Week in Review – The movement toward total protection for preborn babies is taking shape
Wow! The month of March is winding down, the season of spring arrived this week, and the fight for the saving of preborn lives in the United States is heating up. We brought you information in previous weeks about the outlandish attacks against babies in New York State, Virginia, New Mexico, California and many other states. Those seeking to destroy the lives of unique human beings in the womb are pushing their agenda across the country. But, they are meeting with tremendous resistance.
Virginia killed a bill that would have allowed abortion even when a mother was in labor. New Mexico actually turned back two bills. One was an essential copy of the bill passed in New York and another would have expanded physician-assisted suicide. Several other states have passed laws trying to protect some, but not all, preborn babies. A few of the successes this week and earlier this year have been in the news.
KFGO in Fargo, SD, reported that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Wednesday (March 20) signed a package of bills aimed at curbing abortion. Noem said the bills will “crack down on abortion providers in South Dakota” by requiring providers to use a state form women must sign before they can end a pregnancy. “A strong and growing body of medical research provides evidence that unborn babies can feel, think, and recognize sounds in the womb. These are people, they must be given the same basic dignities as anyone else,” Noem said in a statement. Another new law will require doctors to give a woman an opportunity to view a sonogram and hear the heartbeat of a fetus before an abortion. Another bill criminalizes causing an abortion against a woman’s will.
Georgia and Tennessee are among the states considering similar bills. Kentucky’s law banning abortion after the detection of a heartbeat was immediately challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union when Republican Gov. Matt Bevin signed it on March 14, and a federal judge temporarily blocked it. A federal judge on March 20 also blocked another Kentucky law that would ban abortion for women seeking to end their pregnancies because of the gender, race or disability of the fetus.
An Associated Press story claims that Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on March 21 signed one of the strictest abortion laws in the nation—a measure that bans most abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, about six weeks into pregnancy. After a bill-signing ceremony at the state Capitol, Bryant told reporters that he’s not worried about lawsuits. “They don’t have to sue us. It’s up to them,” Bryant said. “If they do not believe in the sanctity of life, these that are in organizations like Planned Parenthood, we will have to fight that fight. But it is worth it.” The law that Bryant signed Thursday says a physician who performs an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected could face revocation of his or her Mississippi medical license. It also says abortions could be allowed after a fetal heartbeat is found if a pregnancy endangers a woman’s life or one of her major bodily functions. The House and Senate both rejected efforts to allow exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. Commenting on the Mississippi law, Dr. Leana Wen, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said the new Mississippi law “is a dangerous policy that criminalizes a safe, standard medical procedure and will endanger women’s lives.”
It is no secret that American Life League has always fought, and will continue to fight, for laws without exceptions. We were heartened to read that, in Mississippi, “The House and Senate both rejected efforts to allow exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest.” This is a positive step that we hope will spread to other states and even to the United States Congress. It is always disheartening to see how these exceptions are written into every congressional bill to adhere to some political strategy that has failed for 46-plus years. Unfortunately, many lawmakers still believe that a “life of the mother” exception is needed, when there is clear medical evidence that it is not.
Pro-lifers should be heartened by the success in New Mexico, a cleaner (if not yet perfect) bill in Mississippi, and the statement from the governor of South Dakota that “A strong and growing body of medical research provides evidence that unborn babies can feel, think, and recognize sounds in the womb. These are people, they must be given the same basic dignities as anyone else.” As pro-aborts rally their forces in traditionally baby-killing strongholds, the rest of America appears to be waking from their slumber. The legislation in the states is beginning to move in a true pro-life direction. Let us all join together, pray, and move forward to the day that America will truly protect every preborn human being, without compromise, without exception, without apology.
ALL in the News – Ohio success; Vaccines; PP problems; and Wonder
In Judie Brown’s commentary this week, Saving Babies One Step at a Time, Judie writes about Planned Parenthood’s major loss in Ohio as 11 of the 17 judges of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals joined in a decision that affirmed that state governments can indeed defund Planned Parenthood, the nation’s number one abortion chain. She also writes about the victory in New Mexico.
Dwain Currier continues to use the American Life League Facebook page to bring important information about breaking news to our followers. This week, he provided a link to an important video on vaccines.
Jim Sedlak’s article, Internal Problems at Planned Parenthood, reveals some of what Jim was able to find out as he was a “fly on the wall” at PPFA’s 2019 National Conference at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, DC.
Dwain Currier continues to provide cutting-edge commentary and images on American Life League’s Twitter account. One of his tweets this week contains a thought-provoking quote from St. Gregory of Nyssa: “Concepts create idols; only wonder comprehends anything. People kill one another over idols. Wonder makes us fall to our knees.” Let’s all recall the wonder that is the preborn child.
Jim Sedlak’s Pro-Life Activism from Creation to Deathis a weekly talk-radio program on the Radio Maria USA network. It can be heard live every Friday at noon (Eastern Time) and is repeated on Saturdays (10 PM) and Mondays (10 PM).
Video of the Week – Is it permissible for Catholics to use vaccines that utilize aborted fetuses for pharmaceutical production?
Debi Vinnedge of Children of God for Life explains how American pharmaceutical companies arrived at the decision to use the cells from aborted children to manufacture vaccines.
