kicked me out of the house for good.

I was homeless, jobless, motherless, penniless, pregnant, and alone. I was the “perfect candidate” for an abortion. Everyone was encouraging and pressuring me to get an abortion saying things like, “You know what you have to do.” I was even offered money to “get rid of it.” I had no support and at times, felt like I was drowning in darkness. Yet I had one magnificent secret gift—the flourishing life of my unborn baby. This life gave me a thread of hope to begin to heal. On June 14th, 1975, I gave birth to a precious baby girl with blue eyes and dark hair, so

tiny and so vulnerable. I named her Jennifer, and I knew she was a sacred gift to love and cherish. My daughter is a wonderful person and she has touched many lives including my own.

I have a peace of mind and heart, a clear conscience and seven grandchildren. I am so thankful for giving birth to her; I have no regrets.

If you have been raped, please realize the worst is over. I want to encourage you to reach out for help to start the healing process. I claimed “second virginity” until I married a wonderful man who adopted my daughter.

Virginity is not something that can be taken from you; it’s a gift that you choose to give. You can always decide in your heart to choose second virginity and save that gift for your husband on your wedding night. You’ll never regret choosing to wait until marriage!

JEN the daughter Going through junior high and high school, people would often say to me, “I’m against abortion except in the cases of rape and incest.” Imagine how I felt when they said that! They thought abortion was a bad thing—except in my case. That was pretty scary from my point of view. When I would tell someone I was conceived as a result of rape I would see a transformation in their face. I could tell they realized their double standard. They would finally recognize that I (the baby) didn’t deserve to die just because of my

father’s crime. The circumstances of my conception, yours, or anyone else’s, does not determine quality of life.

 THE TAKEAWAY Abortion doesn’t heal a woman who was raped. It adds another emotionally traumatic experience. A major study of pregnant rape victims found that 75-85% chose an option other than abortion.1

humanlife.org | Page 5

Do You Know Roe?

When it comes to legal abortion in the United States, most people simply don’t understand the facts.

"Abortion has been founded on lies and deception from the very beginning. All I did was lie about how I got pregnant.

I was having an affair. It all started out as a little lie. I said what I needed to say. But, my little lie grew and grew and became more horrible with each telling. It was good for the cause. It read well in the newspapers."1

—Norma McCorvey "Jane Roe"

“I am against abortion. I never sought an abortion. I never had an abortion. Abortion is murder. For over 20 years, and against my will, my name has been synonymous with abortion. The Doe vs. Bolton case is based on deceit and fraud.

I never participated in this case. The Supreme Court had already made up their minds. They didn’t care what was in the affidavits. I never wanted to be a part of this.”2

—Sandra Cano "Mary Doe"

Did you know Norma McCorvey, the Jane Roe of Roe v Wade, didn’t have an abortion?

Or did you know that in the landmark case from 1973 the Court said the government has a right to restrict abortion if it could determine when a child in the womb becomes a person? It’s only in the Doe v. Bolton companion case that the Court orders no limits or restrictions on abortion up to birth.

So What Really Happened?

In the early 1970s Norma McCorvey experienced an unplanned pregnancy and sought an illegal abortion. When she failed to obtain one, she sought the help of two attorneys—Sarah Weddinton and Lia Coffee. McCorvey and her attorneys falsely claimed she was gang raped and used her circumstances to challenge an existing Texas law prohibiting abortion.

She sued local district attorney Henry Wade seeking an abortion and the case went all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion in all 50 states. It was later revealed that the claim of gang rape was a lie. Sarah Weddinton, the attorney who argued Roe before the Supreme Court later stated, “My behavior may not have been totally ethical. But I did it for what I thought were the right reasons.” 3

At the same time, in Georgia, Sandra Cano... ... (Mary Doe in Doe v. Bolton) had sought the help of Legal Aid Services because she was in an unstable living situation, had a failing marriage and was pregnant with her fourth child. Cano’s attorney convinced her to use National Organization of Women attorneys who implied a custody deal could be reached for her other children if Sandra agreed to seek an abortion for her preborn child. Cano rejected abortion as an option and assumed the legal documents she signed pertained to her custody battle. Instead, Cano was used (without her knowledge) as the plaintiff in a case to enable abortion-on-demand and her case prevailed with the U.S. Supreme Court.

