John McCain said during one of the 2008 debates that the "health of the mother [air quotes] ... is the extreme pro-abortion position." My reaction then, and now, was horror. I’ve reposted this diary over the years, but I think the recent SCOTUS ruling has returned me to how the danger to women experiencing a dangerous or failed pregnancy cannot be underestimated.
I had three emergency situations where I would have died without a D&C, which is an abortion. PERIOD.
The first time happened in my twenties, when I started hemorrhaging at work. My boss, bless his heart, swooped me up and took me to the local hospital. At the emergency entrance, I will never forget him standing by his car, covered with my blood. It turned out that a procedure on my cervix had resulted in an infection in my uterus. They did the D&C and gave me antibiotics, and I thought I was fine.
Years later, I became pregnant with my (now I know) miracle baby. They told me I had a hole in my uterus (guess why), so they monitored me closely. My beautiful, healthy daughter was born, although a few weeks early.
I then became pregnant 5 years later. We were thrilled and things seemed to go well. However, I began to get sick returning from a work trip and stayed in bed the next morning. Then, I tried to get out of bed and had an incredible, stabbing pain. My nanny found me passed out on the floor, called an ambulance, and they came and got me. The doctor told me I had an ectopic pregnancy and they whisked me into surgery. Another D&C and tying off of my ruptured fallopian tube. The doctor told me afterwards that I had massive scar tissue from the infection in my twenties and I probably shouldn’t get pregnant again. He also said I was lucky to live so close to the hospital, because I probably wouldn’t have survived if I lived farther.
I became pregnant again, against advice, months later, and my new doctor (I had just changed my insurance to Kaiser) said, well, I think you have a 6 week cornual pregnancy. What is that, I said. She (!) said, your uterus is shaped like a triangle, with the fallopian tubes entering from the top corners. A cornual pregnancy is when the egg implants itself near the corner of the uterus where the fallopian tube enters. If it grows there, it will explode your uterus, and you will die immediately. It is way worse than an ectopic pregnancy.
I said, what should I do? She said, oh, wait a couple of weeks so we can make sure we see it on the sonogram. I said, what's the risk I could die in that time? She said (being a right to life advocate, I found out later) just trust in god that you will be OK. I said, after gasping at this response, I want to live. She said, stop crying in my office. I said, I want a D&C RIGHT NOW or we are finding your supervisor. She backed off and said ok.
When I got to the hospital, I told the nurses prepping me about the doctor's response. They were horrified and said they would make sure I was ok, and that I should report the doctor. I’ve never heard that from a nurse.
Afterwards, the doctor called my husband and admitted that I needed the D&C — it was cornual. She never called me or followed up with me. This happened in 1991. What could have happened to me now, in any of these situations? I am sure I’d be dead. The fact that anyone would ridicule or block women who need an abortion for health reasons is utterly astounding.
Although this happened over 30 years ago, the pain is still there. Losing a wanted pregnancy, facing possible death, and attempted obstruction by a physician was very difficult. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. I just cannot comprehend the SCOTUS ruling or the recent legislation.
I have two amazing daughters, my miracle child and a wonderful stepdaughter. They are in the picture at the 1992 choice rally. They are now in their 30s. What would happen to them with illegal abortions? I shudder to think.
