She’s a NOT A CHOICE
A
CHILD
She’s a Child, Not a “Choice” is meant to help you learn about the difficult decision of abortion. Abortion has ethical, moral, and religious considerations for many people, making it a topic that impacts all of society. Women die from abortion complications in Liberia. Because of the stigma associated with teenage pregnancy, many young women often refrain from seeking out pregnancy help until it’s too late. What is an abortion? How does a child grow in the womb? Why do some people believe abortion is a reproductive right for women? What about the rights of the child? What do you need to know to make an informed decision? Why is the abortion debate important for you? Inside She’s a Child, Not a “Choice” you will learn about in utero child development; common abortion procedures; the overpopulation debate; the dangers of human trafficking; and so much more.
FROM THE VERY
Finally, you can read reallife stories of people with a firsthand experience of abortion. Read the fact sheet “Scriptures on Abortion” to explore perspectives on abortion in Liberia as well as the official stand of the Catholic Church.
BEGINNING Social Accounts:
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The Stages and Growth of a Child in the Womb Day 1 - Month 1
Months 2 & 3
Months 4, 5, & 6
Months 7 & 8
Day 1=1 cell. During this time hair and eye color are set.1 By 21 days, the heart begins to beat.2
Brain waves can be detected.3 Unique fingerprints are beginning to form.4
The baby’s ears are functioning.5 She may jump in reaction to sound and suck her thumb.6 Oil & sweat glands function.7
The baby can now recognize her mom's voice.8 The skin begins to thicken.9
Musu, has been here since Sunday. She sits
on top of a small hospital bed dressed in a dark sweater, with a pair of purple socks on her feet and a colorful lappa tied around her waist. She looks very frail and her weak voice can hardly be heard. “I just started bleeding a little bit. But yesterday I finished cooking and it was getting late so I decided to close the window,” said Musu, as she held her arms loosely around her stomach. “As soon as I passed behind the house, I pushed the window and felt this sharp pain. Immediately, I felt hot stuff coming down from me. I went in the room and took off my clothes and I was bleeding and it was coming in thick.” Musu paid twenty US dollars for an abortion three weeks ago and has been bleeding ever since. The public maternity hospital only caters to emergency cases and is free of charge. Betty, another woman, chose to go to the hospital and saihere, “I was just bleeding plenty. Myself I was afraid.” Musu, who looks more like a teenager than a woman, says she is 17 years old. She is in High school and has no money to raise a child right now, so she felt it was right to abort the pregnancy. Musu is not alone. One in ten women under the age of 34 has had an abortion, according to the first study of its kind in Liberia. For Musu in Jacob Town, her experience is one she never wants to go through again. Doctors managed to save her life, and unlike many other women, she will be able to have children again. She has also received the healing power of Jesus Christ. She is one of the lucky ones. “I just want to tell girls that they should not be in the habit of having abortions because it is not good,” she says. “Me myself, I was just afraid.” For Sources Visit: humanlife.org/sources/
Month 9
The child gains 1/2 pound per week as she prepares for birth.10
ABORTION QUICK THOUGHTS ON THE PAST 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.
ON RAPE 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
ON FATHERHOOD Abortion
affects not only the mother, but the father of the child. Abortion can destroy relationships and cause lasting emotional harm.
ON THE FUTURE 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.
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MILLIONS OF ABORTIONS North America
1.2 Asia
Europe
AROUNDTHE GLOBE... Around the globe, as many as 50-60 million children in the womb die from abortion each year—approximately 125,000 per day.1 At least 1.6 billion since 1980.2
6.5
4.3
35.5
Africa
8.2
Latin America & Caribbean
0.1
Where does abortion take place? What happens Oceania during an abortion procedure? Who profits when a The images below illustrate the three mother decides to end the life of her child? most common abortion procedures How can a civilized society tolerate The map above shows the number of abortions per- used around the globe. this treatment of women and children? formed around the globe per year by geographic re- Abortion can place a woman’s life at Why is abortion offered as the default 3 gion. In 2018, 55.5 million children lost their lives. risk. Medical complications range from solution? Often times profit seems to The majority of abortions occur during the first hemorrhaging, cervical lacerations, be the motive. Global abortion provider three months of pregnancy. Unfortunately, thou- uterine rupture, sterilization, cardiac Marie Stopes reported a record income sands happen during the final months—up to and arrest, to death. Psychological studies of £296 million in 2017.6 International through the day of birth in some countries. indicate other risks to women. Among Planned Parenthood Federation reportIn China, government coercion of abortion exists for women who have had abortions, sui- ed $102 million in profits,7 while providpopulation control. In India, while illegal, abortion cide rates can be as much as six-times ing a median salary for its workers of is used for sex-selection purposes. In many other higher, and 65% of women who had $73,050 per year.8 nations, abortion may be used for convenience or abortions are at risk of long-term clinical depression.4, 5 lifestyle choices alone.
