Why are anti-choice people so dismissive of the mental health effects of carrying unwanted pregnancy to term?

Question

It's creepy! Women are reduced to the status of incubators - whether it drives them insane, or not.

I beg to differ - the girls and women who carry the pregnancy to term and then need to 'give the baby away' suffer most. The current controversy about opening adoption records involves this issue. Like many other women, I have had an abortion. My feelings at the time? Utter and complete RELIEF.

The vast majority of women who undergo the procedure felt exactly as I did.

Oh, and I feel exactly the same way about it 20 years later: "whew, that was a close call...".

Kayla S and I have both actually BEEN THERE.

Women have abortions because there is no way out, OK??? Women don't have abortions because there is nothing worth watching on television, OK??? Get a grip on real life.

Answer 1

I have had an abortion and have had no effects from it, but I am sure I would have big mental problems if I had not aborted. Sure there are some who have remorse after and abortion, but there are many more who do not. If abortion had such a bad effect on women why do so many have more then one abortion. I know if I were to get pregnant again I would not hesitate to abort again. It is not an easy decision but when you know it is necessary it is easier to decide.

Answer 2

My daughter has a friend who had a baby almost two years ago. She's a teenager and had been in a sexual relationship with her boyfriend. She decided to keep the baby and raise it. She has a supportive family and the father's family also is involved. She knows she made a mistake but is trying to make the best of a less-than-desirable situation. Still, she gets criticized by strangers for not putting her baby up for adoption so it will have a "better life". What exactly constitutes a better life? Going to a well-off couple who can provide plenty of toys and other material items? Just because people have money does not make them better parents. I've seen plenty of children from such families who were raised by nannies and given toys instead of attention.

Answer 3

Yes! I actually understand the question. The answer is because they don't care about the mother at all. That's the cold, hard, truth. They won't admit it but that's exactly what it is. If they did care about the woman being forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term, they would quickly realize that this is a decision in which the government's proverbial nose has absolutely no business. It is a decision every woman should be free to make for herself. They want to make everything THEY think is right a law, but when it involves the body of another person, that is tyranny; Plain and simple!! My opinion is; Against Abortion? Don't have one! Let every woman decide for herself. Am I right or wrong?

Answer 4

Actually, this is not even brought up very often by pro-choice people.

I agree that the pregnant woman (and potentially the father) can have a lot of mental distress with an unplanned pregnancy, but there is the other side, as well: A LOT of women experience mental health issues AFTER getting abortions. Whether they regret it, feel guilty, or are haunted with thoughts of what could have been, the mental anguish can be just as strong for her after the abortion. This comes along with any mental health issues that were brought to her from when she was actually pregant. In this way, it could even be worse than the pre-abortion mental stress.


***response to additional info: Okay, so you and Kayla don't care about getting an abortion. Can you not acknowledge at least that it DOES affect other women's mental health? Some women don't feel anything after giving their baby away for adoption. Does that mean we should then dismiss the ones you are speaking of?

The level of mental anguish experienced by women in any of these categories is difficult to measure (and as you pointed out, it varies from woman to woman; some feel nothing and others are broken up). While I proposed that it is possible that women who abort may feel more anguish than those that have the baby, I did not imply that it was true for all women in that position. Yes, giving a baby up for adoption can produce a lot of mental problems, as well.

In this case, it looks like we are saying that no matter what a pregnant woman does, there is a possibility that she will have mental distress. I think this is true. (maybe that's why people don't address it. Mental health can be related to either side of the argument)

(see, I really don't mind these questions coming back to me. I don't blind myself to either side...)

Answer 5

I am 9 months pregnant with a PLANNED, WANTED baby.

I can't sleep. My back hurts. I pee when I cough. I'm on bedrest, and I am bored. I have acid reflux that has burned my throat. My hormones are out of whack, and I cry at diaper commercials. I have horrible stretch marks on my stomach, breasts, and thighs. I am routinely kicked in the kidneys, ribs, and bladder - HARD. A hormone called "relaxin" is being released that causes my ligaments to loosen up, which makes me more prone to injury and causes excruciating pain in my pelvis as my hip bones are literally being forced apart. And I haven't even GOTTEN to labor yet.

It's all worth it because I CHOSE to procreate. I can not imagine being FORCED to go through all of this - I would literally lose my mind.

Answer 6

I am very concerned about the mental health effects of terminating a pregnancy. It's a well hidden secret to the public but many counselors and psychiatrists see patients all the time that are dealing with the guilt and pain that having an abortion brings. There are also many out there that go through that pain everyday alone, because they don't want to have to tell anyone else the pain that they feel inside.

Answer 7

Plenty of research has been done on the mental health effects of abortions on women as well. I see that since that doesnt support your thesis, you have left it out. Stop politicizing the issue it will not solve a thing.

Answer 8

Indeed, i can think of nothing more revolting. Starr for you :)