Abortion: A Solution to Pregnancy from Rape?

I've seen some interesting commentary going on in reply to a post over at Abortion Clinic Days which got me thinking about my own stance on rape and abortion. I understand and sympathise with the woman who has been raped and support theraputic abortion in the case of rape. However, I'm concerned that  societal stigma and well-meaning families and doctors are pressuring women who've become pregnant as a result of rape to have abortions and it's not a decision freely chosen by women. Also, I'm concerned that women are being mislead into believing that having an abortion and erasing the pregnancy will help bring them healing or closure from their rape, which they may not so easily find.

Caution: This post is an expression of my own personal opinions and views. This post is of a contraversial and sensitive topic, and may be a trigger for those who have experienced rape and/or abortion. I only recommend continuing to read this post and responses if you feel that you're at a place where you've found healing/peace and you are ready for often strong and opposing political views. If this posts upsets you or makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, this may not be the right time for you to read this and you may want to come back at a later time. Thank you.

A woman who has been raped has been physically assaulted, personally violated, and left with her an enormous and long-lasting trauma. In the case of rape and abuse, where she has been violated against her will, understandably there is a sense of loss of control over one's life. There are several essential needs at this point 1) address her physical needs by providing adequate medical care in the post-rape physical exam to treat for possible STDs and to prevent pregnancy, while respecting her privacy and the sensitivity of the situation 2) to address her emotional needs by providing non-judgmental support, understanding, and encouragement to seek professional counseling. 3) to stand by women and encourage them to report the rape early so that she can receive immediate medical treatment and so the rapist can be prosecuted so he won't trouble her or someone else again. We should provide a huge amount of support to help the woman report the rape. Only about 40% of rapes sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement in 2003(1).

In 2003, there were 198,850 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault sccording to the 2003 National Crime Victimization Survey. Unfortuantly, up to 4,065 pregnancies may have resulted from these attacks(1). Both sides of the debate typically accept the notion that women with a pregnancy resulting from a sexual assault would want an abortion and the abortion will some how help her heal or recover from the assault. "But in the only major study of pregnant rape victims ever done, Dr. Sandra Mahkorn found that 75 to 85 percent chose against abortion."(2)Having an abortion is a major life event which is almost always stressful and sometimes even traumatic. Will an abortion truly help her, or will it only cause further hurt? "In answering this question, it is helpful to begin by noting that many women report that their abortions felt like a degrading and brutal form of medical rape"(3). Abortion involves an often intimate and painful examination of a woman's sexual organs. Also, once she is on the operating table, she must temporarily give up control of her body. This experiential association between abortion and sexual assault is very strong for many women. It is especially strong for women who have a prior history of sexual assault, whether or not she is presently pregnant as the result of an assault(4).Second, research shows that after any abortion, it is common for women to experience guilt, depression, feelings of being "dirty," resentment of men, and lowered self-esteem. What is most significant is that these feelings are identical to what women typically feel after rape. Abortion, then, only adds to and accentuates the traumatic feelings associated with sexual assault. Rather than easing the psychological burdens of the sexual assault victim, abortion adds to them."(6) Also, a woman may find that the emotional and physical hurts may still be there even after an abortion and she will still need lots of love, support, counseling, and time to heal.

Feelings of guilt, shame, devaluement, humiliation, and dirtiness are common reactions following a sexual assault. These may be further perpetuated by stereoptypes and myths about rape. A victim or rape may be stigmatized by her peers, friends, and even family. They may subtlly or not so sutly push for an abortion. "Feelings of guilt and shame are common reactions following a sexual assault. Because of misconceptions about rape, some victims blame themselves, doubt their own judgment, or wonder if they were in some way responsible for the assault. Feelings of guilt and self-blame may be reinforced by the reactions of others, who, because of prevalent myths about rape, may blame the victim or criticize his or her behavior."(6) Those encouraging abortion often do so because they are uncomfortable dealing with rape victims, or perhaps out of prejudice against victims whom they see as being "guilty for letting it happen. 'Wiping out the pregnancy is a way of hiding the problem. It is a "quick and easy" way to avoid dealing with the woman's true emotional, social and financial needs'(5). Keep in mind rape is usually a pre-meditated act of violence, of control and domination.

