Life House Care Center
There is hope...because there is help!
Before You Decide

You think you are pregnant.  This was not your plans.  Fear, confusion and anger are just some of the feelings that you may be experiencing.  You wonder what you are going to do. 

Facing an unplanned pregnancy is hard.  Before you decide, you deserve to know the facts.  The law gives you the right to be fully informed about this important decision.

Should I be concerned about having an abortion?
  • Abortion is not just a simple medical procedure.  For many women, it is a life changing event with significant physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences.  Most women who struggle with past abortions say that they wish they had been told all of the facts about abortion. 
What can I do about people pressuring me?
  • Remember, no person will be required to live with the consequences of this decision as much as you will.  If your boyfriend or parents are pressuring you to make a quick decision, explain your needs and try to involve them in counseling to explore your positive options.  You have the right to continue with this pregnancy.
Can I still have a baby and still live my life?
  • You may see this unplanned pregnancy as a major roadblock in your life.  Thankfully, there are other routes that can get you back on track.  Be encouraged to know that many women in the same situation have found the necessary help and resources to make positive choices and realize their dreams.   
See the Beginning
  • Day 1 - when fertilization occurs, the baby's features, including sex, hair and eye color, have already been determined.
  • Day 21 - The heart begins to beat.
  • Day 35 - Five fingers can be discerned in the hand.  The eyes darken as pigment is produced.
  • Day 40- Brain waves can be detected and recorded.
  • Week 8 - At a little more than an inch long, the developing life is now called a fetus-Latin for "young one" or "offspring".  Everything is now present that will be found in a fully developed adult.  The heart has been beating for more than a month, the stomach produces digestive juices and the kidneys have begun to function.  The baby's body responds to touch, although the mother will not be able to feel movement until the 4th or 5th month.  
  • Week 12- The baby now sleeps, awakens and exercises its muscles energetically-turning its head, curling its toes, and opening and closing its mouth.  The palm, when stroked, will make a tight fist.  The baby breathes amniotic fluid to help develop its respiratory system. 
  • Month 4 - By the end of this month, the baby is eight to ten inches in length and weighs a half pound or more.  The mother will probably start to "show" now.  The ears are functioning, and there is evidence that the baby hears quiet a bit, such as the mother's voice and heartbeat as well as external noises.  The umbilical cord has become an engineering marvel, transporting 300 quarts of fluids per day and completing a round-trip of fluids every 30 seconds.  
  • Month 6 - The baby now uses the four senses of vision, hearing, taste and touch.  He can recognize his mother's voice.  
  • Month 9 - Toward the end of this month, the baby is ready for birth.  The average duration of pregnancy is 280 days from the first day of the mother's last menstrual period, but this varies.  Most babies (85% to 95%) are born somewhere between 266 and 294 days.  By this time the infant normally weighs 6-9 pounds, and his heart is pumping about 250 gallons of blood a day.  He is fully capable of life outside the womb. 


ABORTION PROCEDURES

The most common surgical abortion procedure is called suction aspiration.  For this procedure, the patient lies on her back with her feet in stirrups (as with a pelvic exam).  The doctor dilates (stretches) her cervix with cone-shaped rods to have access to her uterus.  A suction device (similar to a tube) is inserted into the uterus.  The tube is connected to a hose and to a suction machine that uses a strong vacuum force to pull the fetus and placenta into small parts that will pass through the tube. 


Consider the Immediate Risks of Abortion
  • Some side effects may occur with induced abortion.  These include abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  In most abortions, no serious complications occur.  However, complications may happen in as many as 1 out of every 100 early abortions and in about 1 out of every 50 later abortions.  Such complications may include:
  1. Heavy Bleeding
  2. Infection
  3. Incomplete Abortion
  4. Allergic Reaction to Drugs
  5. Tearing of the Cervix
  6. Scarring of the Uterine Lining
  7. Perforation of the Uterus
  8. Damage to Internal Organs
  9. Death
Abortion and Breast Cancer

Medical experts are still researching and debating the linkage between abortion and breast cancer.  However, here are some important facts:

  1. Carrying a pregnancy to full term gives protection against breast cancer that cannot be gained if abortion is chosen.
  2. Abortion causes a sudden drop in estrogen levels that may make breast cells more prone to cancer.
  3. Most studies conducted so far show a significant linkage between abortion and breast cancer.
A 1994 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found:  "Among women who had been pregnant at least once, the risk of breast cancer in  those who had experienced an induced abortion was 50% higher than among other women."

Spiritual Consequences

People have different understandings of God.  Whatever your present beliefs may be, there is a spiritual side to abortion that deserves to be considered.  Having an abortion may affect more than just your body and your mind - it may have an impact on your relationship with God.  What is God's desire for you in this situation?  How does God see your unborn child?  These are important questions to consider.


HELP IS AVAILABLE

Facing an unplanned pregnancy can seem overwhelming.  That is why knowing where to go for help is important.  Talk to someone you can trust - your partner, your parents, a pastor, a priest or perhaps a good friend.  Also, the caring people at your pregnancy center are available to help you through this difficult time. 

You can call Life House Care Center at (270)753-0700 or Stop by....602 Poplar Street, Murray, KY.  (Or you can also call 1-800-395-Help)



To read a true abortion story go to: www.thinkaboutitonline.com




References:

  1. Before you Decide, An abortion education resource brochure, 2003 Care Net
  2. The First Nine Months,  Focus on the Family, Rev. 7/99