Wednesday's Words from Women

I would like to thank NAF and its member clinic in Cleveland for assisting me in getting this abortion. If it wasn’t for you all, I don’t know how I would have made it through this situation. I am 22 years old and I am a single parent. I am currently looking for employment and I am eager to go back to school. I love my daughter with all my heart but I struggle to make ends meet. I believe that I have to make some changes in my life before I will be able to support another child and because of NAF, I will be able to do so.

--Submitted by Ernestine* through a member clinic


A year and half ago I had abdominal surgery and I continue to have pain from the procedure. I have experienced increased pain during this pregnancy and I am in and out of the hospital. My children have to stay with family members while I am being treated so I don’t believe that bringing more children into the world would be the best decision for me at this time.

--Submitted by Nona* through a member clinic


Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we feature real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.

ACLU Challenges Kansas Abortion Restriction

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) asked a district court on Tuesday to block a new Kansas law that will prevent private insurers from covering abortions.

Statehouses around the nation are currently embroiled in lawsuits that challenge a state’s ability to place unnecessary barriers on women’s ability to access abortion care.

However, this case is a bit different. The Kansas law doesn’t restrict the behavior of medical providers or women seeking abortion care, but rather how abortion care is paid for. The ACLU contends that the payer restriction is also an “undue burden.” The law, their court brief argues, “is directed exclusively at making it more difficult for women to obtain and pay for abortion care” and therefore is “no different than a law that would require women to pay a tax to obtain an abortion.” The argument here is that: “Kansas men are permitted to buy comprehensive insurance plans that cover all of their potential medical expenses, but Kansas women are prohibited from doing the same.”

By challenging this ‘new kind of restriction,’ pro-choice advocates have the opportunity to pioneer untested arguments, which could have a ripple effect that according to Brigitte Amiri, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, “will likely set a precedent for what cases in other states could look like.”

Wednesday's Words from Women

I am a single mother of six children, struggling to make ends meet. Additionally, I have spinal injuries that have worsened since my last pregnancy. I am not sure what will happen if I carry this pregnancy to term because I am in need of another surgery. I have to stay healthy to support the children I have now. If this choice wasn’t available, I’m not sure what would happen to our family. Thanks so much for your help.
Love,
The seven of us

--Submitted by Veronica* through a member clinic


This pregnancy was a shock to me. Throughout my life I’ve been very careful about my reproductive choices. I have only ever had one partner, we used protection, and I took the morning after pill when I thought the protection we used failed. When I realized that I was late, I felt scared and alone. I’m struggling through school, my parents help emotionally but not financially, and the man that I’m involved with, while a great friend, is unstable. I’ve always believed that women should have the right to choose, although I didn’t think I supported the cause. Now that I realize how easily this can happen—even when being responsible—it is a comfort to know that I have options. Although this was a hard decision, I’m thankful I have the choice.

--Submitted by Billie* through a member clinic


Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we feature real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.

Series Highlights Impact of Texas Ultrasound Law

In May, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed a bill that requires women seeking abortion care to undergo an ultrasound and listen to an explanation from the doctor about what the image shows. To understand how abortion providers and patients will be affected by the law, The Texas Tribune interviewed Dr. Scott Spear, the medical director at Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region, as a part of the publication’s month-long series on how Texans' lives will change in the fall, when most of the bills passed by the legislature will go into effect.

Additionally, this law forces women to wait 24 hours after the mandatory ultrasound before they can obtain abortion care, unless they live more than 100 miles away from the nearest clinic, in which case the waiting period is two hours.

The law is currently being challenged in federal court by the Center for Reproductive Rights, who requested an injunction to prevent the law from going into effect on September 1.

>>Read more about the harmful effects of waiting periods and the additional burdens they create

Wednesday's Words from Women

I had to make the choice at 27 weeks to terminate my pregnancy. One of the greatest experiences I encountered was being taken care of by Dr. George Tiller, God rest his soul. We as woman can NEVER give up on keeping abortion legal.

--Submitted by Christian* through our website


I chose to terminate this pregnancy because I already care for a five year old child. My boyfriend also has two children, one of which has brain cancer. Taking care of a child with an illness that severe is a lot to handle. We only have one income so things are really hard right now. I want to thank NAF and its member clinic for helping us at this time. The clinic is great and the staff was wonderful and very understanding. I don’t want to see my family struggle. I want to be able to take care of them and give them everything they deserve, need and want. Thank you.

--Submitted by Penny* through a member clinic


Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we feature real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.

San Francisco Politicians Crackdown on CPC False Advertising

San Francisco officials have begun to crackdown on crisis pregnancy centers (CPC) by introducing legislation that would make it illegal for CPCs to falsely advertise about their pregnancy-related services. Crisis pregnancy centers, which are identified as places for pregnant women to get advice, have a long history of intentionally misleading women to prevent them from accessing abortion care.

The bill’s author, Malia Cohen, said the law was necessary to protect low-income women who are drawn into the centers, which often offer free services.

San Francisco city attorney Dennis Herrera, who has written a letter to a local CPC, First Resort, about its deceptive advertising, was explicit in his distaste for the centers, calling them “right wing, politically motivated” institutions whose mission was “to dissuade women from seeking their constitutionally protected rights.”

Wednesday's Words from Women

With great certainty, I have made the decision not to have children. When I found out I was pregnant, I was surprised. Yet, I knew immediately that I wanted to have an abortion. I have received such wonderful support from the staff at the clinic and they made my experience comfortable without any judgment. This is what I needed to feel empowered and not feel like a bad person.

--Submitted by Milan* through a member clinic


I am homeless and I am currently living at a shelter. The man that I was involved with was abusive the day before my appointment so I am very grateful for NAF as well as its member clinic for helping me. I will do all that I can to assist NAF in its continuing efforts to help other women that are in the same situation. Bless you; I am so grateful and I love you all. Thank you.

--Submitted by Sheena* through a member clinic


Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we feature real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.

Women to Receive Preventative Services at No Additional Cost

In a momentous decision to improve women’s access to birth control, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Monday that it will require health insurance plans to cover all government-approved contraceptives for women, without co-payments or other charges.

This decision will require coverage of a full range of contraceptive methods approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Among the drugs and devices that must be covered are emergency contraceptives including pills known as ella and Plan B.

“These historic guidelines are based on science and existing literature and will help ensure women get the preventive health benefits they need,” said Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services.

The requirements will apply to insurance starting on or after August 1, 2012.


The Women of Pennsylvania Have Had Enough! Have You?

In an effort to combat the legislative attacks on women’s reproductive rights in Pennsylvania, the We’ve Had Enough Campaign aims to shine a light upon the state legislature’s deceptive tactics to restrict access to safe, legal abortion care.

Read more about the We’ve Had Enough Campaign and their newest blog entry on the attack on women’s reproductive rights in statehouses around the nation.