Also, those surrounding the woman (friends, co-workers, family) may harbor a sense of animosity towards a child concieved in rape and/or the child may be looked down upon unfavorably because of the circumstances surrounding her conception. The woman may be strongly pressured by those close to her and around her to have an abortion. Some may see wiping out the pregnancy is a way of hiding the problem. Another concern is that of will carrying to pregnancy to term cause the woman more emotional damage and serve as a reminder of the rape? The child of a rape will not necessarily cause further emotional damage to the mother. It may be in fact beneficial to her healing. Should she continue with the pregnancy, she may sense that if she can get through the pregnancy, she will have conquered the rape. Also, she might feel that she wants to rise above the violence done to her by protecting her child, has the ability to show compassion to her child, and prove to herself that she is brave and loving where the rapist was cowardly and hateful, that she is peaceful where he was violent, that she respects life where he tried to ruin hers. And so from that she may heal and grow stronger and prove to all that she is an infinitely better person that he could ever be(5). Also, by carrying the pregnancy to term, she would reveal the abuse which has happened to her.

A child conceived in rape may be labeled "the rapist's spawn" and even blamed for the rape or ruining the woman's life. No, harm was already done when he violated her. No one is to blame but the rapist for forcing the pregnancy on her. The child had no control over how he/she was conceived and is a second victim of the rape. Describing a child concieved in rape as the rapist's baby implies that he has some sort of ownership of the child that he forced upon the mother, and so implies that she can never truly take guardianship of the child and despite nurturing the child in her womb; that the child will always somehow be his or a monster like him in some way beyond mere genetics. The preborn child is an individual person in existence at fertilization and is not an extension of the father's body and is not a part of the mother's body. The child is more than just a product of rape, this is also her baby and individual human being. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding a child's conception, each child has worth and is deserving of love. How the child began is not what matters as much as a child raised with love, nuturing care, and encouragement so she can make the most of her life.

Regardless of the pregnancy outcome, a victim of rape still needs lots of love, support, and counseling, and time to heal.

If you have ever been raped, it's not too late to get help:
Call the RAINN hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE It's free and confidential.
or see my listing of hotlines for a complete list and international numbers.
State Laws on Statutes of Limitations
Books Suggested by Survivors
Understanding the Impact of Rape
Drugs Used in Rape

Works Cited: 1. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest Network's Statistic's page.
http://www.rainn.org/statistics/index.html
RAINN's "two and a half minute" calculation is based on 2003 National Crime Victimization Survey from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.
2. Mahkorn, "Pregnancy and Sexual Assault," The Psychological Aspects of Abortion, eds. Mall & Watts, (Washington, D.C., University Publications of America, 1979) 55-69
3. Francke, The Ambivalence of Abortion (New York: Random House, 1978) 84-95, 167.; Reardon, Aborted Women - Silent No More (Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1987), 51, 126.
4. 3. Zakus, "Adolescent Abortion Option," Social Work in Health Care, 12(4):87 (1987).
5. David C. Reardon, Ph.D. in Rape, Incest and Abortion: Searching Beyond the Myths.
http://afterabortion.org/rape.html
6. Rape Treatment Center, Santa Monica - UCLA Rape Treatment Center
Impact of Rape: Self-Blame and Shame
http://66.216.123.69/RTC/Impact+of+Rape/Self-Blame+and+Shame/

I would like to thank the following sites for providing valuable insight and information: http://www.pregnantpause.org/aborted/curerape.htm
http://www.rape-awareness.freewebspace.com/
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/2402/

Study Compares Depression with Abortion and Carrying to Term

Long-term Study Compares Depression with Abortion and Carrying to Term
Quoting from this site:

Abortion doesn't raise depression risk: study shows
Fri Oct 28, 2005 8:53 PM BST

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Among women with an unwanted pregnancy, those who carry the pregnancy to term are more likely to experience later depression than those who terminate the pregnancy with an abortion, new study findings suggest.

Well-designed studies have generally shown that abortion does not contribute to an increased risk of depression, Dr. Sarah Schmiege and Dr. Nancy Felipe Russo note in their report in BMJ Online First, published October 28.

However, one previous study examining these associations among women with an unwanted first pregnancy found that induced abortion was associated with a higher risk of depression than a pregnancy carried to term.

But Schmiege, from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and Russo, from Arizona State University in Tempe, believe this analysis was flawed.

