Dear Neighbor,
While strolling through our neighborhood with my daughters, I noticed your sign stating, “Every day in Pennsylvania, a baby is killed in late-term abortion.” After reflecting on that message, I felt it necessary to share my story with you.
At 32 weeks and 5 days into my pregnancy, I received the heartbreaking news that my son had passed away. I was induced and delivered a beautiful boy who, sadly, was silent. The only tears in that delivery room were ours, mourning the loss of our deeply cherished child. After facing struggles with infertility, the void left by his absence is profound and everlasting.
In my journey of grief, I have connected with other mothers who have faced similar losses. Here are a couple of their stories:
Stories of Other Mothers
One mother discovered that her baby had multiple anomalies rendering them “incompatible with life.” Knowing her child wouldn’t survive after birth, she opted for an early delivery. This allowed her to spend precious moments with her baby before their inevitable passing. To her, this was a choice to remove her child from life support, yet it is labeled a “late-term abortion.”
Another mother went for a routine anatomy scan at 21 weeks, only to learn that her baby had anencephaly, a condition in which parts of the brain are missing. Understanding there was no chance for her child to survive outside her womb, she chose to terminate the pregnancy through dilation and curettage (D&C), sparing herself the physical anguish of labor after already enduring immense emotional pain. This, too, is classified as a “late-term abortion.”
It’s important to note that the term “late-term abortion” holds no medical definition and is not used by the healthcare professionals who care for these women. The experiences I highlighted would typically be referred to as “termination for medical reasons.” Statistically, abortions occurring after 21 weeks account for just 1% of all abortions, and these two women represent that statistic.
These are not women who casually decide they no longer want a child at 30 weeks. They are individuals navigating unimaginable circumstances and making the hardest choices imaginable. They are mothers yearning to create lasting memories in the fleeting moments they have with their child.
I understand the pain of losing a child—holding my son in my arms after his passing was a heart-wrenching experience. If I had known his death was inevitable and had the opportunity to spend any moments with him alive, I would have embraced it. I would have made what you call a “late-term abortion” to cherish even a fleeting moment of life.
I urge you to reconsider the narrative you promote and to empathize with the pain of women like myself. These mothers are not villains; they are simply trying to make the best decisions for their children in the face of devastating circumstances.
Sincerely,
Your neighbor and fellow bereaved mother
Further Reading
For more insights, you might find this article on home insemination helpful. Additionally, intracervical insemination provides authoritative information on related topics, and Resolve.org is an excellent resource for those navigating family-building options.
Probable Search Queries:
- What is a late-term abortion?
- Stories of mothers who experienced late-term abortion
- Emotional impact of late-term pregnancy loss
- Medical reasons for late-term abortion
- Resources for families facing pregnancy loss
Summary
This heartfelt letter addresses the realities of late-term abortion through personal experiences and the stories of other mothers. It aims to counter the politicization of such sensitive decisions and encourages empathy toward those facing unimaginable choices during their pregnancies.