In Roe, the Court held there is a right to abortion in the constitution through a right to privacy. It decided a general right to privacy exists under a “penumbra” or an idea inferred by the Bill of Rights. The Doe decision stated women may obtain an abortion after viability to protect a mother’s health, legalizing abortion through all nine months.

The irony of it all? Both McCorvey and Cano both gave birth to their children and later petitioned the court to reverse the rulings in their names.

What Does Our Country Want?

A recent poll found that only 37% of Americans actually want to keep Roe the way it is, while 53% said they want the ruling restricted or even overturned.4

Page 6 | © Human Life Alliance

Pregnancy Centers provide more services at lower costs than abortion facilities.

I

t’s not uncommon for abortion providers to claim they offer comprehensive women’s healthcare. But what does Planned Parenthood offer for pregnant women?

Abortions account for 96% of all pregnancy related services at Planned Parenthood.1 In fact, adoption referrals make up just 1% of services for pregnant women and prenatal services make up under 3% of pregnancy services.2

There are upwards of 2,750 pregnancy centers in the United States that equip pregnant women with a plethora of free resources. Many of these pregnancy centers are transitioning into comprehensive women’s clinics (excluding abortion) that may soon be eligible for Title X family planning funds.

Numerous pregnancy centers provide ultrasounds on site to give accurate information of fetal development. With five times as many locations as Planned Parenthood,3 pregnancy centers offer much more accessibility, as well.

PREGNANCY CENTER SERVICES Pregnancy Test.................................FREE

Certified Life Coaching.....................FREE

STD Testing ......................................FREE

Ultrasound.......................................FREE

Adoption Referrals...........................FREE

Baby Items........................................FREE

Options Counseling.........................FREE

Material Assistance..........................FREE

(Diapers, Formula, Clothes, Cribs,& More)

Prenatal Care....................................FREE

(Earn-While-You-Learn Program)

Resources for Housing / Finding Work........................................ FREE

Prenatal & Parenting Education.....FREE

Pap Smear/ Pelvic Exam...................FREE

LEARN MORE ABOUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD Read “The Truth Behind Planned Parenthood” humanlife.org/pp

FIND THE HEALTHCARE OPTIONS NEAR YOU Pregnancy Centers: Optionline.org Search "Health and Human Services" for other concerns.

humanlife.org | Page 7

Day 1 Fertilization

1st Month 1-4 Weeks

Once a sperm fertilizes an egg, a BRAND NEW, unique and WHOLE ORGANISM is created with her own DNA. The chromosomes from the parents help determine the new human being’s sex, eye color, skin and hair color, balding, even earlobe attachment. After fertilization nothing new is added or needed to the human except oxygen, nutrition and time.1

The first cell divides in two and cell division continues as it travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus. Foundations of the brain, spinal cord and nervous system are already established and by day 21 the heart begins to beat in a regular fashion.2 Muscles are forming and arms, legs, eyes and ears begin to show.

6th Month 21-24 Weeks

7th Month 25-28 Weeks

In The

Womb “EACH OF US HAS A VERY PRECISE STARTING MOMENT WHICH IS THE TIME AT WHICH THE WHOLE NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT GENETIC INFORMATION IS GATHERED INSIDE ONE CELL, AND THIS IS THE MOMENT OF FERTILIZATION.”

– World renowned geneticist, the late Dr. Jérôme Lejeune

5th Month 17-20 Weeks

If a sound is especially loud, the baby may jump in reaction to it. Thumb-sucking has been observed during the fifth month.13

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Oil and sweat glands are functioning. She grows rapidly in size and strength while her lungs become more developed.14

The baby can now recognize her mother’s voice. She exercises by stretching and kicking.

She uses the senses of hearing, touch & taste.