For their study, they identified a large group of women ages 14 to 21 in 1979 who had an unwanted pregnancy between 1970 and 1992 and for whom personal and outcome data were available. The women were interviewed over several years to examine the relation between pregnancy outcome and later depression.

The authors found that terminating compared to delivering an unwanted first pregnancy was not directly related to risk of depression. Instead, women who delivered before 1980 had a much higher risk of depression than all other groups.

These findings "directly contradict the claim that terminating an unwanted first pregnancy puts women at higher risk of subsequent depression, particularly for younger women," Schmiege and Russo contend.

Their analysis also showed that women who had aborted a pregnancy had significantly higher mean education attainment and income and lower total family size. These factors could explain the higher risk of depression among women who don't abort an unwanted pregnancy.

"This suggests that if the goal is to reduce women's risk for depression, research should focus on how to prevent and ameliorate the effect of unwanted childbearing, particularly for younger women," the authors conclude.

The complete study can be found at: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/rapidpdf/bmj.38623.532384.55v1.pdf

I do not have a response to this at this time; however, The Pro-Women Pro-Lifer has written a well-thought-out response to this study.
http://theprowomanprolifer.blogspot.com/2005/11/abortion-and-depression.html

David C. Reardon, Ph.D and author of the previous study responds to the new study and findings:
His response is the 5th one down and is called, "Study fails to address our previous findings and subject to misinterpretation."
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/bmj.38623.532384.55v1

Also, After Abortion has a listing of medical research about the psychological aftermath of abortion
http://afterabortion.blogspot.com/2004/08/medical-research-about-psychological.html

Hurricane Katrina - How You Can Help the Victims

Now in the aftermath and ruins of Hurrican Katrina, the victims need your help in re-building their lives. The following is a list of agencies providing relief efforts. Volunteer agencies provide a wide variety of services after disasters, such as clean up, childcare, housing repair, crisis counseling, sheltering and food.
Here is a list of phone numbers set up solely for cash donations and/or volunteers.

Donate cash to:
American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
1-800-257-7575 Spanish;
America’s Second Harvest
1-800-344-8070
Humane Society of the United States
1-888-259-5431
Operation Blessing
1-800-436-6348
United Jewish Communities
1-877-277-2477

Donate Cash and/or Volunteer:
Adventist Community Services
1-800-381-7171
B'nai B'rith International
1-888-388-4224
Catholic Charities, USA
1-800-919-9338
Christian Disaster Response
941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
1-800-848-5818
Church World Service
1-800-297-1516
Convoy of Hope
417-823-8998
Corporation for National and Community Service Disaster Relief Fund
(202) 606-6718
Disaster Psychiatry Outreach
1-212-598-9995
Feed the Children
1-800-525-7575
Lutheran Disaster Response
800-638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service
717-859-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response
888-256-5886
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
800-872-3283
Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief
1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440
UJA Federation of New York
212 836-1880
Union for Reform Judaism
United Methodist Committee on Relief
1-800-554-8583

Advice Regarding Charitable Giving
Helping Victims of Hurricane Katrina: Your Guide to Giving Wisely
Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance: Tips on Giving

Also there are other ways you can help:
Operation Share Your Home
Hurricane Help for Schools (Ed.Gov site)
List from http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473
               http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/hurricanes/katrina_resources.html

Moving Beyond Politics to Assist Women Facing an Unplanned Pregnancy

Each side of the abortion debate is quick to find fault with the other as to what they need to do to assist women facing unplanned pregnancy. However, persons in the pro-life movement as well as the pro-choice movement are working to reduce the number of abortions and provide assistance to women in an unplanned pregnancy situation. Family planning clinics on the pro-choice side offer low-cost prenatal care, gynelogical care, and general health care. However, their services are limited in scope and the focus is primarily on contraceptive and abortion services, while a woman may occasionaly be referred out for adoption and practical assistance for continuing the pregnancy. On the pro-life side there's various pregnancy resource center agencies who are able to offer limited practical needs care including materinity clothes, baby clothes, formula, baby blankets, diapers, cribs, and strollers/car seats as well as parenting preperation courses and refferals to community and government organizations. However, pregnancy resource centers largely rely on donations are there's a strong stigma surrounding them because some centers have stepped out of line in religous evangelism and politics. The Nuturing Network, an independent organization unrelated to PRCs, has over 42,000 volunteer members, in all 50 states and 25 nations, whom form an extensive employment, medical, educational, counseling and residential network which enables a mother to continue her pregnancy without sacrificing her own hopes and dreams. Services include: counseling (by licensed nurses, counselors and social workers), maternity homes, medical assistance, financial assistance, assistance in continuing her education, employment assistance, adoption counseling, adoption services, and parenting prepardness education.  Feminist for Life lobbys for higher mininum wages, against domestic violence, and for equal employment opportunities rights for women with children. Both sides are contributing in a way that supports their political views and each has something to offer. But each side is unable to move past seeing their opponents only for their idealogical views, and unable to work together. Political differences are keeping women from being able to completely explore avenues of resources. Will we be able to set politics and rhetoric aside to really be able to focus on and assist women in an unplanned pregnancy situation?

