Truth About Abortion Online

If abortion has become a choice for you, then you have probably gone through so much emotional turmoil that you think it is the only way out. Most women or young ladies choose abortion for so many reasons. One reason could be the time is not right or I'm too young to have a baby. Another reason could be a product of rape or the baby's and mother's health is at risk, etc. For whatever the reason, for most women, the result of abortion has painful after-effects. Abortions hurt women, not to mention it kills innocent children.

A woman suffers emotionally and physically after having an abortion. Sometimes the pain comes immediately. Sometimes the pain surfaces years later, when you least expect it. She will suffer deeply with guilt and grief. She will question, "How can something that is a woman's right hurt so much?" Most women's emotional response comes out of grief from losing her child. It becomes too hard to handle emotionally. But, the grief is the correct and healthy response that she needs to feel to help her heal.

A woman's decision for abortion for whatever reason, does not exempt her from grieving. Even if she thought it was the right decision, she still needs to mourn the loss of her child. Whether she chose abortion for a personal reason or for medical reasons, in both cases women will grieve with such intense pain that it's too hard to handle on your own. She will have difficulty telling others about that pain.

Pre-abortion counseling does not stand up and tell her about the emotional and physical scars that she will experience. So what do women do? They think something is wrong with themselves because they can't handle the grief. So how do they handle it? They often isolate themselves from others because of shame. If only they could have someone to talk to that they trust with their secret, maybe someone would help them with the truth about abortion.

Day 1: fertilization: all human chromosomes are present; unique human life begins.
Day 6: embryo begins implantation in the uterus.
Day 22: heart begins to beat with the child's own blood, often a different type than the mothers'.
Week 3: By the end of third week the child's backbone spinal column and nervous system are forming. The liver, kidneys and intestines begin to take shape.
Week 4: By the end of week four the child is ten thousand times larger than the fertilized egg.
Week 5: Eyes, legs, and hands begin to develop.
Week 6: Brain waves are detectable; mouth and lips are present; fingernails are forming.

Week 7: Eyelids, and toes form, nose distinct. The baby is kicking and swimming.
Week 8: Every organ is in place, bones begin to replace cartilage, and fingerprints begin to form. By the 8th week the baby can begin to hear.

Weeks 9 and 10: Teeth begin to form, fingernails develop. The baby can turn his head, and frown. The baby can hiccup.
Weeks 10 and 11: The baby can "breathe" amniotic fluid and urinate. Week 11 the baby can grasp objects placed in its hand; all organ systems are functioning. The baby has a skeletal structure, nerves, and circulation.

Week 12: The baby has all of the parts necessary to experience pain, including nerves, spinal cord, and thalamus. Vocal cords are complete. The baby can suck its thumb.
Week 14: At this age, the heart pumps several quarts of blood through the body every day.
Week 15: The baby has an adult's taste buds.
Month 4: Bone Marrow is now beginning to form. The heart is pumping 25 quarts of blood a day. By the end of month 4 the baby will be 8-10 inches in length and will weigh up to half a pound.
Week 17: The baby can have dream (REM) sleep.
Week 19: Babies can routinely be saved at 21 to 22 weeks after fertilization, and sometimes they can be saved even younger.

Week 20: The earliest stage at which Partial birth abortions are performed. At 20 weeks the baby recognizes its' mothers voice.

Months 5 and 6: The baby practices breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid into its developing lungs. The baby will grasp at the umbilical cord when it feels it. Most mothers feel an increase in movement, kicking, and hiccups from the baby. Oil and sweat glands are now functioning. The baby is now twelve inches long or more, and weighs up to one and a half pounds.

