So, there’s this pro-life bulletin floating around that’s kinda lying, and I thought I’d correct it for posterity. I may be a godless heathen, but I think Jesus was into telling the truth. The bullshit is in regular text, the truth is in bold
Month One
Mommy, I am only 8 inches long, but I have all my organs. I love the sound of your voice. Every time I hear it, I wave my arms and legs. The sound of your heart beat is my favorite lullaby.
According to about.com, “Your baby is called a blastocyst as it implants. The baby measures about 0.1-0.2 mm (3mm=1/8inch just to give you an idea of how small that is (2)). At the end of the fourth week of pregnancy, the chorionic villi are formed”. It lives in a yolk sac, and doesn’t even have a placenta yet.
Month Two
Mommy, today I learned how to suck my thumb. If you could see me, you could definitely tell that I am a baby. I’m not big enough to survive outside my home though. It is so nice and warm in here.
Again, About.com says that “In the beginning of [the 2nd month] it’s hard to tell which way is up on your baby”. Only at the end of the month does it start to grow “the primordia of the liver, pancreas, lungs, and stomach.” Also, it has “limb buds” and “finger rays,” which, while promising, don’t exactly paint the same picture of the thumb sucking infant invoked above; especially since it has a tail (3).
Month Three
You know what Mommy, I’m a girl !! I hope that makes you happy. I always want you to be happy. I don’t like it when you cry. You sound so sad. It makes me sad too, and I cry with you even though you can’t hear me.
Your baby might be a girl, or it might not. Even though “external genitalia begin to differentiate… it’s still very difficult to tell whether your baby is a girl or a boy without genetic screening.” Since the baby just grew ears, it may well be able to hear you crying, but it’s hard to tell if it’s crying with you or not because it doesn’t have eyelids yet.
Month Four
Mommy, my hair is starting to grow. It is very short and fine, but I will have a lot of it. I spend a lot of my time exercising. I can turn my head and curl my fingers and toes, and stretch my arms and legs. I am becoming quite good at it too.
About.com says that the baby will have a “scalp hair pattern” which is not the same as hair. Other than that, this is pretty right. The fetus does, in fact move. However, it’s kind of a moot point anyway as 88% of abortions occur in the first 12 weeks, which is about three months. In other words, by the time the kid has a “scalp hair pattern” it’ll probably live unless something goes wrong.
Month Five
You went to the doctor today. Mommy, he lied to you. He said that I’m not a baby. I am a baby Mommy, your baby. I think and feel. Mommy, what’s abortion?
If the fetus is still alive at this point, chances are, unless giving birth will kill the mother, or her baby’s going to be stillborn, no abortion will be performed. 98.6% of all abortions occur within the first four months of pregnancy (1)
Month Six
I can hear that doctor again. I don’t like him. He seems cold and heartless. Something is intruding my home. The doctor called it a needle. Mommy what is it?
It burns! Please make him stop! I can’t get away from it! Mommy!! HELP me!! No . . . . .
According to a 2005 American Medical Association study, “neurological pathways in [the fetus’] brain that allow for the ‘conscious perception of pain’ do not function until after 28 weeks’ gestation.”(4) That’s not for another month. Besides, we’ve already established that only in extreme cases (death or imminent death of mother or child or both) would an abortion take place after the second trimester (which starts at week 27). (3)
Month Seven
Mommy, I am okay. I am in Jesus’ arms. he is holding me. He told me about abortion. Why didn’t you want me Mommy?
Why?
Every Abortion Is Just . . .
One more heart that was stopped. Two more eyes that will never see.
Two more hands that will never touch. Two more legs that will never run. One more mouth that will never speak.
This last part is just bullshit. The resolution to terminate a pregnancy is difficult enough without this self righteous buggery. No one just gets an abortion on a lark; there will always be reasons that are beyond any of our ability to speculate. I’m not saying that abortion is great, or even that it’s the right decision to make. I don’t fucking know what other people should be doing with their bodies, that’s their business, not mine. I just think that they shouldn’t be lied to or guilt tripped, no matter what choice they end up making.
Sources:
sources are referenced in the text by the number before the url
1.http://www.choiceusa.org/facts/myths.p
2.http://www.gujmedia.de/_content/20/11/2
3.http://pregnancy.about.com/od/fetus/s
4.http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo