“To Be Pregnant, or Not to Be. That is the question.” asked by your health practitioner.
*all quotations referencing the New York bill that was just passed are from https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/s240.
When I was pregnant with my first child my OB doctor told me she had to ask me if I wanted this pregnancy or not.
I guess it’s because they wanted me to have a safe place to state my feelings about it, or that they could recommend me to get a procedure done in the case that I didn’t want to be pregnant.
I left the OB office very disturbed that day. Angry that they had to ask that question. Whether you’re a first time mother or a 2nd, 6th or a 10th time mother you are going to feel overwhelmed with the responsibility of a child coming into your life and your home. It’s normal.
What’s not normal is our culture and health care system giving us more education on our choices as a woman than giving us help, support and encouragement to keep our baby or fetus, as they so coldly call it. I have a problem with our health care system making it so available to abort our children; for discouraging us to carry to full term because our fetus might have a disability when it’s born. Our country boasts of abortion being “one of the safest medical procedures preformed in the United States.” Not only is it “safe” it’s becoming more and more convenient as well.
This new bill passed in NY states “an abortion may be performed by a licensed, certified, or authorized practitioner within 24 weeks from the commencement of pregnancy, or there is an absence of fetal viability, or at any time when necessary to protect a patient's life or health.”
“At any time” is the most disturbing clause in this bill as the baby could survive after 24 weeks gestation but they still choose to preform an abortion.
We must stand up to these cries of a woman’s choice and remind these women of the better choice. To keep her baby. To give her support in her pregnancy and after she delivers; physically, mentally, financially, and spiritually. The killing of babies is nothing new in our world as people have been sacrificing their children since the beginning of time.
“Because they have forsaken me” “and have filled this place with the blood of innocents. They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it , neither came it into my mind: Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord , that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.” -Jeremiah 19:4-6
Today, many are making their voices to be heard in their disapproval of abortion but are they also making their actions to be seen? We can do this by showing a pregnant woman that we care, that she matters and the life inside of her matters.
Support a pregnant lady the next time you see one by encouraging her. Refrain from asking, “ Was that planned?” “Do you think this will be your last one?” These questions and questions like them are demeaning and negative towards a pregnant woman. If you’re really for her carrying to full term let your speech praise the precious life she is carrying inside of her.
Support a pregnant lady by treating her as someone special; by smiling at her other children and not looking at her as if she should be ashamed for having more than 2.
Support a pregnant lady by considering adoption for those who will need a mother or father.
Support a pregnant lady by giving her resources for support, financially, physically, and spiritually.
Support a pregnant lady by donating or volunteering to help in resource centers, charities, and churches that give to new mothers and their babies in the community.
Support a pregnant lady by throwing her a baby shower.
Maybe we can fight back all the systems propaganda of the choice to have an abortion, the choice to end a life that doesn’t matter. Maybe our actions need to speak louder than our words, so that when a pregnant woman is asked do you want to keep this pregnancy, she will know that she has others there to support her during her pregnancy. She will know that what she is carrying is more than just a fetus. She’ll know that she carries her child’s life, one that is worth the choice to live a better life. A life with her child in her arms and not in the grave.