A little problem with abortion
From column published in The Times Online, June 6:
From the analysis of all published data on the subject, from the mid-1990s to last year, from France to Finland, Australia to Germany, we can say that abortion almost certainly produces a doubling in the premature delivery rate. We don’t know why – maybe bacterial infection from a surgical intervention, maybe because of cervical trauma….
In other words, for a woman who has never had an abortion, the chances of having a baby before 34 weeks are about 3%; in women who have had an abortion in the past, the rate doubles to 6-12%….
In Poland, where the abortion laws were radically tightened after Communism – an epidemiologist’s dream of a nationwide experiment in public health – there was a drop in the national rate of premature birth from about 7% to 3%.
And so what? Well, premature births don’t just mean putting the mite into an incubator. There are real risks of handicap, of blindness or deafness, but chiefly of cerebral palsy, especially if the baby is born at 28 weeks or before. So, if a woman intends having an abortion she might at least like to be told that she’s increasing her chances of a problem pregnancy next time.
What’s more, keeping premature babies healthy is expensive. In the US the annual cost is about $1.2 billion….
As an aside, although blacks represent only 12.3% of the US population, the Guttmacher Institute, research arm of Planned Parenthood, confirms they account for 32% of abortions.
Meanwhile, they are 3x more likely to deliver prematurely than whites.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
“In Poland, where the abortion laws were radically tightened after Communism… there was a drop in the national rate of premature birth from about 7% to 3%.”
Correlation does not equal causation. Could the drop be a result of better prenatal care, better food supply, fill-in-the-blank with any other reason?
This statistic draws big conclusions off of inconclusive data.
Unless you can provide information or proof that they adjusted the data for these reasons, Jill, I’m not buying.
With these new findings, coupled with the mountains of previously existing evidence, one can’t help but wonder how much it will take for orgs like the March of Dimes to acknowledge the bleedin’ obvious connection between abortion and premature birth.
How much does the risk of subsequent premature birth increase when you have a full-term labor and delivery?
I bet it’s more than 3%.
If you’re under 17, older than 35, were pregnant within the last 18 months, had any sort of vaginal infection (the culprit with abortion link), etc….
Any number of things can increase risk of preterm delivery. I think with the abortion link, it’s a result of infections, as their is a similar odds for having an infection after an abortion. It’s not unreasonable to say that abortion will increase your risk of preterm delivery, but that’s because you risk infections with any invasive procedure. As far as I can tell, nobody’s controled for infections.
Rae, I am posting this picture for you from MK….it’s the picture of her son. :D I’d take her up on her offer, if I were you! ;-)
http://www.preciousinfants.com/mkskids.jpg
Sorry, I didn’t know where else to post it!
Thanks Bethany.
Now as I’m offering money to anyone willing to take him and “clean him up”, I’ll give him to the lowest bidder…
@MK: Which one is he again? I forgots… :-x But I dunno, I don’t think your boy would like a li’l ol’ pro-choice liberal like me. :-p
@MK: Nevermind, I rechecked which one he is…the one in blue? He is definitely a looker. :) Though I’m not sure how well I’d “clean him up” as I’m pretty free-spirited myself (though I am forcing myself to go to school…and boy am I glad I got the TA that I did, the man is gorgeous…I so lucked out!). :D
$10.00. I’ll give you $10.00. And all you’d have to do is become pro-life. And support him financially. And cook. And make babies. And surf.
And live in some God Forsaken country without running water. And, and, and…
All right $20.00 and you don’t have to surf.
See how he likes the dog? I bet he likes lemmings too.
@MK: I can’t have babies. The doctor told me the last time I went. :( As for cooking…pretty hopeless at that too. I’ll be able to financially support him as I’ll be getting my master’s in about 4 years so I’ll have a pretty good job with the some state’s health department (preferably Minnesota’s…).
I don’t think it’ll work out after all. :)
Ah vell, I’m currently “chasing” after two cute guys I work with in my lab. I got so lucky working where I do…two hot geeks in the same place. ^_^ Now I’m not sure which one to focus my efforts on…
$30.00…and I’ll cook. If he becomes a fireman, he’ll have to learn to cook. And you can adopt. That way you’ll be able to help people “that are already living”…
(I’m awful sorry about the baby thing, all kidding aside. Any reason given?)
Besides, at the rate his brother is going (2 kids in 2 years) he can probably borrow a few.