Months 7 through 9: Eyeteeth are present. The baby opens and closes his eyes. The baby is using four of the five senses (vision, hearing, taste, and touch.) He knows the difference between waking and sleeping, and can relate to the moods of the mother. The baby's skin begins to thicken, and a layer of fat is produced and stored beneath the skin. Antibodies are built up, and the baby's heart begins to pump 300 gallons of blood per day. Approximately one week before the birth the baby stops growing, and "drops" usually head down into the pelvic cavity.
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Sources Used:
Bergel, Gary (Produced by NRLC) "When You Were Formed in Secret." 1998.
Flanagan, Geraldine Lux. Beginning Life. The Marvelous Journey from Conception to Birth. New York: DK Publishing Inc., 1996.
Hopson, Janet L. Fetal Psychology. Oct. 1998. 07 Jan 2003.
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/tul/psychtoday9809.html.
Internet Sources:
"Fetal Development." 07 Jan 2003.
http://www.w-cpc.org/fetal1.html.
"When Does Life Begin? Abortion and Human Rights." National Right To Life.

If abortion is about a women's choice, shouldn't she be told what will happen to her after her abortion? It is normal after an abortion to feel emotionally injured. These emotional scars can last for years to come. Here I focus on specific problems like:

~ Anger / Rage
~ Helplessness
~ Guilt
~ Shame
~ Grief / Loss
~ Relationship problems
~ Anxiety / Panic
~ Depression
~ Regret / Sorrow
~ Hopelessness
~ Self - hatred
~ Bitterness
~ Feeling uncomfortable w/infants/children/pregnant women
~ Feeling of isolation / alienation
~ Feeling like you are going crazy
~ Inability to be emotionally intimate
~ Frequent crying
~ Vivid nightmares
~ Hallucinations / Flashbacks
~ Child Abuse or Neglect
~ Inability to bond with your children
~ Drug and alcohol abuse
~ Insomnia (inability to sleep)
~ Promiscuity
~ Fear that others will find out
~ Fear of never having children
~ Fear of losing the children you have
~ Fear of having a deformed child
~ Fear of abusing your children
~ Fear of God's punishment
~ Distrust of men
~ Distrust of doctors
~ Inability to make good decisions
~ Physical reations when abortion is mentioned (such as, your body tensing up, feeling sick to your stomach, heart pounding or light headed)
~ Post-Partum Depression or Anxiety (after the birth of a subsequent child)
~ Feeling of numbness
~ Suicidal thoughts / actions
~ Sexual inhibition
~ Anorexia (starving yourself)
~ Bulimia (bingeing / purging)
~ Overprotective parenting
~ Obsessive thoughts about the aborted child / children
~ Extreme weight gain

If abortion is a woman's choice, then shouldn't she be told the truth about what can happen physically to her and her future children? Here are a few physical manifestations that women suffer from after having an abortion:

- Miscarriage
- Infertility
- Irregular menstruation
- Stillbirth
- Cervical pain
- Uterine scarring
- Infection
- Colon problems
- Long, difficult labor
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Breast Cancer
- Sterility
- Endometriosis

