Thread by @kavitapmd

#triggerwarning #RoeVWade
This is a very long 🧵from a MD colleague who wanted to share her whole story regarding what is at stake with the likely SCOTUS decision -I will use her words in this thread.

This is a story of what is at stake. Read all of it.

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2/n
If you're on the fence about being an ally for those fighting for the span of women's reproductive options that American women deserve, here's her story

3/n
In fellowship she got pregnant on Nuvaring. She wasn't upset and fully intended to stay pregnant. Wk 9, u/s showed a thickened nuchal fold and incr fluid (warrants a further workup for possible genetic problems). F/u bloodwork was not reassuring.

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She had a CVS (chorionic villus sampling) done at 11 wks to see if there was a genetic problem. Her cervix was dilated and a device placed in the uterus to sample the placenta. It is painful

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It took almost 2 wks for the results to come back as Down's syndrome with hydrops (large amounts of fluid building up in baby's tissues/organs). Downs along w/ hydrops is a grave diagnosis w/ low probability of live fetus at term and even lower chance of survival beyond birth

6/n
F/u u/s showed worsening hydrops, essentially heart failure. Her heart was broken and she was in her 2nd trimester trying not to show emotion at work or wear anything but scrubs bc nobody knew

7/n
She had a high risk MFM (maternal fetal medicine) doctor that she trusted and if it had been as it should, she would have scheduled a D&E (dilation& extraction) since the fetus was not going to survive and going to term risked her health as well.

8/n
but even 10 yrs ago when this happened her MFM had to go to a committee to fight for the procedure to have a D&E for a dying fetus. Fight w/ a panel of individuals, more than 1/2 of whom were not medical providers. 1 was clergy. After another 10 days approval was given.

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She was now 15 weeks 3 days. In order to prep for a procedure at this gestational age, she had to take misoprostol (one of 2 common medical abortion pills)the night before to soften the cervix & decrease chance of issues during surgery.

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She never had a harder time taking pills in her life. She stared at them for hours bc she didn't want to admit this reality. But she did take them.

11/n.
The next morning as she was getting ready to go to the hospital she began to have severe pain & nausea. She delivered the fetus in the shower (keep in mind she is a MD/trained OB/GYN). She was bleeding a lot & called her friend from fellowship and had him call her MFM doc

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She sat on the floor of her apt w/ a dead almost 16 wk fetus in a pool of blood hoping the placenta would detach & she would stop bleeding. She took the last misoprostol to move this along.

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Finally the placenta let go &everything calmed down in time to tell people she didnt need an ambulance.

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If Roe is dismantled, she would have been forced to carry the fetus to term explaining to everywhere who said congrats that the baby was not compatible with life but thanks anyway. Or her MD would have to risk his license & livelihood to help her terminate anyway.

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Her dead fetus was lovingly wrapped and buried at yellow springs on a remote trail.

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She allowed us to share this story bc there are too many people that want to conveniently lump anyone seeking assistance as "baby killers" etc but that is not true. And honestly, she didn't have to write any of this. Because decisions w/ her doctor ARE NOBODY ELSE'S BUSINESS

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She ends by saying that she hopes that this story gains some allies in the coming months to stop this insanity. The time is now to get off the couch and do something.

Fin