As for financially supporting him, he doesn’t require much. Remember? No heat, no electricity, no water?
You might have to live in a cave or a tree, but hey, you said you were a free spirit!
@MK: I’m infertile as it runs in my family (as I’ve said, I was a “miracle”). That and I have endometriosis. So it would literally have to be a miracle for me to get pregnant in the first place much less remain pregnant.
I’m not really *that* terribly upset though, as some people thought I might be (including my doctor). If anything, I’m relieved, as I wasn’t too big on having my own kids (they’d turn out PRETTY messed up …lolz) and I do plan to adopt anyway. There are so many un-adopted older children out there in need of loving homes. :D
Does that mean you’re in? I’ll throw in the dog.
Heck I’ll double the $30.00 if you take the dog too.
I think it’s AWESOME that you want to adopt older kids. Absolutely AWESOME…
And stop knockin’ yerself. You’ll make a great mom. You listen. Really listen, and that’s one of the most important things you can do with kids. Especially older ones. Listening…with your heart. And you corner the market on that…
Sure, why not. :) I like puppehs. I have a li’l fluff-explosion here at home. ^_^ I am learning to cook, but I’m not terribly fond of the idea of living without electricity…internet addiction and all. :-p
Rae,
You know I’ll always have the internet…you can use mine anytime. Heck, we’re on the same website anyway.
Truth is, I don’t really want to sell him as much as I want you for a daughter in law.
Truth is, you don’t really want him as much as you want the dog. So, to be fair, you can have the dog, plus the sixty bucks, if you promise to stay in contact FOREVER…with me, not him, or the dog. Fair?
Nah, you can keep the money and the dog. I’ll talk to you for freebies. :D
Ohhhhhh…Rae bees my friend!!!!!!!!
Can I be Godmother to some of those kids? You know by then I’ll have talked you back into the church!
Ooooooohhhhh…pushy mother in law…sorry.
@MK: Tee-hee, mebbe. :) I got the short-end of the stick when it came to Godparents…mine don’t even talk to me anymore, much less like me. My parents didn’t do that good of a job picking godparents…my youngest brother’s godfather died about 6 years go, and before that he divorced his wife (my brother’s godmother).
My godmother hasn’t spoken to me in 4 years on her own volition, nor does she really acknowledge my presence ever…my godfather is ok, but he never talks to me either because his wifey will get angry.
The only one of us with decent godparents is my younger brother, they actually like him, but we never see them because they live in Wisconsin… :( Which is sad because his godparents are awesome.
That sucks about your godparents, Rae.
I don’t think I even have godparents…
Is it mostly a Catholic thing?
Then it’s settled Rae,
If I can’t be your mother-in-law, I’ll be your Godmother. Of course that means I’m responsible for your spiritual well being. And the first thing we gotta do? Off to confession. Then we’ll…
Oooohhhh…pushy Godmother….sorry.
Rae,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Raaaaaaaaae…
Happy Birthday to you.
Awwwwww….you took your first step!
Congratulations on your First Holy Commmunion!
Best Wishes on your Graduation!
Did you kiss him? Is he cute?
Happy sweet 16!
Merry Christmas, 1-20!
Can I make your Halloween costume? I love making Halloween costumes…
Just thought I’d catch up on all the milestones I missed…
Did I forget any?
Love,
Auntie Mary Kay
@MK: You are silly, but thanks, you are being very sweet. :)
Actually, I haven’t been kissed yet, no boyfriends ever, either.
But thank you again for being so sweet. I appreciate your kindness a lot. ^_^ I really do.
Rae,
You deserve kindness. Kindness is as kindness does.
And you better tell me all about that first kiss!
Did I mention I have a son? Oh yeah, never mind.
You know what they say. A girl has to kiss a lot of Lemmings til she finds her prince. I think forgoing the Lemming kisses and holding out for the prince is a very wise decision.
So, tell me more about these cute guys at work?
Are they Catholic?
@MK: Well shoot…I tried to post links of them so you can see what they look like, but the comment screen thing came up…I’ll try them once at a time. But I don’t think either of them are particularly religious, I know one of them is an atheist.
