AIBU to ask how much support Pro-Life believers provide for actual children in need? Texas just banned abortion in the US.

[thecranberries]

AIBU to ask what Pro Life 'supporters' do to actually help living children in need? Sparked by Rachel Maddow Show Podcast on MSNBC - which gives a brilliant coverage on what's going on.

PL seems to want to stop a woman's right to choose, even in instances of rape or incest. That's in Texas, US, but as we know, many of the 'trends' that start in the US migrate over here. And as we know, there are lots of Pro-Life (read anti abortion, anti women) believers over here.

So, my AIBU is to ask - what do these PL do to actually support actual living children in need in this country or the world? How much do they give to UNICEF/Save the Children etc charities? How much do they donate time, money and resources to actual children living in poverty, bad housing, experiencing harm or bad schooling to ensure that these actual living children get the best life possible?

Do these PL, who cite religious grounds, actually enable women to obtain proper contraception when they need it? And speaking about religion, how many religious PL turn a blind eye to religious organisations history of child abuse?

I don't understand anyone, especially men, who does not accept a woman's right to chose what happens to her own body.

So, AIBU to ask Pro Life supporters to tell me in detail what they do - as actively as supporting their 'cause' - when it comes to helping living children in need?

I realise it is an extra thing to remember, but if they want to avoid an unexpected pregnancy testing once 2 weeks would cost about $8 a year, a lot less than an unwanted baby.

I was devastated when I was told the 6 week or deformed baby rule, and thought it would be impossible, having a bulk box of cheap tests next to the toilet and testing regularly whether or not we were actively trying for a baby just became a habit.

Until you have been in the situation about needing to discover a pregnancy before 6 weeks (or 5 in my case to give me time to switch medication) you don't know how hard or easy it would be. It was would have cost a fortune if I had used branded tests each time I tested so I looked for alternatives.

I am still not saying whether I am for or against the law as I honestly haven't got my head around it. While an abortion would have devastated me (I cried buckets when told one was my only option) I don't have right to tell anyone they are wrong to have one.

Until you have been in the situation you don't know how you would feel, I have been in the required regular pregnancy test situation for years and am really happy my fertile years are behind me so I no longer need to keep a box of tests.

@Sixgeese

I am not arguing for or against the Texas 'heart beat' law, just pointing out it isn't hard to get pregnancy tests online (about 33 cents a test on Amazon.com), and testing regularly to establish whether or not you are pregnant.

I was getting wound up by all the people up thread who seemed to think finding out before 6 weeks was impossible, and one locum GP I spoke to just after I was diagnosed seemed to think it was, telling me if I got pregnant on my medication abortion was my only option.

It isn't impossible, hard or expensive to take regular pregnancy tests, I did.

It's great that you could do a 'regular' pregnancy test.

However, please realise that most of the world's experts in this area, who are not as partisan as experts in the US (This may be slightly ignorant / broad brush, but it seems that most things in the US are very delineated along partisan political lines, and I'm based in Europe, so maybe I have a different understanding on this point) clearly state that most women do not know whether they are pregnant by 6 weeks as it is just a missed period.

And, as we all know, life is busy. So, unless you actively keep a focus on your cycles in correspondence with your sexual activity, then most women may not know.

And so would not take a pregnancy test until maybe it's too late. So, for example, you are a week late in your period, then you get test and then it proves positive. Then you have to juggle finding out what you do - depending on your circumstances - with all the emotional costs that CAN be aligned with such a decision. And if the conception happened because of rape or incest, then trauma will most definitely stop you from being 'pro-active', because you're still dealing with that trauma.

Already that is about 6 weeks. That is why progressive countries understand this and enable women to have up until 12 / 16 weeks for an abortion. Please remember, only women who have either a medical condition / have issues with foetus / have issue actually obtaining abortions would go beyond this point to the maximum of 25 weeks. See the factual data - easily available on many reputable sites.

Having empathy in this situation is paramount for one to understand how other people 'work'.

