INTRODUCTION
Experiencing a crisis pregnancy for a woman at any age can be a horrifying experience. Today, a woman is given another option besides carrying a child and that is abortion. No matter what choice a woman makes in this situation, she will never be the same. There are many more issues to consider in this crisis than just the relief of stress from the immediate concern of pregnancy. The following is a list of questions to help you sort out the issues and make an informed decision about abortion that will still be a good decision 20 years from now.
1. WHAT IS AN ABORTION?
Abortion as is commonly used today is "the act of artificially inducing premature birth to a human fetus by using various techniques depending on the stage of the fetus' growth in the womb.
2. HOW WILL HAVING AN ABORTION AFFECT ME NOW AS WELL AS 10 OR 20 YEARS FROM NOW?
Some women have reported an immediate relief from their stressful situation but the more common report is that very quickly a woman experiences a deep rooted guilt that health care professionals are referring to as postabortion syndrome.
3. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF POSTABORTION SYNDROME?
The following symptoms will not necessarily appear at the same time, nor is any woman likely to experience the entire list. If three or more describe what you have been going through recently, chance are you are experiencing PAS: guilt, anxiety, repression and denial, psychological "numbing", depression and thoughts of suicide, re-experiencing the abortion, preoccupation with becoming pregnant again, anxiety about fertility and childbearing issues, development of eating disorders, alcohol and/or substance abuse, anniversary syndrome.
4. WHAT IS GROWING INSIDE OF ME?
Some say that the fetus is just a mass of tissue, but the Latin word fetus means baby. By the time most women even know their pregnant with this mass of tissue, its heart has already been beating for about three weeks, all the major organs, muscles and bones are formed. Arms, legs, eyes and ears have begun to show, brain waves can be detected, five fingers are apparent and the eyes are darkening as pigment is produced.
5. WHEN DOES LIFE BEGIN?
Some say human life begins at birth. But doctors and scientists tell us that long before then, the fetus shows all the signs of life that a newborn baby does. At conception a genetically unique individual begins life. All of the characteristics he or she will have as an adult are already determined.
6. WHAT ABOUT THE AGE OF VIABILITY?
The age of viability is the ability for the baby to live out side the mother's womb. According to the courts, viability is a consideration, but in actual practice it doesn't really seem to matter. Babies prematurely born as early as the fourth month of pregnancy, weighing only one or two pounds, have survived. On the other hand, abortions are performed on perfectly healthy babies much older, even up to the ninth month in some cases, and if they do happen to be born alive, they are usually left unattended to die. In light of this, the viability question doesn't seem to make much sense.
7. HOW LONG CAN I TAKE TO MAKE THIS DECISION?
Most abortion doctors perform the procedure during the first trimester (twelve weeks) but in most states you can find someone to perform an abortion up to nine months. Do not rush into an abortion; take your time to think about all the issues. A quick decision is one you may regret.
8. WHAT ABORTION PROCEDURES ARE USED AT EACH TRIMESTER, AND WHAT ARE THEIR DANGERS TO ME?
Suction aspiration is used in 95% of induced abortions. A powerful suction tube is inserted into the womb through the dilated cervix. The uterus can be punctured with hemorrhage and infection resulting. Dilatation and curettage (d&c) technique is where the cervix is dilated to permit insertion of a loop shaped steel knife in order to scrape the wall of the uterus. Bleeding is sometimes considerable.
Dilatation and evacuation (d&e) is similar to the d&c but is used to remove the fetus as old as 18 weeks. Forceps are used to grasp part of the fetus who already has calcified bones.
Saline poisoning uses a salt solution that is injected into the women's uterus via a needle through the abdomen. The fetus breathes in the salt and is poisoned.