Abortion Methods THE ABORTION PILL (CHEMICAL)
The abortion pill is specifically designed to end a life. Because of this, it is also detrimental to the mother. According to the informed consent form from Planned Parenthood, harsh cramping, bleeding and fever is expected. Side effects include extreme bleeding, blood clots in the uterus, uterine infection, allergic reaction and death.
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
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 over a toilet at home or a hotel. If she were to look closely, she would see her dead child. At only seven weeks, it is likely she will see the baby's fingers & toes.4
VACUUM ASPIRATION (SURGICAL)
DILATION AND EVACUATION (D&E) (SURGICAL)
The uterus is emptied by a vacuum or syringe, the baby is torn into pieces as she is pulled through the hose.5, 6, 7
The abortionist tears a part of the baby from her body with forceps. The spine is snapped, the skull is crushed.8,
For Sources Visit: humanlife.org/sources/
9, 10, 11
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COMPASSION AND HEALING AFTER
ABORTION Chances are you, or someone you know may need healing after an abortion. Many women 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 for the conflicting feelings of loss and temporary relief she will experience after an abortion. 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.
“I had an abortion at 21 years old, at 10 weeks [into the pregnancy], and I have regretted it ever since. I was upset before I went through with it, and I came away from the hospital safe but feeling upset and empty. I have experienced depression for years, in part because of this.” – Easlyn
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 Many have difficulty bonding with future children 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. Compassion and healing are available through counseling events and retreats. Instead of feeling shame and judgement, they find themselves welcomed and loved.
Help is Available: www.heartbeatinternational.org/worldwide-directory For Sources Visit: humanlife.org/sources/
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Uncommitted sexual encounters have become commonplace in today’s culture. With the evolution of birth control and “protected” sex, the number of people willing to embrace a hookup culture has increased. A recent Pew Research study from 40 countries revealed that almost half the people surveyed were morally comfortable with sex outside of marriage.1
It's
ABOUT
Has the concept of “safe sex” and its impact on lifestyle led to better health and relationships? The following facts suggest that contraception may not be having the desired impact for society as a whole.
L I F E S T Y L E
TWO YEARS AGO, DURING LIBERIA’S EBOLA OUTBREAK, TENEH FLOMO BEGAN HEMORRHAGING. She arrived at a clinic clutching her abdomen and complaining of intense pain. Health workers at first suspected Ebola. In fact, without telling her family, the 17-year-old visited an abortionist who used a combination of herbs, chalk and a rusty syringe to terminate her five-month pregnancy.
For Sources Visit: humanlife.org/sources/
Worldwide, Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) rates have skyrocketed.2 Areas where contraception use increased showed a rise, not decrease, in the rate of abortions.3 Since abortion became legal and access to contraception increased, the unintended pregnancy rate remains just under 50%.4 Readers may wonder how STI rates have increased with the invention of the condom. As a result of both product failure and imperfect use, condoms do not fully protect against sexually transmitted infections.5 Even with STI testing, risk remains. Unfortunately, some of the infections transmitted during sex are incurable.6 Some cause lasting effects on the body—leading to infertility, cancer, or even death.7
Not only does an unrestrained sexual lifestyle involve the risk of unintended pregnancy and disease, it also carries risk of emotional harm. For adolescent females, as the number of lifetime sexual partners increases, the prevalence of sadness, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts also increases.8 A history of casual sex has also been thought to increase a partner’s risk of sexual infidelity.9 To avoid the emotional and physical risks of a hookup lifestyle, couples should consider saving sex until they are ready to start a family. By waiting, they save themselves from psychological harm, unintended pregnancy, abortion, diseases, and even associated financial burdens. This freedom to protect your whole, long-term health and the wellbeing of your relationship is worth the wait.
