A story I never planned to write but needs to be told - pregnant at 50, facing life and death dictated by state lines. @Newsweek #AbortionIsHealthcare
Buckle up for a wild ride and a long thread 🧵 1/20
newsweek.com/pregnant-50-li…
Buckle up for a wild ride and a long thread 🧵 1/20
newsweek.com/pregnant-50-li…
2/20🧵A queasy stomach and swelling breasts were signs I couldn't ignore
I tore open a box of expired pregnancy tests languishing in a far back cabinet.
As I peed carefully on the plastic stick, I did some math.
A baby would graduate high school when I'm 68...
I tore open a box of expired pregnancy tests languishing in a far back cabinet.
As I peed carefully on the plastic stick, I did some math.
A baby would graduate high school when I'm 68...
3/20🧵The plus sign turned blue, confirming what my body knew but my mind wanted to deny.
I peed on a second stick, just in case the first test was wrong.
Another blue plus sign.
I peed on a second stick, just in case the first test was wrong.
Another blue plus sign.
4/20🧵 I pondered names, Evangeline for a girl, after the Brandi Carlile song; Wallace for a boy, after his father.
I also panicked.
I Googled "is it safe to have a baby after 50"
The results? Not very promising: "high risk," "complications like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta previa, miscarriage," "older mothers more likely to suffer a stroke."
I also panicked.
I Googled "is it safe to have a baby after 50"
The results? Not very promising: "high risk," "complications like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta previa, miscarriage," "older mothers more likely to suffer a stroke."
5/20🧵 The oldest mother to conceive naturally is Dawn Brooke at 59, a story she delayed sharing publicly for a decade over fear of unwanted publicity.
When Maria del Carmen Bousada gave birth through IVF at 66, many called her "desire to be a mother selfish and irresponsible."
I felt ashamed. I wondered whether the better health choice might be to end the pregnancy.
At the same time, flooded with pregnancy hormones of promise and power, I felt prepared to push another life out of my body.
thedailybeast.com/worlds-oldest-…
When Maria del Carmen Bousada gave birth through IVF at 66, many called her "desire to be a mother selfish and irresponsible."
I felt ashamed. I wondered whether the better health choice might be to end the pregnancy.
At the same time, flooded with pregnancy hormones of promise and power, I felt prepared to push another life out of my body.
thedailybeast.com/worlds-oldest-…
6/20🧵 I texted a photo of the positive pregnancy tests to my husband.
Suddenly something neither of us knew we wanted in both of our second marriages became the most important thing we could ever do together.
As we walked the dog, we envisioned pushing a stroller.
Suddenly something neither of us knew we wanted in both of our second marriages became the most important thing we could ever do together.
As we walked the dog, we envisioned pushing a stroller.
7/20🧵 Ohio GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno recently mocked women like me.
He told a town hall, "especially for women that are like past 50 ... I don't think that's an issue for you."
I have news for him.
Women past 50 still have sex, and become pregnant.
I did.
@maddow @MaddowBlog @MSNBCmsnbc.com/rachel-maddow-…
He told a town hall, "especially for women that are like past 50 ... I don't think that's an issue for you."
I have news for him.
Women past 50 still have sex, and become pregnant.
I did.
@maddow @MaddowBlog @MSNBCmsnbc.com/rachel-maddow-…
8/20🧵 I knew something was wrong when my doctor walked in with a diagram of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
"Have you heard of an ectopic pregnancy?"
The miracle in my womb was now a ticking timebomb.
"This is a dangerous situation," she explained. "Life-threatening."
According to @UCDavisHealth "Ectopic pregnancy is the most common cause of maternal mortality in the first trimester."
health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines…
"Have you heard of an ectopic pregnancy?"
The miracle in my womb was now a ticking timebomb.
"This is a dangerous situation," she explained. "Life-threatening."
According to @UCDavisHealth "Ectopic pregnancy is the most common cause of maternal mortality in the first trimester."
health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines…
9/20🧵 Fortunately, I was in Michigan. My doctor immediately scheduled surgery.
In some states, I would’ve been sent home to wait for the egg to explode and bleed out.
That’s what happened to Kyleigh Thurman. After three days of bleeding, the egg growing on her fallopian tube ruptured, destroying her reproductive system.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
newsweek.com/pregnant-women…
In some states, I would’ve been sent home to wait for the egg to explode and bleed out.
That’s what happened to Kyleigh Thurman. After three days of bleeding, the egg growing on her fallopian tube ruptured, destroying her reproductive system.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
newsweek.com/pregnant-women…
10/20🧵 After slicing my belly to insert a camera and inspect my fallopian tubes and ovaries, my doctor found no ectopic pregnancy.
Instead, she diagnosed a molar pregnancy, a condition involving an abnormal growth of cells that can become a fast-spreading cancer in the liver and brain if left untreated.
The cells were in my uterus, so I needed a "D&C," AKA a dilation and curettage—an abortion.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
newsweek.com/womans-positiv…
Instead, she diagnosed a molar pregnancy, a condition involving an abnormal growth of cells that can become a fast-spreading cancer in the liver and brain if left untreated.
The cells were in my uterus, so I needed a "D&C," AKA a dilation and curettage—an abortion.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
newsweek.com/womans-positiv…
11/20🧵 In Oklahoma, a woman with the same molar pregnancy diagnosis as mine was sent to a hospital PARKING LOT to wait for heart or organ failure.
