In the Womb

National Geographic is selling a DVD called "In the Womb".  This is their description of the video ~

From the moment of conception, every human embryo embarks on an incredible nine month journey of development. Now, cutting-edge technology makes it possible for us to open a window into the hidden world of the fetus and explore each trimester in amazing new detail. Revolutionary 3-D and 4-D ultrasound imagery sheds light on the delicate, dark world of a fetus as never before and follows a rare fetoscope operation, performed in utero with the hope of correcting life threatening complications before birth.

To watch a short, incredible, preview of their presentation click on "Watch the Preview" in very small print here.

I was struck by their statement that a person's time in the womb is "266 days".  I'd never thought of it in terms of "days" before.  Most abortions (61.3%) are committed before 63 days (9 weeks) gestation.  Pro-choice advocates tout this as a positive.  By 63 days we've already spent almost a quarter of our time (23.68%) in the womb.  It's amazing that with this technology and images like this available that abortion is still a choice.

My friend that sent me the National Geographic link brought up an interesting point - - - when they do operations in utero, do they use anesthetic?  According to this source they do (note the second to last sentence in the link provided), and a quote from this source states, "Anesthesia for fetal surgery involves two patients simultaneously."

How is it that we see the growing person; we know there are people out there that will LOVE and take care of the growing person; we know that the growing person can feel and hear; we are amazed by the wonder and miracle presented in such videos as this one; and yet it's a "choice"?

  

A Beating Heart

The other morning I was laying in bed wishing I could go back to sleep.  It was Saturday, the only morning I can "sleep in".  As I was laying there with my eyes closed and trying to breathe s-l-o-w and d-e-e-p, I became aware of my heart beat.  As our minds often skip from one thing to another, mine skipped to something I had heard several years ago about sleep, heart beats and prayer.  It goes like this . . .

We can offer our sleep to Our Lord in union with His sleep during His life on Earth.  Bear in mind that every action united to the acts of Our Lord has an indescribable value.  Priests, before beginning to pray their Office, unite it with the prayer of Jesus when on Earth.

We can offer every breath we draw, every beat of our hearts during the night as so many acts of love for God.  Thousands of acts of love every night!

~ Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P.  

Have you seen the bumper sticker that reads, "Abortion . . . it stops a beating heart"?

What if we offer our sleep, every breath we take and every beat of our hearts for the unborn who are in danger of being aborted?!

Such a simple, yet profitable way to go to sleep each night!

Sweet dreams ~

Methods of Abortion

Warning - - - This is a very difficult post to read.  Please bear in mind that my intention is to expose the truth of what happens in an abortion.  The truth is horrific.  If people know the truth they may not be so apt to ignore what is happening every single day, up to a million times per year just in our country.

This may also help to explain why some health care workers need the 'conscience rule' in place to protect their jobs (see the previous post and please consider contacting the president).

Suction (vacuum) Aspiration - this is the most common method of abortion, typically performed when the fetus is 6-12 weeks, can be used up to 16 weeks.

The cervix is dilated, and a hollow plastic tube with a sharp tip is inserted into the cervix and then  into the uterus.  An aspirator attached to the tube tears the body of the fetus apart and suctions the pieces through the tube.

Dilation and Curettage (D&C) - typically performed in the first trimester, a curette (sharp looped knife) is inserted into the uterus to scrape it's walls.  The curette is then used to dismember the fetus and placenta.

Intracardiac Injection Abortion - a needle is guided into the fetus's heart with the aid of ultrasound, and poison (often potassium chloride or digoxin) is injected, causing an immediate heart attack.  This is most commonly used for "pregnancy reduction" abortions following in vitro fertilization procedures, if multiple embryos were implanted to increase the likelihood of pregnancy.  In these cases, the procedure is typically performed around 16 weeks.

Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) - typically performed in the first half of the second trimester (13-20 weeks), but can be used up to approximately 28 weeks.  At this stage of pregnancy, the fetus' tendons, muscles, and bones are more developed.  In a D&E abortion, forceps are inserted into the uterus to forcibly dismember the fetus, and the pieces are removed one by one.  Larger fetuses must also have their skulls crushed so the pieces can pass through the cervix.

Typically, the cervix must be dilated for a period of one to three days prior to a D&E abortion.  This is most often done by inserting laminaria (dried seaweed sticks) into the cervix.  Therefore, a D& E abortion usually requires two visits to the abortion facility.

Dilation and Extraction (D&X or Partial-Birth Abortion) - typically performed in the late second or third trimester.  As with a D& E abortion (see above), the cervix must first be dilated, usually with laminaria (dried seaweed sticks).  Forceps are then inserted into the uterus to grasp the fetus' legs.  The fetus is delivered breech while the head remains inside the birth canal.  Using blunt-tipped surgical scissors, the base of the skull is pierced, and a suction catheter is inserted to extract the contents of the skull.  This causes the skull to collapse, and the dead fetus is then fully delivered.

Despite the fact that the United States Supreme Court upheld the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in 2007, D&X abortions are still being performed.  An abortionist can avoid violating the law by first injecting the fetus with a lethal intracardiac injection to ensure that the fetus will already be dead when it is partially delivered.

Instillation (Saline) Abortion - amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus and replaced with a saline solution, which the fetus swallows.  The fetus is killed by salt poisoning, dehydration, brain hemorrhage and convulsions.  Saline abortions, typically performed in the second and early third trimester, are rarely used today, due to the risk of particularly serious health complications to the woman.

Prostaglandin Abortion - a dose of prostaglandin hormones is injected into the uterine muscle, which induces violent labor resulting in the death of the fetus.  Prostaglandin abortions, typically performed in the second and early third trimester, are rarely used today, due to the relatively high chance that the fetus will survive the abortion and be born alive.

Chemical (medical) Abortion - a woman is administered an abortifacient compound called mifepristone (also called RU-486 or Mifeprex).  Mifepristone blocks the action of progesterone, the natural hormone vital to maintaining the lining of the uterus.  As the nutrient lining disintegrates, the embryo starves.  Subsequently, the woman takes a dose of artificial prostaglandins which initiate uterine contractions and cause the embryo to be expelled from the uterus.  Abortions by mifepristone are usually done prior to 49 days gestation.

 

Obama to Take Away Choice

Our president wants to lift the 'conscience rule' that protects a health care worker's religious freedom to refuse to take part in a procedure, such as abortion, that goes against their beliefs.

Please read here and here.

According to a NY Times article (link above) there will be a 30 day period for public comment.  Please take the opportunity to contact the president to let him know that a woman's right to choose does not take precedence over a health care worker's freedom of religion and constitutional right to practice their religion.

Amazing that there is any insinuation that abortion procedures, or access to them, will be effected by this 'conscience rule'.  If the pro-choice advocates are right about their majority in society, then there should be plenty of health care providers to perform these procedures.  The unending effort to force the pro-choice attitude and actions on pro-life advocates seems to go against the whole idea of CHOICE.

Below is the email I sent to the White House at the above link.  Feel free to use any part of it to compose your own letter.  I will also be mailing my thoughts to the White House.

I oppose the administration's desire to rescind the 'conscience rule'. One person's Constitutional Right to practice religion, in every aspect of life, should not be superseded by another person's right to choose any health care procedure.
If pro-choice advocates are right about their majority in society, then there will be plenty of health care workers to perform these procedures. Any effort to force a procedure on a health care worker seems to go against the whole notion of CHOICE.
Insinuating that reproductive choices, or access to them, will be effected by the 'conscience rule' is a deceptive way to take away our Freedom of Religion.