Welcome to the War on Women! GIven recent attempts to stake out an abortion ban after 15 weeks as the “moderate” position, let’s look at the facts regarding later-term abortions. And just say NO! Do not accept their framing.
Let’s start with the changes that happen to the body of a pregnant person during pregnancy: Morning sickness, backaches, varicose veins, bleeding gums, increased susceptibility to infections, too much body hair, brittle nails, stretch marks, brown patches on the face, larger freckles and moles, acne, sore breasts, leaky breasts, feeling hot, sweating, dehydration, loosened joints and ligaments, sciatica, big feet, and swelling in the feet and ankles.
Then there are “common maternal health conditions” during pregnancy that include anemia, urinary tract infections, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, hyperemesis, and did I mention infections?
Does this sound like something women want to go through if they do NOT want a baby?? Of course not!!
Then there are the life-threatening complications of pregnancy, the incidence of which have been rising in the US pretty steadily over many years: Heart attack, aneurysm, kidney failure, respiratory distress, embolism, disseminated intravascular coagulation (basically, blood clotting all over), eclampsia, stroke, pulmonary edema, sepsis, shock, and needs for blood transfusion and/or tracheostomy and ventilation.
Really, who would volunteer for this just for giggles?
So guys: Pregnant people who have later-term abortions have health emergencies!!! These are desired pregnancies with the hopes and dreams of a healthy baby at the end of 9 months of Hell! And something has gone horribly wrong. Outlaw later-term abortions? You KILL women. And do NOT save any babies! Later abortions are sought because either the something is terribly wrong with the fetus and it will not survive, or because something is terribly wrong with the mothers and they will not survive, in which case the fetuses also will not survive. We need to demand that legislators stop trying to practice Medicine without a license!