Original Comments Made for This Entry...

The Pro-Woman Pro-Lifer wrote on 09-06-2005:
I think it goes deeper than the "politics and rhetoric" for many who are pro-life, because we believe that abortion clinics are wrong on a moral level and that they harm women (and children) on a routine basis.
I'm glad that they are able to care for some of the women who aren't there for abortion services, but that doesn't mean that I support them. I cannot, because that would mean that I would support something I believe harms women. I'd much rather see a woman who needs basic medical care go to a community health center. Some pre-natal care can be given from medical pregnancy centers, and the rest really should be from an OB/GYN anyway.
Can you see how there might be more to this than mere politics and rhetoric? Do you agree that some might think that sending a woman to PP gets her one step closer to choosing abortion if she were to become pregnant, since she is aware of the clinic, has been indoctrinated with thier information, etc. Can you see how referring a woman elsewhere would be better? What do we need to work together on? Why can't we just be sure that we offer all the support a woman needs?
Looking forward to your reply. ;) Interesting topic!

Rachael wrote on 09-09-2005 (01:34:03):
Unfortuantly, the focus of the mainstream pro-life and pro-choice movement seems to be focused on influencing legislation, rather than assisting the woman facing the unplanned pregnancy. The debate has become so polarized, abortion rights versus the rights of the unborn that often times the woman with the unplanned pregnancy is forgotten. And at the same time, for the most part, both sides feel hostility towards each other. Most pro-choice persons wouldn't refer a woman to a PRC for aid because they don't share their ideological views. At the same time, as you make a point of, most pro-lifers wouldn't send a woman a woman to a health clinic unless they were pro-life. Well, not all family planning clinics provide abortions (such as community health clinics) and may provide necessary health services that may be otherwise unaffordable for the low-income and uninsured. No, I'm not advocating PP's since their political agenda is their priority. However, as mentioned above, community health clinics are usually a good place, since they are usually run by the local health department or hospital. Yes, some PRCs provide health care services, however it's usually limited to pregnancy tests, ultrasound and prenatal care (no immunizations, STD testing and treatment, or regular preventive screening) and these centers are few and far between. Rather than blaming the other side for inaction, both sides need to refocus and find common ground in addressing the social issues that led women to have unplanned pregnancies and drive women to have an abortion. Only then we can begin to care for the woman's needs and reduce the abortion rate.

The Pro-Woman Pro-Lifer wrote on 09-09-2005 (09:24:54) :
So you're talking about groups like NARAL and RTL rather than the local pregnancy centers and family clinics. Yes, the legislative groups are more interested in getting laws passed that further their beliefs. I don't think that will change, and I do agree that that is unfortunate. But this isn't only occuring in the abortion debate - all issues have people that lobby and people that work hands-on.
The pregnancy centers around here make referrals to the community health department. I don't think there's a problem with that, but they aren't going to refer to PP, which is what you were wondering about. This isn't due to hostility as much as out of concern for the woman...we want to make sure that women are helped and not hurt. They, conversely, think that the pregnancy centers will hurt and not help. That's the reason for the divide.
You're not going to find common ground within the abortion clinic/referral agency and the pregnancy center the way things are now. They are on polar opposites for a reason. Instead, I think it'll take a new "breed" of support.

