Someone close to me was raped and is now pregnant.

[FlyingSquirrel]

It really does happen. There is no question that it happened, and there is no question as to where the pregnancy originated.

She does not want to have an abortion, and knows there are many people waiting to adopt. But she is also jobless, has no health insurance, and may soon be homeless. And she also is not in perfect health - she has high blood pressure, frequent bladder infections, may be pre-diabetic, and has had lap band surgery. She also may be in the early stages of alcoholism.

It's my opinion that she will probably choose to have the abortion, despite her strong convictions against it (this would be her second one, and the first affected her deeply).

I hope she will not also have to deal with abortion protesters on her way in to the clinic, if that is the decision she makes.

[MercutioATC]

1. Unfortunate.

Sounds like termination is probably the best option, based on your description.

[pnwmom]

2. She is the only one who will have to live with this decision, and she

is the only one who can and should make it.

Nobody else should be seeking to interfere.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ET Awful]

4. Mmmhmmm

bye bye.

[cap]

5. if you can live with murdering mothers

then I don't see any reason for opposing abortions, it's your choice to make!

It may be life threatening or may seriously compromise her health further to continue the pregnancy.

This woman is in a no-win situation. It looks like if she has an abortion, she will suffer some mental health consequences. She is already drinking too much. If she doesn't have an abortion, her physical health may really suffer. If she gives the baby up for adoption, her mental health may suffer as well. In the good old days that you so long to return to, my MIL was a nurse in WV. When the girls gave up the baby, they handed it directly to the social worker. The weeping and wailing that went on when a mother was giving up her child was a truly heart wrenching sight.

If she can't lay off the booze, the baby will suffer health consequences as well. Going cold turkey without support (no finances, remember?) during pregnancy is a hell of a ride and may not be possible. I hope you are a strong advocate of increased spending on social services for foster care and alcoholism. That child has a high likelihood of suffering mental retardation and a plethora of health conditions that I know you will be around to help out with. Aren't you even going to start a little fund raising to help the woman out? At least the Catholics (I am one) start forking over their used baby clothes. What are you planning on doing? Don't you want to save the little one? Or, are you going to be complicit to murder since you knew the woman was in financial distress and you didn't help out?

Leave the lady alone to make her own decision is what I say.

[theHandpuppet]

6. Enjoy your stay

It will be a short one.

[ChicagoSuz219]

7. Take her to Planned Parenthood & talk with a counselor...

...they will let her know what ALL her options are. If she decides to keep the baby, Catholic hospitals will help her to do that. In any event, she should talk to a rape crisis counselor, get medical treatment (pre-natal or other), deal with the drinking, etc. I hope she reported it to the police. If not, she should do it right away. It may be too let in her case, but it may help them find the rapist so no one else has to go through this, as well.
I'll keep her in my thoughts & prayers... you, too!

[adamuu]

8. Sorry. That must be tough.

All of your concerns are valid. That really sucks!

[Odin2005]

9. OMG, I'm so sorry about your friend!

:hug:

Had my disabled friend gotten pregnant after being raped and the forced-birthers forced to carry to term she should have likely died. The forced birthers hate women so much they think a ball of cells more worthy of life thanj the woman. Fuck them.

[undeterred]

10. Of course it happens.

What never happens is a rapist being caught and prosecuted for his crime in 2 months, so that there is legal "proof" of a rape in time for an abortion. For this reason alone abortion needs to be safe and legal.

[yellerpup]

11. Your friend needs care from all quarters

both before and after her choice, whatever that may be. A good physical evaluation can sort out the risks that can affect the pregnancy. Having the facts might give her confidence that she is making the best, most informed choice for herself. She's somebody's baby, too, and she has been badly injured. My heart goes out to her, and to you. Good luck.

Edit for clarity.