I can’t imagine bringing another child into our family. My partner and I have made the difficult decision that if I were to become pregnant, we simply “wouldn’t continue with it,” a polite way of saying we would terminate a pregnancy that might have had a different outcome under different circumstances.
My past pregnancies were fraught with complications. By the time I had my third child, my doctor had to briefly admit me for hyperemesis gravidarum — I was vomiting so much that I couldn’t sustain the pregnancy. I needed extensive iron infusions to battle anemia, and gestational diabetes had me administering insulin to myself multiple times a day. Financially, we were stretched thin, relying on credit cards, while my partner managed our other kids, who were just one and three at the time. I spent most of my time either sleeping or dealing with debilitating nausea and fatigue.
Fast forward to today, when I have children in second, fourth, and sixth grades that I homeschool. My partner teaches at a local high school. If I were to become pregnant again, my children would face the upheaval of entering an unfamiliar school system—one still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic—while I struggle to get through each day.
However, in my state, the option of terminating a pregnancy may soon be out of reach. I live in a conservative area where a “heartbeat law” was enacted, requiring intrusive vaginal ultrasounds to check for fetal cardiac activity before an abortion can be performed. Heartbeats can often be detected as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, making it almost impossible to access abortion services unless there are extenuating circumstances such as rape or threats to the mother’s life.
If our conservative court decides to overturn Roe v. Wade, based on the ongoing case of Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Cooperative, it would eliminate the right to an abortion up to the point of fetal viability, usually around 22-24 weeks. While the current heartbeat law is under federal injunction, that protection relies on Roe. If Roe is overturned, I would be unable to obtain an abortion in my state and would have to travel elsewhere for care.
As much as I would love to have another baby, I know that it’s simply not feasible for the well-being of my existing children. Their lives would be turned upside down, and their needs would take a backseat to my health. Each of my children has severe ADHD, which is why we’ve chosen to homeschool. While medication can help, my youngest struggles to remain still, and my eldest has never had to navigate the responsibilities that come with school.
If I were to face an unplanned pregnancy, my kids would be thrust into a challenging situation with no time to prepare. The stress of new routines and expectations could have serious repercussions for them. My kids deserve to maintain the stability they currently enjoy, but overturning Roe would threaten that stability.
For mothers like me in conservative states, if our birth control fails, the only option may be to travel for medical care. If that’s not possible, we could find ourselves facing an unwanted pregnancy.
We are running out of choices.
For more insights on pregnancy and family planning, check out this informative post from Home Insemination Kit. Additionally, Intracervical Insemination provides valuable information on prenatal exercise, and the NHS offers excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination.
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- home insemination options
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In summary, my situation reflects the difficult choices many women face regarding pregnancy in today’s political climate. The potential for losing access to abortion services means that families may be forced to navigate unplanned pregnancies, drastically altering their lives.