mn@dscvax2.UUCP (Matt Noah) (08/16/85)
> I really can't argue in an educated manner about the life, autonomy, rights, > etc. of a fetus (preborn baby???!), as no-one except a Higher Power really > KNOWS anything about that. Still, I would like to share my own experience, > in the name of understanding. > When I was 20, I got pregnant despite the fact that I was on the pill. > The fellow I was seeing (and 'sleeping with') was a lovely fellow, but not > the get-married, and set-up-house type. I had already moved across the > country and started back to school when I found I was pregnant. I decided > to have an abortion. It was one of the hardest, saddest, and most upsetting > decisions I've ever had to make, but it was the right one. (As an aside to > those who harass people outside clinics: I had done quite a bit to inform > myself, including looking through medical texts and Nilsson's Behold Man > book. I also got information about alternatives from Planned Parenthood.) > I was about 8 weeks pregnant when I had the abortion. You decided to have your abortion before you got pregnant. Since you seem intelligent enough to know the consequences of sex - even when on the pill - the choice of whether to have an abortion or not was made before the fact of pregnancy. I can believe and understand that it was hard, sad and upsetting. But *why* was it? Was it because you believed you were carrying life? Was it because you were confused? Was it because it was interfering with your life? What was the reason? Claim it harassment or whatever you want to call it. The war of words will continue but in the meantime, many positive - the overwhelming majority - pro-lifers will continue to aid and counsel women outside clinics. Do you know how hard it is to watch someone walk in to a clinic to have an abortion and try to be the only pro-life influence she has had? It is nothing short of a miracle when a woman is turned around by sidewalk counselors. > Since then, I have finished a degree in Computer Systems, so I can support > myself. I have also met, and married, one of the nicest men I've ever known. > Last spring, I got pregnant again. We had not planned it, but both of us > were very excited at the prospect of a baby. I had a miscarriage at about > 8 weeks. (I don't believe in a Vengeful God, and so I don't think it was > retribution for the abortion. A god that would do that would be much less > thoughtful of pre-born children than I am.) Your miscarriage had nothing to do with a vengeful God (it sounds as if you believe in God and believe God is pro-life). It *may* have had something to do with your abortion, *may* have. > The miscarriage I had gave me an opportunity to see just what an 8 week > fetus looks like, and a cross between chicken liver and chicken gizzards is > about as good a description as I could give, approximately 2 Tablespoons > thereof. I don't discount your experience. All photographs and pictures I've seen of 8-week-old fetuses are clearly distinguishable as human beings and are larger than what would fill 2 tablespoons. Perhaps the miscarriage or the reason for the miscarriage had something to do with what you saw. Matt Noah
sophie@mnetor.UUCP (Sophie Quigley) (08/26/85)
In article <23@dscvax2.UUCP> mn@dscvax2.UUCP (Matt Noah) writes: >> When I was 20, I got pregnant despite the fact that I was on the pill. >> The fellow I was seeing (and 'sleeping with') was a lovely fellow, but not >> the get-married, and set-up-house type. I had already moved across the >> country and started back to school when I found I was pregnant. I decided >> to have an abortion. It was one of the hardest, saddest, and most upsetting >> decisions I've ever had to make, but it was the right one. (As an aside to >> those who harass people outside clinics: I had done quite a bit to inform >> myself, including looking through medical texts and Nilsson's Behold Man >> book. I also got information about alternatives from Planned Parenthood.) >> I was about 8 weeks pregnant when I had the abortion. > >You decided to have your abortion before you got pregnant. How do YOU know? -- Sophie Quigley {allegra|decvax|ihnp4|linus|watmath}!utzoo!mnetor!sophie