I Don’t Want to Abort My Baby
An unplanned pregnancy can be a challenge just in itself. What happens when the father of the child doesn’t want you to have the baby? Friends, coworkers, spouses, employers, family members – those who you were hoping to receive support – may be the biggest advocates for you to abort this baby. This may not be the route you desire to take but aren’t sure there is any other way.
In a report by The Un-Choice 64% of women felt they were pressured into aborting their child. The reasons may be many. Maybe you are married, and your husband is pushing you to abort your child because finances are not that good right now. Maybe your boyfriend says he isn’t ready for a family and wants you to abort the baby. Maybe you were in a forced sexual experience and your family is encouraging you to abort the pregnancy. Know that there are laws protecting you and services who will support you with other alternatives.
The “Women’s Right to Know” legislation has been written so that those seeking abortion receive full information about their choices. Many states in the US have legislation that is to be upheld for those who are seeking information and North Carolina has laws that abortion providers must abide by before anyone consents to an abortion. This information can be located on the North Carolina Health Department’s website at https://wrtk.ncdhhs.gov/.
A minor, someone under the age of 18, has protection from choosing abortion if they are being coerced in that direction. The Justice Foundation has documents that can be used to explain the law regarding minors. North Carolina law requires a parent’s consent as well as consent from the minor (GS "§ 90-21.87. Informed consent for a minor). If you as a minor do not consent, the abortion cannot be performed.
Where do you go if you do not want to go through with the abortion? Know that there are services like those of Hands of Hope that will help anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy. The Department of Social Services has many services for pregnancy such as pregnancy Medicaid for qualifying individuals. Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program helps provide nutrition support for children up to age 5. Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRC) are available to help with parenting skills, emotional support, and supplemental material needs.
“’A woman doesn’t want an abortion like she wants an ice-cream cone or a Porsche, but like an animal caught in a trap who gnaws off its own leg,’ Frederica Mathewes-Green, a positive-life minded feminist who started Feminist for Life, has said.”1 If you are struggling with the decision to end a pregnancy, please know that there are individuals to talk with who will listen with non-judgment. Hands of Hope has those individuals on staff. Contact them by phone at 828-274-4673 or email info@hh4life.org.
1 Here Choice to Heal, Sydna Masse, Chariot Victor Publishing, Copyright 2009, page 45
The Un-Choice, Forced Abortion in America, http://www.theunchoice.com/pdf/FactSheets/ForcedAbortions.pdf
House Bill 854, https://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H854v6.pdf
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Information, https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/beneficiaries/get-started/eligibility-medicaid-or-health-choice/medicaid-income-and-resources
‘Women’s Right to Know’ Legislation, Focus on the Family, January 1, 2003, https://www.focusonthefamily.com/pro-life/womens-right-to-know-legislation/
The Justice Foundation, https://thejusticefoundation.org/cafa/