She can even look around with open eyes.15

Image credits: Day 1 by David Marchal | Months 1-2 by Steven O’Connor M.D. | Month 3 © The Center for Bio Ethical Reform | Months 4-6 © Life Issues Institute | Months 7-8 Unborn.com Sound Wave Images.

2nd Month 5-8 Weeks

3rd Month 9-12 Weeks

4th Month 13-16 Weeks

By six weeks, brain waves can be detected.3 The jaw forms, including teeth and taste buds.4 The baby begins to swallow amniotic fluid and sometimes hiccups.5 Fingers and toes are developing and at seven weeks the chest and abdomen are fully formed.6 Swimming in the amniotic fluid, she now looks like a miniature human infant.7,8

Unique fingerprints are beginning to form.9 The baby now sleeps, awakens and exercises her muscles. The baby is very active. The gender can be visually determined and family resemblances may appear.10 By the end of the month all the organs and systems of her body are functioning.11

By the end of the fourth month, the baby is 8–10 inches in length and weighs about one-half pound. Her ears are functioning and she hears her mother’s heartbeat as well as external noises like music.12 Lifesaving surgery has been performed on babies at this age.

8th Month 29-32 Weeks

9th Month 33-36 Weeks

The baby swallows a gallon of amniotic fluid per day and often hiccups.16 The baby’s kicks are stronger and mom may be able to feel an elbow or heel against her abdomen.17

Gaining one-half pound per week, the baby is getting ready for birth. The bones in her head are soft and flexible to help with her journey down the narrow birth canal.18 Of the 45 generations of cell divisions before adulthood, 41 have already taken place. Only four more come before adolescence.

90 percent of a person’s development happens in the womb.19

humanlife.org | Page 9

Late Term Abortions

Former abortionist and practicing OB-GYN Dr. Anthony Levatino states, “You never need a late term abortion to save a woman’s life.”1 Dr. Levatino explained his experience at an Albany, New York area hospital, “I was faculty at the hospital for nine years, and I saw hundreds of cases of really severe pregnancy complications: cancers, heart disease, intractable out of control diabetes, toxemia of pregnancy . . . in those nine years, I saved hundreds of women from life-threatening pregnancies . . . by delivery, either induction of labor or caesarean section, delivering the baby. And I always tell people, in all those years, the number of babies that . . . I was obligated to deliberately kill in the process—was zero.

None.”2 One of the most common late-term abortion procedures is dilation and evacuation, or D & E. This procedure takes two, three or more days to complete. A woman arrives at her first appointment to have laminaria inserted to dilate the cervix. She will then leave the center and return after the cervix is fully dilated. In the second appointment, the abortionist now has room to insert forceps or other tools into the uterus. The abortion is then completed by crushing the skull, tearing apart and removing the baby’s body.

Late term abortions are not rare and are not only committed for reasons of the mother’s health. Approximately 12,000 – 13,000 late-term abortions (20+ weeks gestation) take place in the U.S. each year.3 That’s twice the number of AIDS deaths annually.4

Today, people insist abortion must remain legal to save the life of a mother during all stages of pregnancy— even through the third trimester of development and up to the day of birth.

Page 10 | © Human Life Alliance

Miscarriages or ectopic pregnancy removals are not elective abortions. If a mother’s body naturally miscarries her child, often a dilation and curettage procedure, or D&C, is done to remove her dead baby. An elective abortion is different as the intention is to kill and remove a live baby.

Some people claim abortion should remain legal in cases of special needs or fatal prenatal diagnosis’. Prenatal testing can carry risks to the mother and her child. False positives also occur 50 percent or more of the time.5 If loss of the child’s life is inevitable, why shorten the time you have with her? Abortion won’t erase the sorrow from the loss of life. It only makes the mother complicit in ending her child’s life. The compassionate solution is life-affirming healthcare that helps the mother embrace the life of her child. This path is better psychologically and emotionally for the whole family. Read more about mothers who chose life for their child with a poor prenatal diagnosis at Prenatal Partners for Life online or by calling (763) 772-3868.

