You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise: you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely…For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:1-3,13,16

Friday, March 11, 2011

Abortion

   Even prior to my struggles to get pregnant, there has never been a time when I would have considered abortion. From a young age I felt that it wasn't a choice I could make, it was such a final and harsh decision, I couldn't understand how someone could make it.  I understand that there are times when people have to make decisions about an unborn baby who may have birth defects or who is unable to survive outside of the womb. Praise God that I have not been in that position or had to make that decision, but I do know people who have. I would never pretend to be able to stand in their shoes or judge that decision. Faced with the fact that the pregnancy would not go the distance, I don't think I can fault someone for making an impossible choice.  I know that at this moment right now if there was any possibility of the doctor being wrong or the baby making a recovery I would allow for that possibility. I believe God is bigger than any diagnosis or problem and what man or Satan means for evil, He can use for good.  However, like I said, I am not currently in that situation and that is by the grace of God.  But there is another thing that has been weighing on my mind as I am finally realizing my dream of being pregnant and being able to carry a child. I can't understand how a woman could choose to terminate a healthy pregnancy.  People in favor of the women's right to choose always talk about those worst case senarios like what I mentioned above or in the case of a rape, but the majority of the time in this country neither of those are the case.
    Every week I read a little excerpt about what is developing with my baby and I just wanted to share with you how unbelievable early everything forms and works within a tiny baby.
At 6 weeks (2 weeks after your missed period) your baby is the size of a grain of rice. The organs are starting to form. The HEART is starting to beat and little arm and leg buds are forming making your little one look like a gummy bear.
At 7 weeks, your baby is the size of a blueberry. The liver is now producing the red blood cells until the bone marrow forms. Blood vessels are present throughout the body. The heart is dividing into 4 individual chambers it is now beating 140-160bpm. The early spinal chord called the neural tube is starting to grow and it will become the nervous system and brain.
At 8 weeks, your baby is the size of a macaroni. The nose, mouth, and ears are taking shape. The tongue is forming. Activity is taking place in the baby's brain and nervous system. Baby is making small movements although you cannot feel them. The lungs are developing. 
At 9 weeks, your baby is the size of a cherry. The baby is now considered a fetus. The eyes are formed but the eyelids are fused shut over them. Ears, nose, and lips are now present. The sex organs are formed but they look very much alike at this point. Fingerprints are forming on the tiny fingers.
At 10 weeks, your baby is the size of a cashew nut. Most of the organs are now fully developed. The baby is now swallowing the amniotic fluid and producing urine. Fingernails are forming.
At 11 weeks, your baby is the size of a lime. The baby is moving more and can do summersaults inside your uterus. Hands and arms are nearly fully functional, webs on fingers and toes have gone away. If your baby is a boy, his testicles are starting to produce testosterone. The kidneys are now fully functioning.

As you can see there is a tiny little person developing in there so quickly.  It makes me want to shout from the rooftop how special an experience this is and how it is not to be taken for granted or thrown away.  I am sure that any woman who has ever carried a child would agree but how do you explain to  someone who hasn't? How can you show a person who so easily or accidentally becomes pregnant the value of a baby that so many desperately want.  There are so many woman who want to become mothers, by any means they can, including adoption, that to terminate a pregnancy because it is inconvenient or because it is not the right time is so unfair and robs not only the child but also the possible future parents of so much! All this to say --if you have the opportunity to talk to someone who might be on the fence about this, if you can change a woman's mind, if you can educate someone on this subject….Please do so.  You could change someone's life…you could SAVE someone's life.

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