question for pro-choicers

[gwenmead]

Does the knowledge that your baby would be born with either a crippling mental condition, physical deformity, or life-threatening genetic defect have any effect on your decision whether or not to get an abortion?

Yes.

If I found myself pregnant I would abort regardless of the circumstances. Learning the above information about my potential offspring would simply seal the deal.

 

[ranmaonehalf]

OK corrected for content..

I would be very annoyed at the aliens that impregnated me.

Is this thread directly specifically at women?

 

[CreedIsChrist]

Talk about jaded and painting with a wide brush!! :o

I honestly don't think proliferating the Catholic Church is the reason behind the Papacy's restriction on condoms.

Of course, you also fail to take into account that while the Catholic Church does restrict birth control usage, it's also one of the largest providers of adoption services, with some pretty well-run orphanages throughout many countries. And hmmm...I was adopted from Catholic Social Services and guess what? I'm not Catholic.

yes that is true. The Church is one of the largest organizations that helps orphans and the poor. I find it ironic when secularists claim how Christians don't care after the child is born, and yet we run some of the largest adoption and orphan organizations around the world. In fact the ethics and "morals" of the secularists actually increase children born out of wedlock and outside of homes.

 

[savvy]

I've of course disussed the possibility of pregnancy with my boyfriend...it would suck if that happened, but, although I am pro-choice, it would tear him up for me to do such a thing and I couldn't ever do that to him. And I could never cover it up from him. Now, if we broke up before I found out or he ditched me afterall, that would be a different story. Assuming we're together, I would go ahead and have the oopsy kid even though we would most definitely prefer not to have one at this point.
We talked about the birth defect situation...he says not entirely sure what he would want to do but feels that if there was a severe problem he wouldn't want the kid to be born to suffer all its life. So I guess that's the only situation he's for abortion. So the question would definitely affect what we chose to do with a pregnancy.

 

[lux et lex]

I will look at your hypo from the current position I'm in. I'm a 23 year old single law student. I am already about $50,000 in debt thanks to school. If I got pregnant right now, I would definitely weigh all my options, but abortion would carry the most weight. As said prior, finding out that the fetus is severely disabled would probably add more weight to having an abortion (and more than likely seal the deal).

I would never be able to finish my schooling, and even though I have a college degree already finding flexible work in that field of study that would allow me to be the primary caregiver for this child and still provide food/clothing/shelter would be nearly impossible. I would likely have to live off assistance for as long as I was primary care giver to the child. Neither of us would be living a good life.

 

[Belk]

First, I preface this by saying that I do not want this to become another typical abortion debate thread, so I'm getting this out of the way early:



Therefore, if your post is at all similar to the above quote, I reserve the right to politely request that you bugger off. This question is not for you. Feel free to express your opinions on another topic.

This hypothetical situation is aimed at Pro-Choice advocates, specifically girls although guys are welcome to reply if they wish.

Situation:

So, despite taking contraceptive precautions, you find yourself pregnant. You're trying to decide whether or not to keep the baby, which you did not want in the first place but now that you've got a cute little parasite of your very own, you're not so sure you want to get rid of it.

Still debating on the issue of abortion, you nevertheless go to the doctor for a round of tests and to check up on the health of the fetus. About halfway through your first trimester, you get the news: genetic diagnosis on the fetus shows that the kid is going to be developmentally disabled. Severely.

Does the knowledge that your baby would be born with either a crippling mental condition, physical deformity, or life-threatening genetic defect have any effect on your decision whether or not to get an abortion?

Yes it would have a huge effect on my decision. I would have to take into account not only the child's quality of life, but my own dedication to the increased demands of a child I did not want in the first place. Not to mention if I had decided on the adoption route, that it is much harder for a disabled child to be adopted.

 

[atomweaver]

yes that is true. The Church is one of the largest organizations that helps orphans and the poor. I find it ironic when secularists claim how Christians don't care after the child is born, and yet we run some of the largest adoption and orphan organizations around the world.

Admirable, but a case of mitigating failure. Children not raised by loving parent(s) are far an away more likely to be socially disconnected. Didn't someone post a link to a statistic that ~70% of those in prison in some state were at one time or another a part of the child social services for that state? I'll try to dig up the study, and edit if I can find it...