Surgical Abortion Methods VACUUM ASPIRATION Typically committed : 1st trimester Preborn age: 3-11 weeks old The uterus is emptied by a vacuum or syringe, the baby is torn into pieces as she is pulled through the hose. 1,2,3

INDUCTION OR PROSTAGLANDIN Typically committed : 2nd trimester Preborn age: 11-21 weeks old Labor is induced in the 2nd or 3rd trimester. Saline or urea is injected to kill the child in the womb.4 Digoxin or potassium chloride is directly inserted into the baby’s heart to guarantee the child’s death.5 Other times the baby is delivered alive and left to die.6

DILATION & EVACUATION (D&E) Typically committed : 2nd trimester Preborn age: 11-21 weeks old The abortionist tears the baby's body apart with forceps. The spine is snapped, the skull is crushed and the remains are sucked out.7,8,9,10

Chemical Abortion—How the Abortion Pill Works

Progesterone is the hormone needed to maintain the uterine lining which provides oxygen and nutrients for the baby.1

Mifeprex/Mifepristone (RU-486) blocks the action of progesterone.

Without it, the baby dies.2

According to the FDA, the Mifeprex Abortion Pill was responsible for the deaths of twenty-four women and the injuries of thousands more. In total, the number of adverse events from 2000 to 2018 is now 24 deaths, 97 ectopic pregnancies, 1,042 hospitalizations, 599 blood transfusions, and 412 infections (including 69 severe infections), with a total of 4,195 adverse events reported.5

24-48 hours later the second pill, Cytotec (or Misoprostol), is taken, causing uterine bleeding (sometimes profuse) and strong contractions to expel the baby.3

The mother is told to miscarry at home or a hotel over a toilet. If she were to look closely, she would see her dead child. Even at only 7 weeks, she is likely to see his or her fingers & toes.4

Changing your mind? There's Help.

1-877-558-0333 abortionpillreversal.com humanlife.org | Page 11

Compassion and Healing After an Abortion "I was Pro-Choice until I made the wrong choice for myself."

—Toni from Virginia

The numbers are staggering—

1 out of 4 women in America has had an abortion. 1 Chances are you, or someone you know, may be one of them. Many women who have had an abortion will say it didn’t make their problems disappear. For some, the pain is clear and immediate. For others it emerges over time.

No one prepares a woman who’s had an abortion for the conflicting feelings of relief and loss she will experience. It’s not uncommon for a woman to feel alone and suppress these feelings out of fear of sharing the experience with others. Abortion is a secret that women often keep from their spouses, children, and parents for fear of judgement. These women tend to seek relief from their grief or seek affirmation for their choice by advocating or celebrating abortion. If their secret isn’t addressed, it can manifest in harmful ways.

Physical and psychological problems include, but aren’t limited to: increased depression,1 drug and alcohol abuse,2 increased risk of breast cancer,3 infertility, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies,4 eating disorders,5 future premature births,6 PTSD,7 suicides8 and even death.9 Numerous studies reveal the psychological harm from having an abortion is more damaging than carrying the baby to term.10 “Abortion is fundamentally about [a] relationship, a relationship that is broken by the procedure—and one that desperately needs to be healed.” ...said Kevin Burke, co-founder of Rachel’s Vineyard, a post-abortive healing organization. Abortion also affects women and how they relate to their future children. Many have difficulty bonding with them or often become over-protective. Anniversaries of the abortion or the due date of the aborted child can become a painful trigger that never goes away.

Thousands of women regret their abortions and find a way to forgive themselves. Healing and forgiveness is available at various counseling events and retreats. Instead of feeling shamed and judged, they find themselves welcomed and loved.

WHO TO CONTACT IF YOU'VE HAD AN ABORTION 844-289-HOPE (4673) supportafterabortion.com

"I killed my baby when I was 19 years old. I can wrap that in terms that many in our society would deem acceptable, such as, 'It was my body, my choice,' or 'It was only a clump of cells'.

But, when I walked out of that clinic that day so many years ago, I knew I had killed my baby and a part of myself died that day as well.”