Abortion- The Silent Sin, But Silent No More
I was just 17 when I found out that I was pregnant. I was a good kid growing up. I knew the difference between right and wrong. But, one wrong choice changed my life forever!!!
It was the summer before my senior year in high school. I had gone to the doctor after discovering my "cycle" was late bytwo months. My results was positive, I was pregnant! What was I going to do? I asked my doctor if he performed abortions, if that became one of my choices, he said no. But, he gave me an address of a clinic that specialized in abortions.
My reputation was on the line. I wasn't the kind of girl that had sex! I believed in God and all His rules. I was in shock of what was happening? After all, everybody was doing it? Nobody was getting caught, unless they discussed it in public and became known as a "bad girl". Why did guys always get a pat on the back if they had sex, but girls were branded with a bad reputation for life! I knew that wasn't right! Nor, was it right to break the rules for what God wanted for me in my life!
I didn't know what to do. In my mind, I thought about my reputation, how was I going to graduate high school, was I ready to get married and take care of a baby, etc. I had so many decisions and I was so confused. I knew the only way out for me was not suicide, but maybe I would try abortion. It seemed like a good idea. I remembered getting a pamphlet from my Home Economics teacher when she taught about Family Planning. In that pamphlet it talked about abortion like it was another form of birth control. The idea of getting rid of the problem sounded so appealing to me. But, that was so selfish of me to only think of myself.
The day came when I made the decision to tell my parents that I was going to have an abortion. That this was my decision and it was what I wanted. I really wanted my life back the way it was. But, little did I know my life would never be the same again!!! I remember praying, "God help me! If I am condemned to hell for my decision, then I take full responsibility for what I am about to do! Don't blame my boyfriend or my parents. It is solely my decision!" At this time in my life, I wasn't sure what God's punishment for taking the life of an innocent child was. Hell seemed like the only place suitable for punishment that I would spend my eternity! But, I would learn later, that God's grace, love and mercy prevail over all mistakes!!!
I remember reading a lot about abortion. The subject itself confused me on one thing, was this a baby or not? Am I killing an unborn child or am I justifying correcting my mistake? Everything that I read told me that if I was in the gestation of up to two months, then I was only getting rid of a "blob of tissue". After that, they could not legally take it, because it would now be a baby. That made no sense to me. All my life when someone that I knew was pregnant, everyone would congratulate them for having a baby. It didn't matter if they were pregnant a few weeks or months, this was definitely a baby. When I called to make the appointment for my abortion, I asked them was this a baby I was carrying? They assured me that it was only a "blob of tissue". They convinced me that if I didn't hurry and make my decision, then they couldn't legally help me. My time was running out. I was in a loss for wisdom. The only thing I knew to do was abort the mission. (Meaning, I had to get rid of my problem). Still, I was being so selfish! I prayed for mercy, but felt all alone. Not one person tried to talk me out of it. No one told me how God felt about abortions. It seemed like everyone wanted the same thing I did for me. But, why did it seem so wrong, if clinics say it is your choice. I would find out that even institutions don't abide by God's rules. We have allowed them to make abortion acceptable. The truth is Abortion is Murder in the eyes of God! But, He is a very loving and forgiving God, if we turn away from what is wrong. The bible says that He came to give us life and to have it abundantly. Satan came to kill, steal and destroy! Abortion is Satan's domain! His lies are covering up the truth about abortion!!! I pray that my story will tear down the gates of hell! God's way will lead you out of the pit into the light of truth!!!
The day of my appointment for my abortion came. I remember the 30 minute ride on one beautiful Saturday morning. It seemed like an eternity. The beauty of that day gave me hope of a new way of thinking and a new way of living. I was never going to be the same again. I had no idea how true that was just about to play out in my life!!!
When I reached the clinic, I checked in. My name was called. I was told they just needed to take a sample of my blood. The truth was they needed to check to see if I had thin blood. If it was too thin, then I could possibly bleed to death in surgery. I was ok, so the next step was to see a counselor and then pay for the operation. She was very polite and answered all my questions about the procedure. So, I asked the counselor one last time, was this a baby I was carrying or was it a "blob of tissue". I was still desperately searching for the truth, before my surgery. She insisted and assured me that this was indeed a "blob of tissue". So, the next step was to prepare me for surgery. As I went in, I was greeted by a very nice surgeon that assured me everything was going to be alright. As he was about to put me to sleep, he had me to count backwards from ten. He said "Ten..." then I said "Nine...Eight..." then that is all I remember before I woke up in the Recovery Room.
When I awoke, I saw several young girls my age and older. Some were crying and some were in a daze. I remember my stomach was severely cramping. I was getting sick from the anesthesia. The nurse was very rude to me and others. She was shaking me awake and told my family in the waiting room that she had a problem getting me to wake up. The whole atmosphere behind the scenes of the clinic had changed to dismal. I saw no happy faces. After all, we were all getting rid of our problems, so why so grim? There was more happening here than we were being told. Did you know that Abortion is the only surgery that a woman has that she has no right to know about the whole procedure? No right?! Why don't we have the right to know the truth? The reason is because if you knew the truth about abortion, you would never have one! It would be outlawed!!! The fact is, Abortion is a money making industry. Abortionist get a certain percentage for every abortion performed. What has happened to this country when money is more important than human life?! They say women have a choice, then let us choose life! Let us choose to be responsible for ourselves and of the lives of others. What has happened to the compassion for others?
I immediately felt disgrace and shame come all over me. What have I done?! If this was the right thing to do, then why did I feel like the scum of the earth? I felt like I had disgraced my family, myself, my child that I never got to see, and now God! I felt like I had let them down in a way like never before. My whole world came crashing down! I left the clinic that day knowing what I had did was not right! But, what had changed? I came there with the intent that I was doing the right thing. I was told that no life was being lost. What had happened between the time I went to sleep during the procedure and the moment I woke up? I didn't know until years later that I just had a God experience! While I was asleep God put determination into me to keep searching for the truth. This experience was not just for me, but for others to know that God is truly the only way out of this! Abortion is such an emotional issue. Too many emotions that you have to deal with, but to get out of the pit you have to deal with it!
For the next twenty years I stayed in a prison that only existed in my mind and in my heart. Abortion is not something you want everyone to know about, especially when you have had one. For the reason of secrecy, you find it very hard to talk about it. You fear what people will think about you, especially those you love. You fear that someone will find out and ruin the reputation you have struggled to retain. You fear that someone will judge you for what you did and not look at who you have become because of it. I learned a huge lesson on life. Life is to be celebrated! You were made by God to be an over comer, through Jesus Christ!
Who you are, is not determined by the things you own in life. It is what you do with your life that makes a difference in others lives. It is better to help others deal with the same problems as you, by telling your testimony. Your testimony shows that you have gone through similar situations and you know how they feel. You are just like them, dealing with tough times! It is important to show that any tough situation can be overcome. In my case, I allowed God to take over and be in control. He took my pain and rescued me, when nobody else could!!! Jesus came to heal broken hearts and set the captives free!!! If my testimony helps just one person, then it would have been worth it!
Abortion did so much emotional damage to my life and I know that millions of other people feel the same way. In my case I had no other place to turn, but to God. I was tired of people letting me down. I was also tired of lies! I needed the truth to be told! People will eventually fail you in some way, but God cannot fail! He cannot lie! He is the Creator of everything good. He brings truth and light to His Word and to anyone that will listen!
Due to all of the emotional pain that I suffered immediately after having an abortion, I gave my life to Christ two weeks after the abortion. I wanted Him to take my life and do something with it! He has been faithful to do just that! He has given me a heart for men and women who suffer through post-abortion trauma. Jesus can set you free!

