Thread by @robinmarty

Currently there is an investigation happening in NC to discover who gave birth to fetal remains found in the sewer system. abc11.com/5918657/

And a couple have been arrested for inducing a miscarriage of a 28 wk fetus abc6onyourside.com/news/local/cou…

Let’s talk (a thread)

So, first we are going to work off the assumption that both of these were induced, self-managed abortion care. It may or may not be true but let's pretend it is. One would be considered “successful” and one not. What are the differences?

In the NC case, police are unable to find who gave birth. They are seeking “information” from people in the community to go on. They are claiming they just want to be sure the person who birthed is safe. They want neighbors, friends, family to report if they have potential IDs

This person who did give birth clearly didn't go to the hospital. Is this person's health in danger? Maybe. Maybe not. But they're clearly safe from jail at this moment. The Ohio couple, on the other hand, isn't. They are in jail. Why? Because she went to a hospital for follow up

These 2 cases viewed together is exactly what activists mean when we say that self-managed abortion's biggest danger is legal harm, not medical harm. It appears the NC person did not seek medical help, and so far is safe. The OH person did and is in jail. And that's horrifying

The right is going to say that the Ohio person gave birth to a viable baby (which is arguable, but lets say yes), and that medical attention would have saved it and someone else could have raised it if they didn't want to. But the charges show otherwise. kentucky.com/news/nation-wo…

one is "endangering children with obvious injury inflicted." Ie: inducing a miscarriage. Also look at "manslaughter." That's what got Anna Yocca even though her preemie survived.

The right is going to claim that a self-managed abortion is murder at any point after the cusp of potential viability because the fetus could have survived, but not address the fact that the only way to be seen as not "injuring" or "endangering" that fetus is to remain pregnant.

Of course, they think it's "murder" at 6 weeks, too, and will enforce that as soon as they can. But earlier abortion is always going to be easier to do without as much legal and medical risk.

my last chapter in Handbook for a Post-Roe America is all about how to minimize those risks. smile.amazon.com/Handbook-Post-… but the short versions are some basic, easy steps.

1) DONT TEXT PEOPLE ABOUT IT. If you are going to converse with someone make it someone you trust completely, and face to face. If you need to send messages, use Signal and set them to disappearing.

Take meds as early as possible. Later in pregnancy opens a person up to more medical issues (especially the possibility for failure and especially the need for medical interventions). Try to obtain an RU-486 packet rather than Misoprostol alone. & 1st tri is safer on all counts

Use private browsers if looking up info online. Excellent sites to visit are abortionpillinfo.org sialegalteam.org/helpline
plancpills.org
reproaction.org/campaign/self-…

But most importantly, weigh out the ability to get a legal termination, first. If it's a money problem, funds can help. If it's logistical, they can help there, too. But try to sort that all out early. Many cases of later abortions are people who tried to do earlier & couldn't.

The inability to afford/access early abortions are what lead to many later abortions,&the later it gets in gestation the harder it gets to obtain one - leading people to attempts outside the legal clinic system. The best way to avoid jail is almost always an early abortion.