—Theresa from Florida Page 12 | © Human Life Alliance

A Father Regrets the Loss of his Son

When Tracey came out after the abortion, she looked worse than before she went in. It looked as though the life had been sucked out of her. I tried to grab her hand to help her to the car. She glared at me and said, “I don’t need your F---ING help.”

M

I took her home, and went to the pharmacy to fill her prescription for the bleeding and the pain. I did what I could to make her comfortable. I often think back and wonder if there was something I could have done to help her. Maybe there was—but I’ll never know.

We were making plans for the baby, going to doctor appointments, and smiling over ultrasound pictures. We believed the baby was going to be a little boy. We were going to name him Trevor.

Tracey and I divorced, and we soon lost contact with each other. When I talked to her many years later, she brought up the abortion and started crying. She said she’d gone through therapy. It took me a long time to come to terms with what happened. When I see little children, sometimes tears spring up in my eyes and I envision Trevor—my son who never got a chance.

y wife and I found out she was pregnant shortly after we were married. Even though we were having some difficulties adjusting to our new life together, we were both very excited!

Tracey started suffering from severe morning sickness. When she was very sick, she’d curse the pregnancy. I was worried about her—and about the baby.

As the morning sickness continued, Tracey began saying she couldn’t go through with the pregnancy.

 THE TAKEAWAY Abortion affects not only the mother, but the father of the child. Abortion can destroy relationships and cause lasting emotional harm.

—Brad

One day she announced, “I’m going to get an abortion. I know how you feel about abortion, but I don’t care. I’m having one no matter what you say or do.” Wow! What could I do? I realized in an instant that I was powerless.

I didn’t argue with her; rather, I stayed calm and tried to support her decision.

I secretly hoped that my compassion and prayer would change her mind. However, when I think about it now, I think I could have reached out to others to seek their advice and resources. But I didn’t do any of that. Instead, I drove her to the clinic.

The staff at the clinic was upbeat and personable, but I felt terribly depressed.

humanlife.org | Page 13

I

Abortion in the Family

just wanted to make new friends. The youth group at our church looked promising. The irony was that I was the “good little Christian girl” while my peers were having sex.

It was the cool thing to do. As the odd one out, they let me know I wasn’t cool enough for them. So I decided I wasn’t going to be made fun of anymore.

One day, as my sister and I were checking out at a store, a man just

N

obody’s perfect, but I thought I did many things right as a mom of five. I raised my kids in church, even homeschooled them. I taught them all the value of saving sex for marriage. All of my children waited—except Emily—my youngest.

ahead of us caught my eye. He flirted with me the entire time and let us checkout before him. So I decided to wait for him in the parking lot.

That conversation started my sexual relationship.

I kept a lot of secrets. I told him I was 18, when I was 17. I lied about being in school. I would skip class to meet with him. As the affair progressed, I got pregnant and lied to my new boyfriend about it. I strung him along six months, trying to keep him in the relationship.

He wouldn’t talk to me anymore and it drove me crazy. I even lied about doctor’s appointments. Mom worked and my boyfriend didn’t show up to appointments, so I got away with it.

Finally, one appointment changed everything. When I told my mom, Our problems began when Emily joined a youth group aimed at reaching the non-religious in the community.

She was 17 and members of the group were sexually active. Emily felt pressured to join her peers and ended up pregnant by a much older man.

When I found out Emily was pregnant I was really upset. I did things in anger, even against my belief system.

Emily was raised Catholic and taught life begins at conception. Dealing with her lies and deceptions about this situation clouded my judgment to the point where I refused to call my future grandchild a baby—I called him an “it.”

I wanted to help my daughter have an abortion.

It’s taboo in my church community to say I contemplated those things, but

abortion entered the picture. We discussed it as an option. Later, an ultrasound appointment helped us make a different choice.

I finally confessed to everyone. During that appointment, with my baby’s father, we heard a heartbeat. I cried. I now understood I was carrying a real person. I thought, this baby deserves a chance and needs somebody that loves him, even if it’s just me.

I chose love and not abortion.

—Emily

it came to mind even when I talked to other Christian women. Now I understand why people think there are no other answers.