Action Item of the Week – Pro-Life Movie opens next Friday
On Friday, March 29, the movie, UNPLANNED, will begin its run in theaters across the United States. This movie is based on the book by the same name and it is about the life of Abby Johnson. She is a former volunteer at Planned Parenthood, a winner of Planned Parenthood’s employee-of-the-year award, and the youngest person in the history of Planned Parenthood to be named director of an abortion facility. The movie documents why she left Planned Parenthood and how she has become an important part of the fight to close down the organization and save the lives of babies and the souls of those who work in the abortion industry. Given the hostility of Hollywood to the message of this film, it may not be in the theaters too long. You can have your organization host a private theater buy-out event in your city! CLICK HERE TO REQUEST INFO. Visit UNPLANNED’s website to find a list of the hundreds of theaters it will be in on March 29 and learn how you can help increase its impact.
Unfortunately, the MPAA has rated this movie R, which could discourage/prohibit teens from seeing the important film. Promoters of the film have released an explanation of the rating and it is signed by many prominent Christian leaders. You can read it here.
As you make your decision on seeing this film, we invite you to view the following:
Trailer: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanLifeLeague/videos/399990657215345/
UNPLANNED, Sneak Peak:
Website: unplannedfilm.com
Actress Ashley Bratcher was nearly aborted by her own mother, which she didn’t find out until filming began. “I was born for this role,” said Bratcher.
Ashley Bratcher’s interview on FOX
ALL’s Celebrate Life Article on Abby and the movie:
Pro-life Social Media – NICU Nurse Uses Twitter to Describe How Preborn Babies Feel Pain
For decades, abortion advocates have argued that women have a “constitutional right to an abortion.” Recent state measures regarding third-trimester abortions have proven that argument to be a red herring. What they’ve always wanted is the right to a dead baby. How else do we explain recent controversies regarding the discussions a mother and her physician might have regarding her neonatal child?
The reasons a mother would have her child killed at a later age is of no consequence to the abortion advocates. They argue that a 20-plus-week fetus has no mind of his own and that he can’t feel pain.
One neonatal nurse took to Twitter to argue differently. Twitter user Becca reminds us of the delicate nature of the NICU nurse’s work:
There are actually some studies saying a fetus can’t feel pain until 24, 28, or 35 weeks.
Fun right?
Here’s a typical day at work in a level IV NICU where we take care of babies 21 weeks and up… (1/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
0645 Sit down to get report from the night nurse. We have a 23 weeker now 26 weeks. And a 27 weeker now 32 weeks. She gives me report and ends report telling me lab called -the CBC clotted, I need to recollect. Also his PIV’s don’t last long. (2/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
0730 I assess my 32 weeker and his OGT tube is loose. I need to retape it. I gently and slowly pull off the barely stuck tape on his little chin and he cries and swats at me. (Because tape coming off hurts). (3/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
I swaddle him so he doesn’t ‘help me’. I suction his slobbers, dry his little chin and the tube, make sure it’s at the right depth and retape it. But he doesn’t want it in and gets an arm out of his swaddle to grab the tube. (4/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
Luckily I already have it taped. I give him a pacifier and hold his little hands and tell him I’m sorry it hurt but he has to have it so he can eat. He sucks on his binky and gives me an annoyed side eye. (5/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
His temp probe came out from under the sticker so I carefully lift a corner of the sticker off his belly to put the probe back under. He sucks harder on his binky, furrows his brows, and his heart rate goes up. (Because that hurt a little). (6/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
I ask my coworker to come over while I start a new PIV & draw a CBC. She gives him a binky, holds his arms gently and holds the leg while I insert a needle/catheter into the top of his foot. I tape the new PIV. I want another nurse to help keep him calm. (Because it hurts). (7/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
He whimpers and sucks on his binky. She says, “I’m sorry little buddy.” He scrunches his little eyes closed, and his heart rate goes from the 150’s to the 180’s. I tell him, “I’m sorry, almost done”. We apologize because we hate causing pain. (Because getting an IV hurts). (8/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
0825 I settle him in and hear a nearby baby, a 28 weeker, start to desat. My coworker is busy. I go over to her and she’s pulled her nasal cannula down out of her nose and into her mouth and is sucking on it. I tell her that’s adorable but it really needs to be in her nose. (9/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
I carefully pull off the loose tape and she cries and kicks her little legs (because that hurts). I put the cannula back in her nares and put on new tape. Her oxygen sats come up nicely and I give her an actual binky. (10/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
0845 I assess my other 26 week baby. Take her pulse ox probe off her little foot (it’s taped on & removing it very gently still hurts) she cries (because it was painful). I get her footprints so I can make her mom a footprint card bc today she’s 2 pounds and that’s major. (11/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
Then move the pulse ox probe to the other foot, we rotate sites every 12 hours. And I finish up her assessment and start her feeding. As I’m leaving her bedside a recently repaired gastroschisis preemie starts to cry. (Because healing from an abdominal surgery is painful). (12/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
I go over to him and he’s in pain. I try to calm him while his nurse checks to see when he can have his next pain med dose. Then sit down to chart everything including the PIPP’s pain scale for both babies. (Premature Infant Pain Profile). (Because we know they feel pain). (13/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
That’s only the first 3 hrs of a 12 hr shift. The NICU nurses, neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, and occupational & physical therapists constantly try to prevent pain, assess pain, & treat pain. All day everyday because they feel pain… (14/?)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
I could go on and on about the pain the extreme micropreemies feel just from diaper and position changes. But there’s also pain from chest tubes, endotracheal tubes, drains.
They feel pain.
We do all we can to prevent it.
Do not tell me they don’t feel pain. (15/15)
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
— Becca (@BeccCobain) March 20, 2019