Is grieving a normal and healthy response after an abortion? Absolutely. The child that was lost became a major loss through death. Grief is painful, but it is necessary in relieving our sorrow. After an abortion, women may attempt to bury their grief, turn off their emotions, and run from God. Eventually, they face the fact that abortion ended their unborn child's life.

The grieving that follows an abortion is similar to the grief of a woman who has a miscarriage. Both experience stages of denial, anger, depression, and acceptance. Both experience guilt, but the source of their guilt is not the same. Women who had a miscarriage feel guilty because they don't know what role they played in their child's death. Women who choose abortion feel guilty because they do know what role they played in their child's death.

For men, they are usually the silent, wounded warrior...suffering because they are not given a choice. Because they had no choice, they question their right to have feelings following an abortion. Make no mistake, abortion leaves both men and women wounded. They both struggle with fear, anxiety, anger, guilt, grief, and depression. For men, there is in most cases, an unexplainable need to defend their masculinity; that need causes much confusion and strife in most of their relationships and they don't even realize the effects of abortion was the root cause of their problems.

What usually goes through a woman's mind after having an abortion? "Thank God, I am not pregnant anymore." Men usually think, "Thank God, the pregnancy is over." Everything that has happened since she found out that she was pregnant and all the decisions since then, have now come to a close...it's finally over. Now, you are left feeling relieved. But, it doesn't take long before the woman starts to rehearse over and over in her mind, what had happened to her and the child. What do I do now? You try to make sense of it all, but you start to fall into the next stage, denial.

