My dear reader, if you've just come from the "Crisis Pregnancy" page, I assume that you have just found out that you are indeed going to have a baby and that you are not quite sure what to do next, that you're just not sure about whether to bring your baby to term or to have an abortion, or just what to do next.  Let me suggest that it might prove useful to examine a number of reasons why you should choose life, or in other words, to carry your baby all the way to term. 

The very first reason is that it's best for you, my dear friend.  There are so many risks: to your body, your mind, your relationships, your soul.  So many risks that, in my opinion, abortion is just not worth it.  Let's take a look first at some reasons from  natural realm:

Having an abortion carries a number of risks for the woman (that is, YOU):

1 in 10 will suffer immediate complications, with 20% of these being life-threatening.  Some of these complications are:

• tearing or puncturing of the uterus
• infection
• excessive bleeding
• blood vessel blockage
• hemorrhage
• toxic shock
• convulsions
• cervical injury
• fever

• vomiting

• chronic abdominal pain

There are also a number emotional risks:

• 28% attempted suicide
• 31% experienced suicidal feelings
• 60% stated that the decision to abort made their lives worse
• 94% regretted making the decision
• 50% or more will experience feelings of depression, guilt, regret, nervousness, or insomnia

A woman who aborts...

• is nearly 4 times more likely to start abusing alcohol or drugs
• is likely to have complications in future pregnancies
• is 30% more likely to have an ectopic or tubal pregnancy which cause 12% of all maternal deaths
• is 600% more likely to develop placenta previa, which produces extremely severe bleeding in future pregnancies
• is more likely to develop breast cancer, especially if she does so as a teenager and has multiple abortions
• has a 1 in 100,000 chance of dying during the abortion.  When one factors in the deaths due to the increase in the chances of breast cancer, this rises to 6 in 100,000.

These are some pretty heavy duty risks to take with the one life that you have to live.  (As an aside, if you find yourself doubting any of these facts or if you'd just like to know where I got them, contact us at postmaster@blessedmargaret.org and we'll give you the source information.  For that matter, we've only scratched the surface on all of the risks of abortion.  Certainly, only over time will the complete story of the dangers of abortion become fully uncovered).

Now, if we may, let's consider what happens to the other party involved in this pregnancy, your baby.

A baby who undergoes an abortion procedure...

• has the same number of chromosomes as the mother
• has distinctly human traits; he can leap for joy (St. John the Baptist in his mother's womb at the approach of Mary, the mother of God).
• is fully innocent; neither his mother's predicament nor his own existence are his fault
• is almost guaranteed to die

Now that we've discussed reasons in the natural realm (our bodies, the earth, etc.) let's bring up some reasons from the supernatural realm as well (God, angels, hell, our souls, etc.):

Read the following lines from the Bible as if it were you yourself saying them:

"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast protected me from my mother's womb, I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well.  My bone is not hidden from thee, which thou hast made in secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth.  Thy eyes did see my imperfect being, and in they book all shall be written:  days shall be formed, and no one in them." (Ps 138:13-16)

From these lines, we can conclude that God created you and me, He saw you and me, and He planned our days.  Sacred Scripture doesn't refer to infants as "products of conception" or "mass of tissue" but "baby" or "infant":

"And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb." (Lk 1:41) {The child is not yet born}

"And this shall be a sign unto you.  You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger." (Lk: 2:12) {the Child is born}

In the Old Testament, we find that the Unborn are protected by the same punishment for the death as a child or an adult.

"If men quarrel, and one strike a woman with child, and she miscarry indeed, but live herself: he shall be answerable for so much damage as the woman's husband shall require, and as arbiters shall award." (Ex 21:22)

While we're exploring the Book of Exodus (Ex 20:13) we find the words:

"Thou shalt not kill."

In conclusion, God considers the Unborn child to be a living person.  And if a living person, then no excuse for abortion is acceptable.

I think you'll agree with me, dear reader, that these are some pretty strong words but we all know that actions have consequences.  One of the consequence of our actions, unfortunately, is sin.  You might ask the question, "What is the punishment for having an abortion?"  Holy Mother Church tells us that a woman commits a mortal sin is she has one.  What is that?  It is a sin which is so evil, so wrong, that it kills the life of God's grace within our soul, makes us enemies of God, and condemns to hell if we do not repent before our deaths.

These are indeed tough words and for those who think I'm too preachy, I apologize that through my own failings, I have not been able to convey the charity which I feel, both for you who might be mired in the predicament of an unplanned pregnancy but also for the child which you carry within you.

If I've kept your attention to this point (please God that I have), let's explore how your baby is developing in Fetal Development.