In the summer of 2021, I miscarried. I had a D&C to help my body clear out faster and to prevent infection. The medical name for this is an abortion.
While some states will distinguish between abortions to terminate a pregnancy and abortions to clear out a miscarriage, several do not.
I had what is called a missed miscarriage. When we’d gone in for our 8 week sonogram there was no heartbeat. They drew my blood to check my HCG levels, waited 48 hours and drew my blood again to confirm I was miscarrying. After confirming the diagnosis, I had the choice to wait and naturally pass the embryo (but this doesn’t always happen and can sometimes lead to an infection), or I could take a medication to encourage contractions (which is the same as the “abortion pill”), or I could get a D&C (a procedure to clear out the embryo, which is also known as an abortion).
I was able to get in the following day for the D&C (abortion), and I was so thankful to be physically past the experience. I can’t imagine having to wait days or weeks to drag out the awful in-between stage even longer. But because of abortion restrictions, many people miscarrying will not have access (or as easy of access) to the medical care I was lucky to receive.
Overturning Roe showed a disregard for women and anyone with a uterus. Not only does it not care about those miscarrying, bit it doesn’t consider the myriad of reasons a person might not want to be pregnant.
Our country does not do a good job of supporting people during pregnancy, after pregnancy – nor does it look out for babies after they are born.
This past July, I gave birth after a full term pregnancy, which was a tremendously physically taxing experience. I threw up about three times a day for two months, and I’ve never needed so many naps in my life (as I have since being pregnant). I was thankful that my 12 week blood tests and my 20 week anatomy scan showed good results. But many are not so fortunate, and now their options are taken away.
Also, I’m in a double income partnership, and we have been so lucky to have friends and family give us a lot of the supplies we need, but even still, having a kid is a financial adjustment. We are paying about $1,000/mo for daycare for one child, and we were accepted even though some daycares in my area are booking out years in advance.
If this country cared about babies (not just controlling women), then pregnancy expenses, supplies for children, and childcare would be universally covered or drastically reduced in price.
–Meaghan Dee