I prayed for God to give me a new perspective that was in line with His will. I soon pursued Emily with a new mindset. I committed with my whole heart to help my daughter with what was best for her spiritual, physical health & well-being.

Today, I have a wonderful grandson named Titus—he’s Emily’s son. His presence brought me and my husband new life. We are now well into our 50s and Titus is almost three years old.

—Madlyn This true story of Emily, Madlyn and Titus was written by Daphne Mallory.

 THE TAKEAWAY

Page 14 | © Human Life Alliance

The uncertainties unplanned pregnancies bring often cause much fear (of judgement) and stress. This fear can paint the worst possible outcome as an assumed future. When mothers stop living in fear of what might be, and decide to push through in hope, things turn out better than imagined. Embracing the new journey of motherhood becomes the most rewarding decision they never regret.

 THE FINAL TAKEAWAY

SOURCES

Abortion has been legal nationwide in the U.S. since 1973 and we continue to struggle with all of the complications this pregnancy intervention claims to "fix." In determining when a person becomes a person, science is clear—human life begins at the moment of fertilization. By five to six weeks of development, when surgical abortions begin to take place, a human's heart is beating.

Are You Unbiased Enough to Read on? 1 Edwards, Ashley. “Poverty Rate Drops for Third Consecutive Year in 2017.” America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers, United States Census Bureau, 12 Sept. 2018, www. census.gov/library/stories/2018/09/poverty-ratedrops-third-consecutive-year-2017.html.| 2 Johnston, Wm. R. “Historical statistics on adoption in the United States, plus statistics on child population and welfare.” , 5 Aug. 2017, www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/ adoptionstats.html. | 3 Badger, Emily. “The unbelievable rise of single motherhood in America over the last 50 years.” The Washington Post, 18 Dec. 2014, www. washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/12/18/ the-unbelievable-rise-of-single-motherhood-in-america-over-the-last-50-years/?noredirect=on.​| 4 “Child abuse, neglect data released.” US Depatment of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, 28 Jan. 2019, www.acf.hhs.gov/media/ press/2019/child-abuse-neglect-data-released. They Say, You Say: A Dialogue on Abortion 1 Sadler, T.W, Langman, Jan. Langman’s Medical Embryology; Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1995. Edition: English: 7th ed., international ed. Print. | 2 Houghton, Mark. “How the Abortion Movement Started with Deceit and Lies— Dr Nathanson.” The British Medical Journal, 2 Mar. 2011, www.bmj.com/rapid-response/2011/11/03/ how-abortion-movement-started-deceit-and-lies-drnathanson. | 3 Koonin, Lisa M. “Abortion Surveillance -- United States, 1992.” MMWR Surveillance Summaries, Center for Disease Control, 19 Sept. 1998, www. cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00041486. htm#00001660.htm. Table 17 | 4 United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2017). World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision, https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/. | 5 Environment Texas Almanac, 19 Nov. 2017, texasalmanac.com/ topics/environment/environment. | 6 Skidelsky, William. “My crash course in food waste with Tristram Stuart,” The Guardian. 17 July 2009. Guardian News and Media. 05 Sept. 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ethicallivingblog/2009/jul/17/food-waste-tristram-stuart. Is There Life After Rape? 1 Mall, David, Watts; Walter F. The Psychological Aspects of Abortion. Stritch School of Medicine. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Washington D.C. University Publications of America, 1979. | Do You Know Roe?1 Testimony of Norma McCorvey, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Federalism, and Property Rights of the Senate Judiciary Committee, 105th Congress, 2nd Session, 1/21/98. |2 http://www.euthanasia.com/roedoe.html (quoted from LeBoeuf, CHATTANOOGA FREE PRESS, 3/24/97). |3 Nichols, Natalie. “Being True to Self First Law of Ethics, Attorney Tells Conference.” Tulsa World. 24 May 1993. 04 Sept. 2019, https://www.tulsaworld.com/archive/being-true-to-self-first-law-of-ethics-attorneytells/article_c6ba4b80-833e-59e8-a00c-3f9671670072.html. |4 Montanaro, Domenico. “Poll: Majority Want To Keep Abortion Legal, But They Also Want Restrictions.” NPR. 07 June 2019. NPR. 04 Sept. 2019, https://www.npr.org/2019/06/07/730183531/poll-majority-want-to-keep-abortionlegal-but-they-also-want-restrictions. Image Credits: Shaull, Lorie. Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe) and her lawyer Gloria Allred on the steps of the Supreme Court, 1989, CC BY-SA 2.0| Sandra Cano - Justice Foundation. In The Womb 1 The Drama of Fetal Development”, American Baby. Jan. 1989. p.