"We cannot touch you unless you are crashing in front of us or your blood pressure goes so high that you are fixing to have a heart attack."
#AbortionIsHealthcare
@NPR @selenasd
npr.org/sections/healt…
"We cannot touch you unless you are crashing in front of us or your blood pressure goes so high that you are fixing to have a heart attack."
#AbortionIsHealthcare
@NPR @selenasd
npr.org/sections/healt…
12/20🧵As I recovered, I thought about women in other states left to suffer.
Carmen Broesder endured a painful, nineteen-day miscarriage with severe blood loss and erratic blood pressure before an Idaho hospital would treat her.
Her heart suffered irreparable damage. An otherwise healthy 35-year-old now lives with atrial fibrillation, at risk for a stroke.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
@RollingStone @Nancy__Dillon
rollingstone.com/politics/polit…
Carmen Broesder endured a painful, nineteen-day miscarriage with severe blood loss and erratic blood pressure before an Idaho hospital would treat her.
Her heart suffered irreparable damage. An otherwise healthy 35-year-old now lives with atrial fibrillation, at risk for a stroke.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
@RollingStone @Nancy__Dillon
rollingstone.com/politics/polit…
13/20🧵As I recovered, I thought about women who’ve died.
Amber Nicole Thurman needed a routine D&C when fetal tissue failed to expel fully.
A Georgia law made the procedure a felony. So 20 hours passed as an infection spread and organs failed before her surgeon operated.
She didn't survive, and left behind a 6-year-old son.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
@propublica @Ksurana6
propublica.org/article/georgi…
Amber Nicole Thurman needed a routine D&C when fetal tissue failed to expel fully.
A Georgia law made the procedure a felony. So 20 hours passed as an infection spread and organs failed before her surgeon operated.
She didn't survive, and left behind a 6-year-old son.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
@propublica @Ksurana6
propublica.org/article/georgi…
14/20🧵 The only thing more shocking to me than becoming pregnant in my fifties is becoming part of the 1 in 4 women who receive an abortion. @Guttmacher
Never thought it would be me. I was born in Springfield, Missouri, in 1973, the same year Roe v. Wade became the law of the land. The only child of Southern Baptist evangelicals, I was raised to believe abortion is a sin no matter the reason for it.
guttmacher.org/news-release/2…
Never thought it would be me. I was born in Springfield, Missouri, in 1973, the same year Roe v. Wade became the law of the land. The only child of Southern Baptist evangelicals, I was raised to believe abortion is a sin no matter the reason for it.
guttmacher.org/news-release/2…
15/20🧵 Since the 1970s, abortion has been framed as a matter of women's autonomy and choice.
However, my abortion was everything BUT a choice; it was a matter of life or death, and only one life—mine.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
However, my abortion was everything BUT a choice; it was a matter of life or death, and only one life—mine.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
16/20🧵 The national dialog is appallingly simplistic about the "pro-choice" vs. "pro-life" debate.
It fails to capture the complexities and complications of conception.
It wrongly contributes to the shaming and blaming of women.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
@LaurelMarlantes @PostOpinions @washingtonpost
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/…
It fails to capture the complexities and complications of conception.
It wrongly contributes to the shaming and blaming of women.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
@LaurelMarlantes @PostOpinions @washingtonpost
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/…
17/20🧵 Many lawmakers don't understand basic biology.
We need better education about the dangerous risks of ectopic and cancerous molar pregnancies.
Abortion is a safe procedure not only to save a woman's life but also to preserve her reproductive organs for future healthy births.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
@JessicaValenti
gen.medium.com/anti-abortion-…
We need better education about the dangerous risks of ectopic and cancerous molar pregnancies.
Abortion is a safe procedure not only to save a woman's life but also to preserve her reproductive organs for future healthy births.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
@JessicaValenti
gen.medium.com/anti-abortion-…
18/20🧵 I am grateful for the abortion I never wanted and didn't choose, but allowed me to continue living.
It's outrageous that 1 in 3 women live in places where they would not receive the same life-saving care I did.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
@nytimes @atmccann @amyswalk
nytimes.com/interactive/20…
It's outrageous that 1 in 3 women live in places where they would not receive the same life-saving care I did.
#AbortionIsHealthcare
@nytimes @atmccann @amyswalk
nytimes.com/interactive/20…
19/20🧵 Life and death shouldn't be arbitrarily determined by geographic borders.
When politicians say, "leave it to the states" they mean "leave women to die."
#AbortionIsHealthcare
Read the rest of my story below and please share it if it resonates with you
newsweek.com/pregnant-50-li…
When politicians say, "leave it to the states" they mean "leave women to die."
#AbortionIsHealthcare
Read the rest of my story below and please share it if it resonates with you
newsweek.com/pregnant-50-li…
20/20🧵 Looking for more info from academics, doctors, journalists, lawmakers, etc. who value reproductive health?
Here are some to follow, in addition to those cited in this thread: @19thnews @shefalil @ProfMMurray @maryziegler @emilyslist @prhdocs @JillFilipovic @emilyinurphone
#AbortionIsHealthcare
Here are some to follow, in addition to those cited in this thread: @19thnews @shefalil @ProfMMurray @maryziegler @emilyslist @prhdocs @JillFilipovic @emilyinurphone
#AbortionIsHealthcare
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