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/57389743/
Here is one of them. ^^
@MK: And here is the other one:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/57389688/?qo=1&q=by%3Akendranoelle+in%3Ascraps&qh=sort%3Atime
They are science geeeks. :D
Oh my,
He is cute! That’s exactly the kind of guy I was always attracted to…sort of regular but with cute “things”…does that make sense? I’ve always hated guys that were prettier or better dressed than I was. Like ’em “real”!
Is he really smart too, or are the test tubes just subterfuge?
He’s cute too, but I like number one. Number two’s eyes are beautiful but there’s somethin’ about the first guy…names?
Does number one know that he is as adorable as he is? Hate guys that know it…but if he doesn’t…well then. All I can say is, I wouldn’t have to sell him!
Now see, I just saw that number two’s name is Dan.
That’s the same name of the son I’m trying to sell.
Coincidence? I don’t thiiiiiink so!
@MK: The first one is named Ryan, the second one is named Dan. They are both really, really smart. Ryan is a senior in college and Dan is in grad school. They talk science-y stuff at me that I haven’t learned yet and I just kind of smile and nod a wee bit. :)
I have no idea whether Ryan knows he’s so adorkable…I think he has lovely eyelashes. :)
The fantastic thing is, both are single…oh which boi, which boi… :-p
Rae,
His eyelashes and lips…exactly! And the way his hair almost curls…
And Dan, well, those eyes a fabuloso…does he really see you when he looks at you, (or anybody) or does he kind of look through you?
Rae,
I saw the picture of the first guy and blinked a couple times. He looks like someone I know. Where do you go to school?
@Stephanie: I go to the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, he is from Kenosha, WI, if that helps. :)
oooohhhhh…the plot thickens!
Stephanie, how well do you know said boy? Can you give us a hand here…we want to do more than stare at him…
Send the bill to PP.
Send what bill to PP?
MK did you save a son for me? I want one too!!!! But I already have a pup, so you dont have to barter for one of those, too.
Lol…nevermind. I was shocked for a second because guy #1 looks like a guy I know here in Berkeley. I read the names “Dan” and “Ryan” a little after.
So sorry, MK, can’t spill the beans! =)
Samantha,
Danny is still up…no takers. Almost had Rae, but she likes to cute guys already (and they’re smart and gainfully employed.)
While Kevin isn’t the best looking of the bunch, he is the one that will treat you like a queen. But he’s only 17. He’s a jewel and I’m afraid you’d have to pay me for him. Maybe 2 for the price of one?
Tommy is married, and Michael (bigger bum than Danny) is spoken for…He’s oozes charm but will probably also need to be financially supported.
Right now he’s working with troubled teens. Ah, the irony.
But you can still be my honorary daughter-in-law.
When are you coming to Chicago? Leah is coming in mid July and Alyssa and Rae are coming at the end…
Everyone is invited to the Lemming (oops I mean Leprechaun) Fest in August.
Stephanie,
DANG!
Rae,
Never say never. I’ve seen too many “infertile” women become pregnant, including a very dear friend who was almost 40y/o and five months along before she realized it! Since she rarely had periods pregnancy just never occured to her. Two years later she was pregnant again! This was a woman who never took precautions for year because she felt no need to. Just a word to the wise!
On the issue of post abortion prematurity. I remember caring for a young woman who was pregnant by one of our city’s football players. Its a groupie thing around here and more than a few city ladies have been fertilized by the football greats. Anyway, this 20y/o woman required a cerclage stitch, which is applied to a weakened or incompetent cervix to keep help keep it closed as long as possible to minimize prematurity. This woman had already lost babies midterm. During the procedure, her surgeon informed us that she had had an abortion at age 15 and he was convinced her incompetent cervix was the result. By the way this surgeon was pro-choice. And yes, she’d been almost continuously pregnant since her abortion, something we see a lot. She was determined to have a baby. I understand she did deliver early, the baby was 3lbs and fortunately survived.
When the surgeon told us who the father was we rolled our eyes. He looked and acted like he was the first member of his family to walk upright. Love and/or desperation must be blind.
I must ask this. Where is everyone from in Chicago? You all seem to hail from the same fair city that I call my home…
Southwest side. Da husband’s from Bridgeport.
Dan,
Born in Jefferson Park. Moved to Park Ridge for 16 years. Just moved to Edison Park a year ago. Love it!
Dan,
you?
I lived in Hyde Park for my early years, spent two years on the North Side where I lived everywhere but my house [mainly Clark and Belmont], then moved to St. Charles and have been stuck here ever since