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Level -> RE: Abortion (6/30/2006 5:56:28 PM)
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I yakked about this on a thread about a month ago, and I'll re-post some of what I said then.
"I say this respectfully..... to me, and others, it is not just about the woman's body...... there is another life involved.
If you believed the life of a child was in danger, what would you do? Ignore it?
I understand how a woman doesn't want the government to tell them what to do with their body... I hate being told what to do, and when government butts in too far.... and pregnancy is so personal..... but again, some feel there are two involved, not just one.
When does it stop being ok to abort? How far along? "
And:
"According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, the research arm of the nation’s leading abortion provider, Planned Parenthood:
At current rates, an estimated 43 percent of American women will have at least one abortion by the age of 45.
Two-thirds of all abortions are among never-married women.
Fifty-two percent of U.S. women having abortions are younger than 25 years old.
About 13,000 abortions each year are attributed to rape and incest—representing 1 percent of all abortions.3 "
Social Reasons (given as primary reason)
- Feels unready for responsibility
21%
- Feels she can't afford baby
21%
- Concern for how baby would change her life
16%
- Relationship problem
12%
- Feels she isn't mature enough
11%
- Has all the children she wants
8%
- Other reasons
4-5%
TOTAL:
93%
"Hard Cases" (given as primary reason)
- Mother's Health
3%
- Baby may have health problem
3%
- Rape or Incest
1%
TOTAL:
7%
Source: Aida Torres and J.D. Forrest, "Why Do Women Have Abortions?"
Family Planning Perspectives, Vol. 20 No. 4 (July/August 1988) p. 170.
According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, there has been nearly 40,000,000 abortions in the United States from 1973 through 1998. If the above cited statistics are correct, that means over 37,000,000 were for "convience".
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Week 3
At this point, the blastocyst, or developing embryo, is looking for a spot to implant in the uterus. Early formation of the central nervous system, backbone, and spinal column has begun. The gastrointestinal system has also begun to develop with the kidneys, liver, and intestines forming. The heart has begun to form.
Week 5
The embryo’s tiny heart begins to beat by day twenty-one. The brain has developed into 5 areas and some cranial nerves are visible. Arm and leg buds are visible and the formation of the eyes, lips, and nose has begun. The spinal cord grows faster than the rest of the body giving a tail like appearance which disappears as the embryo continues to grow. The placenta begins to provide nourishment for the embryo.
Week 7
Major organs have all begun to form. The embryo has developed its own blood type, unique from the mother’s. Hair follicles and nipples form and knees and elbows are visible. Facial features are also observable. The eyes have a retina and lens. The major muscle system is developed and the embryo is able to move.
Weeks 9-12
The heart is almost completely developed and the heart rate can be heard on a Doppler machine at the doctor’s office. Most major organs and tissues have developed and red blood cells are now produced in the liver. The face is well formed and the eyes are almost fully developed. The eyelids will close and not reopen until the 28th week. Arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, and toes are fully formed. Nails and earlobes start to form and tooth buds develop in the gums. Fetus can make a fist with its finger. Testosterone (male sex hormone) is produced by the testes in male fetus.
And so on. For anyone wishing to see images of the fetal development spoken about above, here are a couple of many links: http://www.wprc.org/trimester1.phtml or http://www.realalternatives.org/pregnant/fetaldevelopment.htm
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