Shredding The Myths about Abortion’s “Benefits” to Women

Myth #9 (of 15), another Q&A from Planned Parenthood’s webpage, “Choosing Abortion - Questions And Answers:”

[LINKS TO ALL 15 ARTICLES FOUND HERE]

9. “Does an early abortion increase the chance of infant death in the future? No.”

Perhaps not, but certainly being born too early or too late can be life-threatening to the baby. Prior abortion also increases the risk of overdue births. In Obstetrics & Gynecology (Dec. 1999), a study found that women who had one, two, or more abortions are, respectively, 1.89, 2.61, and 2.23 times more likely to have a post-term delivery (over 42 weeks). [Zhou, Weijin, et. al., "Induced Abortion and Subsequent Pregnancy Duration," 94(6):948-953 ]

While the following isn’t evidence that infant death risk is increased by a mother’s past abortion(s), I still found it sadly pertinent to the issue, especially given this headline news last week: "Study: Moms' boyfriends behind kids' abuse." The local Connecticut paper reported on Oct. 17, 2004 that

"A seven-year Bridgeport Hospital study of children with burn injuries [such as from cigarettes] found that in each proven case of abuse, an unrelated male companion of the child's mother caused the injury. Such findings suggest that closer attention should be paid to adults entrusted to care for children, say area medical and social service professionals."

Now keep that in mind as you digest this study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2002 [SEE BELOW FOR EVEN MORE ALARMING, 2007-PUBLISHED STUDY]: Dr. Priscilla Coleman et. al. found that among first-born children, when the mother had a history of prior abortion, there was lower emotional support in the home given to children ages one to four, plus more behavioral problems among five- to nine-year-olds. And it was true no matter what the mother’s age was, or her education level, the family’s income, the number of children in the home or whether she had a history of prior depression. ["The quality of care giving environment and child development outcomes associated with maternal history of abortion using the NLSY data," 43(6):743-757.]

That second study was among many (some of which I’ve posted in this series) that were read and/or cited at a Science, Technology, and Space Hearing on "The Impact of Abortion on Women," Wednesday, March 3, 2004, to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

And well, well, well, what have we here? Check out the members of that Science, Technology and Space Committee who heard all the post-abortive women's testimony such as Georgette Forney's above:

1. Sam Brownback, KS, Chairman
   
2. Ted Stevens, AK
   
3. Conrad Burns, MT
   
4. Trent Lott, MS
   
5. Kay Bailey Hutchison, TX
   
6. John Ensign, NV
   
7. George Allen, VA
   
8. John Sununu, NH
   
9. John Breaux, LA, Ranking
   
10. John D. Rockefeller, WV
    
11. John F. Kerry, MA
    
12. Byron Dorgan, ND
    
13. Ron Wyden, OR
    
14. Bill Nelson, FL
    
15. Frank Lautenberg, NJ

I don't even have to look it up, I guarantee that Senator Kerry was not there to hear the testimony that day. I wonder...if he had been, maybe he wouldn't have allowed Rebecca Porter's sign to be shredded as he watched....?

Perhaps those of us in these Senators' states (Alaska, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia) who care about women avoiding the harm that can come from abortion will write or call our Senators and ask them to reconsider what they heard in committee that day this past March.

UPDATE MARCH 18, 2007:
A newly published study in The Internet Journal of Pediatrics and Neonatology has found that Women Having Abortions More Likely to Engage in Child Abuse, including "kicking" and "beating." Those actions can lead and have led to "increased chance of an infant's or any age child's death."


These last nine myths are among the ones found on that Planned Parenthood webpage. Note how, at least six times, the questions refer to the phrase “early abortion” when discussing the physical harm that can come to women. Note how there is simply no mention of the risks—or lack thereof—in “midterm abortions” or “late-term abortions.” There is no claim made by Planned Parenthood on this webpage when answering questions about “Choosing Abortion” that mid or late-term abortions will keep women safe from physical and/or psychological harm.

What they don’t say is as telling as what they do say.

Myth #10 to be shredded tomorrow. I’m posting one a day every day from Oct. 19 through Election Day. Prior myths shredded can be found as follows:
#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8.

(If anyone wishes to receive an emailed MSWORD document of the talk in its entirety, please just email me (see above right corner of blog).