The abortion surveillance branch of the center for disease control maintains that induced abortion is safer that childbirth, that the serious complication rate for abortion is less than one percent and that abortion is a good backup for contraceptive failures. However, the experiences of private physicians and gynecologists do not support the validity of this claim. There is clearly massive underreporting of complications and deaths. (Matthew Bulfin, M.D., "Complications of legal abortion: a perspective from private practice"
9. WILL AN ABORTION AFFECT MY ABILITY TO BEAR CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE?
Studies show that 20-30% of all suction and d&c abortions performed in hospitals will result in long term negative side effects relating primarily to fertility and reproduction. (Thomas W. Hilger, M.D., The hatch hearings.
10. HOW WILL BY PERSONAL EXCESSES HARM OR AFFECT THIS BABY (DRUGS, ALCOHOL, and SMOKING)?
These are never good for an unborn baby, they can be poisonous, but contrary to what pro-abortionists say, your baby may be just fine. It is very important to get a medical doctor's opinion, one that does not make money from performing abortions.
11. IF I HAVE A COMMUNICABLE DISEASE, CAN I PASS IT ON THE BABY?
Yes, it is possible, but you won't know for sure without expert medical advice.
12. WHO SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN MY DECISION PROCESS?
The father of the baby is the first one to consult, but often the man does not want the responsibility for the child, so weigh his input against what you know is right. Your parents may be appropriate to include if you are living at home and still under their care. Others would be close friends, pastor, or a personal mentor.
13. IS THERE ANYONE WHO IS EXPERIENCED AT COUNSELING WOMEN LIKE ME THROUGH THIS DECISION, SOMEONE WHO WILL NOT JUDGE BUT REALLY CARE ABOUT ME?
Yes, there are over 3000 crisis pregnancy centers across the United States that will assist you in the process of this decision. They will give you all the facts, not just the ones that will persuade you to have an abortion. And most importantly, they will care about you, and provide not only emotional support, but practical assistance as well. Look in your local phone book for the center nearest you.
14. WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT ABORTION?
God's word, the Bible does not have the word abortion as we know it, but it is very clear on when life begins and other related issues.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you . . . Jeremiah 1:5
"For you formed my inward parts; you covered me in my mother's womb . . .Your eyes say my substance, being yet unformed. And in your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them." Psalms 139:13,16.
"The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up." 1 Samuel 2:6
"Then god spoke all these words, saying, . . . You shall not murder." Exodus 20:1,13
15. CAN GOD MAKE A RIGHT OUT OF THIS TERRIBLE WRONG IN MY LIFE?
Getting pregnant is not something that is unforgivable, neither is abortion. God says that "in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." Ephesians 1:7 If God is the Lord of your life, you can find forgiveness for your sins. However, the natural consequence of sin is hardship and his first choice for us is to avoid the pain and do his will first. The pain of abortion is one that a loving father does not want his children to experience.
16. WHAT OTHER OPTIONS DO I HAVE BESIDES ABORTION?
There are two alternatives, give the baby life and parent, or give the baby life and place it for adoption.
17. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD ADOPT THIS CHILD IF I CANNOT RAISE IT?
Surprisingly, there are approximately 1.5 Million couples in the U.S. wanting to adopt and the same number of abortions each year. There are fewer and fewer available babies because of abortions. Yes, there are many families waiting and praying for someone to place a baby in their home.
18. HOW WILL THIS AFFECT MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS?
If you carry the baby, you will get mixed reviews. Those who really love you and respect your decision will support you no matter what. If you choose abortion, those who know and love will support you but eventually may experience regret as well.
19. DO I HAVE A RIGHT TO TAKE THE LIFE OF THIS BABY?
People that believe in abortion say that you do, those who believe the child has a right to live, don't. In the question of abortion it seems that one person's right to live must take precedence and one must suffer or die.
20. IS THERE A DECISION THAT BOTH THE LIFE OF THE BABY AND MY LIFE CAN BE EQUALLY VALUED?
Giving life to the baby is giving value to it and ironically in light of the reported suffering from postabortion syndrome it is valuing your life as well. It is definitely a win, win decision. In the end everyone wins.