Source: Forgiven and Set Free

Denial is usually long-term and can lasts for many years. Why? It is too difficult to cope with the memories of your abortion. You start to deny that abortion killed your child. You may think, "No, I would never murder a baby. I just terminated a pregnancy". You may begin to think back when you were told that it wasn't really a baby you were getting rid of...it was just a "blob of tissue". You find yourself justifying what you did.

For some women and men, denial ends when they are confronted with the truth of seeing pictures of fetal development. You tend to pay close attention to the stage of development that your own child was terminated. Other women come face to face with their loss when they have a wanted pregnancy. You may wander will this baby make it? I chose to abort a child, do I deserve a second chance? The answer is yes. God is forgiving and He is in the business of second chances. There will be consequences for what you did, but as long as remorse is in your heart, forgiveness from God will be rewarded. Many women and men desperately come to grips with the truth and finally stop running from God. They begin to seek Him from the depths of their hearts, searching for comfort that only He can give.

Source: Forgiven and Set Free

In this stage, you start to realize the truth about abortion and you become angry. You start to question the actions of others and blame them for your loss. Your questioning begins... "The clinic should have told me the truth about fetal development; they should have told me about adoption, My parents should have been more concerned about me than what others thought, She shouldn't have chosen abortion, Men don't have any choice in abortion or Why didn't God stop me?" If your anger continues and you don't express yourself, it can turn into bitterness and interfere in other areas of your life. Anger is not a sin. It is a God given emotion to help you deal with problems. But, when you let your anger control you, then it becomes a sin. To get rid of this anger, the next step you must learn to do is...forgive.

Source: Forgiven and Set Free

In this stage men and women must learn to forgive the people and circumstances that led to their abortion. It becomes the hardest stage to overcome. But, in order for you to heal, it has to be done.

You start to come to grips with the truth and know that you cannot change the past or change others. What you can change is your own response to your hurt and anger. You can now begin to choose forgiveness. It is the unconditional type of forgiveness that leaves you free, with no strings attached. Then, you can learn to make room in your life for love. Love can conquer all fears and soften the pain. God's love is everlasting. Why? Because, God is Love. He can teach you how to love unconditionally and His love is forgiving and sets you free.

Source: Forgiven and Set Free

The roles men and women played in their baby's death can fill them with guilt, shame, self-condemnation, and self-pity. It is in this stage that harmful behavior such as excessive drug and alcohol use or suicidal tendencies are noticeable. Men tend to also have to deal with becoming more aggressive and abusive. In this stage, you may feel the need to punish yourself, which may show up in psychosomatic illnesses or you may become accident prone. Through these behaviors, you may attempt to ease the pain of guilt, but fail to do so. You began to blame yourself for not preventing the abortion; not learning the truth in time, not choosing life for the baby, and for not standing up for what was right. Men who chose abortion experience extreme guilt because he failed in his responsibility to his child and to his child's mother. In moving forward out of depression, you are no longer angry with yourself but have now accepted responsibility for what you have done. You now start to surround yourself with God's loving forgiveness.

Source: Forgiven and Set Free

By now, you have forgiven those who hurt you and have accepted God's forgiveness. You have acknowledged all the emotions that go with grieving and you have faced them head-on.

You begin to show gratitude for all that you have learned and want to share that experience with others. In acceptance, you are fully aware of what God is doing with your pain and watch joyfully as He turns it into a blessing. You have a deeper understanding of God's plan for your life. You wait patiently as He shows you how this painful experience with grief fits into His perfect plan. Is this a process that you would want to repeat? Absolutely not. But, if you learn anything, learn that it was God's love, grace, mercy and forgiveness that brought you through it all. You learn the true meaning of being forgiven and set free, even when you didn't deserve it.

Source: Forgiven and Set Free