In fact

Something is not "in fact" unless you actually provide, you know.. facts.

the ethics and "morals" of the secularists actually increase children born out of wedlock and outside of homes.

You could go about providing evidence for such an assertion. If you looked at states and/or countries where secularists represent a greater proportion of the population, and showed either an increase in abortion rate, and/or an increase in the rate of children being given up for adoption vs. areas known to have a strong religious moral influence, then your assertion would be backed with facts. I wonder what such an investigation would find?

 

[jayem]

I will look at your hypo from the current position I'm in. I'm a 23 year old single law student. I am already about $50,000 in debt thanks to school. If I got pregnant right now, I would definitely weigh all my options, but abortion would carry the most weight. As said prior, finding out that the fetus is severely disabled would probably add more weight to having an abortion (and more than likely seal the deal).

I would never be able to finish my schooling, and even though I have a college degree already finding flexible work in that field of study that would allow me to be the primary caregiver for this child and still provide food/clothing/shelter would be nearly impossible. I would likely have to live off assistance for as long as I was primary care giver to the child. Neither of us would be living a good life.

This raises an idea I've always liked. Suppose there was a registry, where you, as an expectant mother, could be matched to an adoptive parent(s.) Along with your medical expenses, you'd be paid a fee to give custody to the adoptor after the baby is born--say $20,000. Wouldn't that be an incentive not to abort? We should have something like this--completely legal, voluntary, above board, and transparent, where pregnant women are paid by adoptive parents for their babies. I know of all the objections: baby selling is immoral; only wealthy adoptors will benefit; some women might try to make a living at it; white babies will be preferred; what happens if the birth mother changes her mind; etc. But still, it could be a win-win situation for people who really want children, and for pregnant women who are in a tough spot. And I think anything that voluntarily reduces abortion is worthwhile pursuing.

 

[atomweaver]

This raises an idea I've always liked. Suppose there was a registry, where you, as an expectant mother, could be matched to an adoptive parent(s.) Along with your medical expenses, you'd be paid a fee to give custody to the adoptor after the baby is born--say $20,000. Wouldn't that be an incentive not to abort?

No, that would be called selling a baby. You're so bent on eliminating abortion because of its supposed immorality, that you'd be willing to create a legal framework for selling babies to avoid it? Does anybody else find that a tad contradictory, if morality is your supposed basis for objecting to abortion?

 

[The Nihilist]

No, that would be called selling a baby. You're so bent on eliminating abortion because of its supposed immorality, that you'd be willing to create a legal framework for selling babies to avoid it? Does anybody else find that a tad contradictory, if morality is your supposed basis for objecting to abortion?

No way, the mother is just being compensated for her time, energy, and the damage to her body.

 

[LittleNipper]

Yes.

If I found myself pregnant I would abort regardless of the circumstances. Learning the above information about my potential offspring would simply seal the deal.

How would you feel if you realized that there was a good chance that getting an abortion might cause you to never have another child? I do know of one lady this happed to. I do not believe it to be the only one.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

No, that would be called selling a baby. You're so bent on eliminating abortion because of its supposed immorality, that you'd be willing to create a legal framework for selling babies to avoid it? Does anybody else find that a tad contradictory, if morality is your supposed basis for objecting to abortion?

Last time I checked there wasn't really any such thing as a "free" adoption. My parents dropped $30k for me, including court costs for each of the three times my biological mother "changed her mind".

Ask my parents if they think they "bought" me and they will tell you NO.

 

[Jade Margery]

Last time I checked there wasn't really any such thing as a "free" adoption. My parents dropped $30k for me, including court costs for each of the three times my biological mother "changed her mind".

Ask my parents if they think they "bought" me and they will tell you NO.

I find it a little crazy that it costs so much to adopt a kid. Heck, that's half of my college expenses right there. Seems like a huge block if you're a person of modest means who wants to provide a child with a loving family. Not all of us have $30k just lying around, but that doesn't make us financially unstable or unworthy of parenthood.

 

[CCGirl]

Dont you have social services, where it costs nothing to adopt a child? That is how we got child #2, through government adoption.