Better Late than Never

Well, January 22 was Blog for Choice Day, something I didn't even know until my hubby pointed it out the day after. I wasn't going to bother posting on this site since my hubby made an excellent post on our family site, but last night someone started a debate regarding the much talked about Partial Birth Abortion. Of course, rational and factual information presented was ignored, and emotional arguments thrown back in my face.

Okay, you want an “emotional” argument for Partial Birth Abortions, you got it.

Specifically, the issue was over the recent ruling of the PBA ban in the state of New York as unconstitutional since it didn't have a clause for medical emergency endangering the mother's life.

Some facts will be thrown in for good measure. (I know, pesky little buggers, aren't they?) BTW, I will be referring to Partial Birth Abortion by its medical term, D&X.

Fact: I am 23 1/2 weeks pregnant. (I'm pretty sure this makes me qualified to have an emotional discussion on this subject.)

Fact: My insurance only covers one sonogram/ultrasound during my prenatal care. Unless my doctor thinks that something is wrong, I have to pay for any additional sonogram. This sonogram is usually done at 20 weeks gestation; I've already had mine.

Known Issue: Many women in this country do not have access to prenatal care. The first time they see a doctor during their pregnancy is when they are in labor and go to the ER.

Fact: Prenatal Hydrocephalus affects up to 10,000 babies every year. It's one of the most common forms of birth defects. While severe cases don't appear to happen that often, when they do, "It is not unusual for the fetal head to be as large as 50 centimeters (nearly 20 inches) in diameter and may contain...close to two gallons of cerebrospinal fluid." (Dr. William F. Harrison, a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Emotional argument: Hypothetically, suppose my baby, whom I love already and want very much, develops a severe case of prenatal hydrocephalus. I've already had my sonogram, so unless my doctor can externally determine that something is wrong with my baby and orders another sonogram, the first time my doctor can diagnose this issue is during my labor at full-term gestation. The hydrocephalus is so severe, the baby cannot live after birth, and I only have three options:

1. Die while trying to deliver my baby. End result for baby: death.
2. Have an emergency c-section. End result for baby: baby dies shortly after delivered, it cannot achieve consciousness.
3. Have a D&X procedure. End result for baby: baby dies during delivery.

Since I obviously don't want to die and leave my 2 1/2 year old son without a mother and my husband without a wife, I really only have two options. Let's consider them, shall we?

Emergency c-section. This is major surgery that involves many risks to the mother, including infection and possible consequences to her fertility and future ability to have more children. It also requires either an epidural anesthesia or general anesthesia.

D&X procedure. While very high on the icky factor, this poses the least amount of risk to the Mother. It does not harm the mother at all.

Please remember, this child already has a name, it's own room in our home, toys, clothes, and all the other items you would accumulate for a newborn baby in the house. No matter what, my family and me are going to be devastated by the death of this child. (Is that "emotional" enough for you?)

Since I have chosen to give birth without an epidural or any other type of anesthesia (I know, I'm a freak), some type of anesthesia would be required if I were to undergo a c-section. I also plan on having more children.

Given this data, I would more than likely chose to have a D&X procedure over an emergency c-section. This is a personal choice made between my doctor and myself. I still have a dead baby.

Still think there shouldn’t be a clause in a Partial Birth Abortion Ban for the Mother’s health?