45. Print. | 2 Moore and Persaud, The Developing Human-Clinically Oriented Embryology. 2nd ed. W.B. Saunders Company 1973 p. 310. Print. | 3 Hamlin, H. “Life or Death by EEG,” JAMA. Oct. 12, 1964, p. 113 Print. | 4 Sadler, T.W. Langman’s Medical Embryology. 7th ed., Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1995. p. 341 Print. | 5 deVries, J.I.P. et al, “The Emergence of Fetal Behavior.” Early Human Development. Vol 12. 1985, p. 108 Print. | 6 Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. 3rd ed. Harper Resource, 2003. p. 268 Print. | 7 Valman, Pearson. “What the Fetus Feels.” British Medical Journal. p. 234 Print. | 8 Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. 3rd ed. Harper Resource, 2003, p. 269 Print. | 9 Britt, Robert Roy. “Lasting Impression: How Fingerprints Are Created.” LiveScience, Purch, 2 Nov. 2004, www.livescience.com/30-lasting-impression-fingerprints-created.html. | 10 Flanagan, Geraldine Lux, Beginning Life, DK Publishing, 1996 pp. 59-65. | 11 Cunningham, MacDonald, Grant, Williams Obstetrics. 18th ed., p. 90 & 103 Print. | 12 Flanagan, Geraldine Lux, Beginning Life DK Publishing , 1996 Limited p. 68. | 13 Health & Wellness Resource Center, “Normal Growth of a Baby During Pregnancy.” Clinical Reference Systems Annual. 2001. p.1391. | 14 Gordon, Debra MD. “Pregnancy.” The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. 2nd ed., pp. 2694-2695. | 15 Ibid. | 16 Ibid. | 17 Ibid. | 18 Ibid. | 19 Sassone, Robert L. “Interview with Prof. Sir A William Liliey.” The Tiniest Humans. A Better Choice 1 2017-2018 Annual Report, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 2018, www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/facts-figures/annual-report. 27-28 |2 Ibid.| 3 Life Trends Report 2018. 2018,| www.heartbeatinternational.org/images/HeartbeatServices/PrintPublications/LifeTrendsReport2018.pdf.| Late Term Abortions 1 “A Conversation with a Former Abortionist: Is Abortion Ever Medically Necessary?” YouTube, Live Action, 24 Feb. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysl1tRnk-ig. | 2 Ibid | 3 “Induced Abortion in the United States.” Guttmacher Institute, 1 June 2019, www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-united-states/.| 4 Xu JQ, Murphy SL, Kochanek KD, Bastian B, Arias E. Deaths: Final data for 2016. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 67 no 5. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/aids-hiv.htm | 5 Daley, Beth. “Oversold and Misunderstood Prenatal Screening Tests Prompt Abortions.” Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2014, www.necir.org/2014/12/13/prenatal-testing/. Surgical Abortion Methods 1 Marshal, Sarah, MD, Rebecca H. Allen, MD, MPH and Kirtly Jones, MD. “Manual and Vacuum Aspiration for Abortion.” Women’s Health. WebMD, 14 Nov. 2014. Web. | 2 Ibid. | 3 Ibid. | 4 “Abortion Procedures During First, Second and Third Trimester.” American Pregnancy Association. July 2019. Web. | 5 “A Conversation with a Former Abortionist: Is Abortion Ever Medically Necessary?” YouTube, Live Action, 24 Feb. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysl1tRnk-ig. | 6 United States. Cong. House. U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. Testimony of Jill L. Stanek , RN HR 1797, Pain - Capable Unborn Child Protection Act U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice May 23, 2013. 113th Cong. H. Bill. Print. | 7 “An Abortion Doctor Describes a D&E - ClinicQuotes.” ClinicQuotes. 31 Aug. 2012. Web. | 8 Ibid. | 9 Ibid. | 10 Ibid. Chemical Abortion—How the Abortion Pill Works 1 RU486Facts.org - Medical Information about RU-486 (Mifepristone).” RU486Facts.org - Medical Information about RU-486 (Mifepristone). Web. | 2 Ibid. | 3 Ibid. | 4 Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. 3rd ed. Harper Resource, 2003. p. 268 Print. | 5 “Mifepristone U.S. Post-Marketing Adverse Events Summary through 12/31/20188” https://www.fda.gov/media/112118/download, 12 April 2109.