Also, as I found out yesterday, on BBC Newsnight, that at 6 weeks, there is no 'heartbeat'. It is simply electrical activity of the foetus which can be misunderstood with the electrical activity of the scanning machine. It is that feint. There is no actual 'heart' as we recognise it.

So, I respectfully disagree. It is impossible. Scientifically and socially. It is expensive - because many women can barely pay necessary bills to exist, let alone have 'spare cash' for any 'emergency' (whatever that may be) and most women would not take 'regular' pregnancy tests, unless they are actively in the process of wanting to conceive, in which case, an abortion would be their last 'choice' as they want a child.

@Sixgeese

I realise it is an extra thing to remember, but if they want to avoid an unexpected pregnancy testing once 2 weeks would cost about $8 a year, a lot less than an unwanted baby.

I was devastated when I was told the 6 week or deformed baby rule, and thought it would be impossible, having a bulk box of cheap tests next to the toilet and testing regularly whether or not we were actively trying for a baby just became a habit.

Until you have been in the situation about needing to discover a pregnancy before 6 weeks (or 5 in my case to give me time to switch medication) you don't know how hard or easy it would be. It was would have cost a fortune if I had used branded tests each time I tested so I looked for alternatives.

I am still not saying whether I am for or against the law as I honestly haven't got my head around it. While an abortion would have devastated me (I cried buckets when told one was my only option) I don't have right to tell anyone they are wrong to have one.

Until you have been in the situation you don't know how you would feel, I have been in the required regular pregnancy test situation for years and am really happy my fertile years are behind me so I no longer need to keep a box of tests.

Unless they can't get access to cheap pregnancy tests. Or aren't allowed to by an abusive partner. Or parents. Or they find out they are pregnant before the cutoff but can't get go one of the 21 clinics in a state more the twice the size of the UK. Especially if nobody will take them for fear or prosecution. Or if they're underage and can't get parental permission for an abortion.

Frankly the idea that every woman and girl in Texas who ever has sex with - or is raped by - a man should do a potentially innacurate pregnany test every few weeks to appease a bunch of misogynistic religious fanatics is absurd.

@SudokuZebra

Well *@Deletesystem33*, these people proudly described themselves as members of the pro choice community. They were active in pro choice groups/ policies etc

They don't represent me any more that the poster up thread suggesting that women who get abortions should be forcibly sterilised represent you.

@behindhereyes

I'm in America (not Texas) and in my town the PL people do a lot for children and women with unplanned pregnancies. I see drives for nappies and formula and baby clothes all the time that can be dropped off at pro- life centers to be given away for free. The churches really encourage people to foster kids, support groups for women etc. I don't know if I just live in a town that's very charitable but I have to say there seems to be a lot of genuine hands on support from the PL.

This is so heartening to know. However, PL do nothing for actual children in need. So, great that they get nappies etc for babies.

But babies grow up to be children. And, as mum of a teenager, life needs to adjust. In every way. So is there a link between children who are being born to mothers who are in no position to care for them and the explosion of mental health issues in children? And mothers can be middle class, working class, of every ethnicity and leaning. There is no barrier. It is challenging to raise a child/ren.

Is a child forced upon a woman a burden for the woman and society because of men forcing them into this position?

So, surely, not just babies need to be cared for. Actual living children in all manner of 'less than desirable' circumstances, who need to be looked after? So, my question was, what do PL do to actually help living children? Nappy runs etc (sorry to reduce to this level, but this is how you came across because of what you wrote), does not cut it.

And on the actual point - a woman has a human right to her own body. No one should be able to force her to do anything with it that she does not have an informed choice about.

Can you tell me the PL you know actively help actual children who are in need at this very moment? Really want to learn.

Oh come on, it is not reasonable to expect every sexually active woman in Texas to take a pregnancy test every month, don't be ridiculous. I'm sorry that was your reality but it is not a reasonable expectation for all women!

Even if women did do that, they'd have a week or two at most to arrange a termination, that's going to be difficult given how restricted access is in Texas.