Written by Guest Writer: Victoria Cobb
Victoria Cobb
In early December 2004, I became pregnant with my first child. After months of trying, my joy of pregnancy would end too soon. Within days of the pink plus sign, I was told I had miscarried. Two weeks and much physical pain later, I underwent emergency surgery to stop internal bleeding believed the result of an ovarian cyst rupture. Awakening from surgery, I barely made sense of the surgeon’s words —he had removed my ovary and fallopian tube destroyed from an undetected ectopic pregnancy weeks prior. Later I would learn ectopic pregnancies are life-threatening, particularly when undetected.
Flash forward to my next three pregnancies. Each time I have that moment of jubilation it is immediately followed by a call and visit to my OBGYN. My doctor doesn’t wait until twelve weeks for a diagnostic ultrasound; she orders one immediately to confirm the safe location of my unborn child in my uterus, building confidence both the baby and I will be safe and healthy during pregnancy.
Does the transvaginal ultrasound performed to ensure my health at this early stage of pregnancy stop me in my tracks? Absolutely not. It is routinely used, non painful and less uncomfortable than my annual visit where my doctor does an “invasive” cancer screening. It certainly isn’t “rape,” as some abortion industry defenders have called it during the recent hysteria surrounding Virginia’s new ultrasound bill.
Admittedly, my story regards pregnancies where I want to keep my children. But let’s consider the scenario of a mom wanting to terminate her pregnancy. Is the ultrasound any less medically important for her? No. In fact, it’s more important.
To end the unborn child’s life, an abortion doctor will not simply enter the mother’s body with a microscopic camera used in the transvaginal ultrasound but will use multiple instruments, potentially including a manual vacuum aspiration, uterine curette, syringe with spinal needle, forceps, or embryotomy scissors, to remove that child. Given the invasive nature of abortion, the protocol of Planned Parenthood, the nation’s leading provider, states doctors should do an ultrasound. Even in early-term, non-surgical abortion, Planned Parenthood protocol dictates not one, but two ultrasounds. One before the pill and one after.
So why would Virginia’s legislature pass a law telling doctors to do what they should already be doing?
First, because abortion doctors don’t always do what they should. The FDA safety report on RU 486, the pill given to terminate a 6-8 week fetus, shows 58 times when abortion providers gave this pill unnecessarily and dangerously to women with ectopic pregnancies. In these cases women spent money, took pills to abort a non-viable fetus and saw a physician who should have instead identified the ectopic and put the women under close medical supervision.
Virginia has several cases of abortion doctors disciplined by the Board of Medicine for failing to perform an ultrasound, resulting in injury to the mother. Dr. Mi Yong Kim chose not to perform an ultrasound and began removing what she believed was an 8-week fetus. When the fetus was eventually removed a day later, the mom’s surgery had been interrupted, she’d been moved to a hospital because of complications, and the fetus was dated almost 27 weeks. This botched abortion not only took the life of an unborn child able to survive outside the womb, but did irreparable harm to its mom. Dr. Abofreka started an abortion on what he believed was a 12-week fetus, later learning it was 23 weeks, again endangering the mom.
Virginia’s bill requires an ultrasound because it builds safety into the abortion practice and offers the woman a chance to view the ultrasound before she finalizes a decision she’ll live with all her life. While abortion advocates want the public to believe every woman who has an abortion is proud of her decision and has no regret, our post-abortive sisters, friends and neighbors tell us otherwise, at least those who talk about their experience. The rest remain behind an unfortunate veil of shame and secrecy rather than getting the healing and restoration they want and need.
Women want to make informed, thoughtful decisions. Women considering abortion in Virginia are not currently offered to view an ultrasound. Do I believe every woman will choose to see an ultrasound because of this law? No. Do I believe every woman who chooses to see an ultrasound will choose life? No. Do I believe every woman will be safer in her decision because of this law? Yes. Do I believe some women will see an ultrasound and choose life? Yes.
And that is the abortion industry’s greatest fear. It is after all an industry—a billion dollar industry. No matter the misinformation campaign sold to the public about this bill, at its core the abortion industry is panicking that a picture of their so-called a “blob of cells” might lead to empowerment for women and less abortion.
Am I ashamed to say I wish fewer abortions happened? No. Even those who support abortion rights claim to want fewer. This bill, despite all the hysteria, is the epitome of the old mantra “Safe, Legal and Rare.”
Articles written by Real Richmond Moms may or may not reflect the opinions of Richmondmom.com owner and staff
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