Web. Compassion and Healing After an Abortion 1 Coleman, Priscilla K. “Women Who Suffered Emotionally from Abortion: A Qualitative Synthesis of Their Experiences.” Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons , 2001, www.jpands.org/vol22no4/coleman.pdf. Volume 2 Number 4 Winter 2017 | 2 DC Reardon, PG Ney, “Abortion and Subsequent Substance Abuse,” American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 26(1):61-75, 2000. | 3 Huang Y, Zhang X, Li W, Song F, Dai H, Wang J, Gao Y, Liu X, Chen C, Yan Y, Wang Y, Chen K., “A meta-analysis of the association between induced abortion and breast cancer risk among Chinese females.“ Cancer Causes Control. 2014 Feb;25 (2):227-36. doi: 10.1007/s10552-013-0325-7. Epub 2013 Nov 24. | 4 Strahan, T. Detrimental Effects of Abortion: An Annotated Bibliography with Commentary (Springfield, IL: Acorn Books, 2002) 168-206. 10. B. Garfinkle, Stress, Depression and Suicide: A Study of Adolescents in Minnesota (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Extension Service, 1986). | 5 Speckhard, Psycho-social Stress Following Abortion, Sheed & Ward, Kansas City: MO, 1987; J. Spaulding, et al, “Psychoses Following Therapeutic Abortion, Am. J. of Psychiatry 125(3):364 (1978); R.K. McAll, et al., “Ritual Mourning in Anorexia Nervosa,” The Lancet, August 16, 1980, p. 368. | 6 Rooney, Brent, and Bryron C. Calhoun. “Induced Abortion and Risk of Later Premature Births.” Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons , 2003, www.jpands.org/vol8no2/rooney.pdf. Volume 8 Number 2. | 7 Epidemiology 18(6): 44855, Nov. 2004. 4. VM Rue et. al., “Induced abortion and traumatic stress: A preliminary comparison of American and Russian women,” Medical Science Monitor 10(10): SR5-16, 2004. | 8 Gissler,M, Karalis, E, Ulander, V.M. “Suicide rate after induced abortion decreased in Finland after Current Care Guidelines” The European Journal of Public Health, DOI: First published online: 31 October 2014. Web. | 9 Reardon, David C. “Deaths Associated with Abortion Compared to Childbirth – A Review of New and Old Data and the Medical and Legal Implications.” Journal of Contemporary Health Law; Policy , CUA Law Scholarship Repository, 2004, web. | 10 Coleman, Priscilla K. “Abortion and Mental Health: Quantitative Synthesis and Analysis of Research Published 1995–2009: The British Journal of Psychiatry.” Cambridge Core, Cambridge University Press, 2 Jan. 2018, web.

Abortion is a brutal procedure that involves tearing a human fetus limb from limb—or worse. In the United States, these procedures take place all the way up until birth. Despite claims or stories about women who "needed" to have an abortion in their 3rd trimester, the procedure is not "medically necessary." There are alternative birth interventions available such as C-sections. Additionally, abortion can cause lasting complications for both women and men; long-term psychological trauma is not uncommon. There are alternative to abortion and many resources to help both women and men journeying through an unplanned pregnancy.

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