At the time, Teneh’s husband, Richard, was sick. “My wife saw me being carried to the Ebola treatment center as a suspected Ebola case, and she thought I was going to die,” he said. “She got scared about raising the child without me, so she spoiled her belly. Then she just closed her mouth, she said nothing, until she started bleeding.” Richard was released from the Ebola treatment center without ever testing positive for the virus. Tragically, Teneh died from complications of the botched abortion and Richard was left without a wife.
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“In our present social context, marked by a dramatic struggle between the ‘culture of life’ and ‘culture of death’ there is need to develop a deep critical sense, capable of discerning true values and authentic needs.What is urgently called for is a general mobilization of consciences and a united ethical effort to activate a great campaign in support of life. All together, we must build a new culture of life” Pope Saint John Paul II Evangelium Vitae (1995) In a culture that often gives negative messages regarding parenthood, it is important that our world today celebrate the gift of new life. Every baby is a blessing and has so much potential. For many women, especially those going through difficult or unplanned pregnancies, choosing life is a very hard decision. However it is worth it in order to bring the joy of a child into the world. Jesus said “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). When we protect the child in the womb, we are showing our love for Jesus. Through His grace, and with the help of caring people, mothers can overcome the challenges and choose life. For those men and women who have lost a child to abortion, it is common to experience grief and anguish which often lasts for many years. Post abortion healing and reconciliation are available to all who have had an abortion through the Divine mercy of God. There is hope and forgiveness for you, if you confess and ask God for pardon. Jesus is waiting for you, you are not condemned, but saved through his death on the cross of Calvary. The church offers reconciliation as well as spiritual and psychological care for those suffering from abortion’s aftermath primarily through parish-based programs, most often called Y.A.U in partnership with the pipeline clinic, in Paynesville Liberia. Such programs utilize specially trained priests and professional counselors who provide one-on-one care.
CONTACT The Ave Maria Youth Apostolate Unit Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish email: ernestnnaemeka72@gmail.com +231776012263
Pipeline Community Health Center Paynesville Montserrado County
Social Counseling Unit: Janet S. Korboi +231770211364
For Sources Visit: humanlife.org/sources/
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HUMAN
More people are enslaved today than any other time in human history. An estimated 40.3 million people, including children and young adults, are trafficked worldwide each year.1 Traffickers prey on young homeless or runaways at transportation hubs, motels, and shopping malls. Additionally, they lure potential victims through the internet or use other victims to recruit. Traffickers convince their victims they will be employed oversees as a nanny or become the next big model sensation, then take them by force to be sold.
TRAFF ICKING FACTORS THAT MAKE A PERSON MORE VULNERABLE
SIGNS OF A VICTIM
TECHNIQUES USED TO KEEP VICTIMS
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF BEING TRAFFICKED
Rescue: Freedom, an anti-trafficking nonprofit, states that 49% of sexually exploited women in nine countries were filmed for pornography while trafficked.2 The former director of the Human Trafficking Program at the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services stated that coerced abortion for trafficked women is universal.3 A groundbreaking study revealed fiftyfive percent of women in the study had at least one abortion while being trafficked, and more than 30% had multiple abortions.4
FOR HELP OR TO REPORT www.a21.org/content/human-trafficking/
Disabilities
Poverty
Lack of family support
History of abuse
Age
Drug or alcohol addiction
Criminal record
Homelessness
Gang involvement
Feels unable to leave relationship with trafficker (and forced to do uncomfortable things)
Expected to have sex for money or valuables
Traffickers keep victim’s money or items earned through sex
Threaten victim or family member
Withhold identification documents
Cause and exploit pregnancies
Force prostitution for debt repayment
Provide drugs or alcohol to create dependency
Blackmail through pornography
Malnutrition and sleep deprivation
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Doxing (publishing of private content online)
Emotional and physical abuse
Forced abortions
Contraction of STI, Hepatitis B & C and AIDS.
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