Abortion Rights Threatened By Ultrasound

An abortion rights activist admits that the availability of elective ultrasounds leds women to re-consider abortion. This is from message 2113 (Tue Aug 16, 2005) in the Yahoo! Group: Abortion Celebration:
"I believe it was the invention of the ultrasound that is killing the right to choose. Now that people have the ability to see their baby while it's inside your body, it makes it harder to go through with the procedure. Don't get me wrong, I think the ultrasound is wonderful for those who wish to have their baby and it's a great way to see your baby and get excited about it but for those who just want to have an abortion and are already having enough problems with the whole thing, seeing the ultrasound is like twisting the dagger that's already in your stomach."
This poster, and many other pro-choice activists perceive the availability of elective ultrasound to be a threat to abortion rights. Why? While some laws seek to make viewing of the ultrasound mandatory, I don't believe women should be forced to see an ultrasound if they don't want to; however she should be given the option of viewing it if she so desires. If anything ultrasound isn't taking away a woman's ability to choose, but allows her to make an informed decision with information on the development of her pregnancy. Rather the threat is to abortion rights.  They acknowledged what we've known all along, there's a developing human child in there and it's not just tissue, and a woman seeing her child on ultrasound could have a profound impact on her decison. A woman may see her developing child in the ultrasound and become emotionally attached, deciding to not have an abortion. But for the woman who's decided to have an abortion, she may have rationed that this decision is for the best, and emotionally seperated herself from her unborn child. To see the ultrasound, she would face that reality the abortion would be ending the life of her unborn child (or potential life) within her, and coming to terms with death is nothing any person wants to do. It's a tough call, because while viewing ones ultrasound may have its benefits, it has negatives as well.

Rights and Responsibilities

I'm soo tired of hearing the "the fetus is an unwanted intruder" or "forced gestation" argument from pro-choicers. Pregnancy is a normal, biological result of human sexual function and the natural occurance resulting from intercourse. There is no forced gestation -- no outsider's impregnating her against her will (except rape) -- pregnancy is a naturally occuring process resulting from the actions of the two individuals having sexual relations and would most likely develop to term if not interrupted. This is a fact of basic human biology. The fact is, when there is intercourse and/or reproductive bodily fluids are exchanged, even with contraception, there is always a risk that pregnancy may occur. This is how the human body is biologically programed, regardless of whether the woman and her partner have made a conscious decison to not have children. If you're going to have sex, you need to accept the possibility that it could lead to pregnancy or even STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections), regardless of how careful you are. It is incredibly rediculous to claim the embryo/fetus is an unwanted intruder that appeared there suddenly without their willingness or involvement. However our culture has divorced the association between sex and pregnancy, leading to individuals developing the unrealistic idea that pregnancy won't happen to them. And when they do, they're surprised, and not ready to accept the responsibility of the pregnancy or raising the child. This is why the risks and potential consequences of casual sex need to be considered and realistically weighed beforehand.

"With great rights comes great responsibility" - Unknown

Feminists Views of Abortion as Beneficial Experience for Women

Quoting from Pinko Feminist Hellcat:

I'm not one of those people who decry abortion as a necessary evil. I'm not one of those self-righteous misogynists who would pass judgement on pro-choicers, pregnant women, or women who chose to abort. I don't hate abortion.I think it's wonderful. I think it's wonderful because it frees women from unwanted pregnancies, it keeps women from enduring the risks and complications that can arise from pregnancy, and it gives them say over when they will have children. If ever.

H/T to JivinJehosphat

It seems Pinko Feminist Hellcat has this notion that opposing the act of abortion is passing judgement on women who've had an abortion (not necessarily true). And by condoning abortion, she is supporting the women who've had one. It's an abstract thought. Showing real support for a woman who's had an abortion would be physically, in person taking care of her after the procedure and comforting her, regardless of whether or not her feelings support your political agenda. Her utopian idea that abortion is always a wonderful experience is a little off. First of all, having an abortion doesn't magically solve the issues or circumstances surrounding the unplanned pregnancy. Also, it's important to note that not all women experience life-threatening pregnancy complications, just like not all women have a complicated abortion. In addition, rather than abortion as the pat treatment, prenatal care and early diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy related complications is the key to a positive woman's health and childbearing. Also, it's misleading to portray all women as happily skipping out of the abortion clinic, happy with their decision. For every positive abortion story out there, there's a difficult abortion and reverse, because every women's individual situation and experience may be different. Also, most women don't take the decision to have an abortion lightly.

Mercy, Compassion, and Forgiveness for the Post-Abortion Woman

I came across this awesome quote from a pro-life visitor to the contraversial website of Operation Rescue West (don't even get me started on their negative impact on the pro-life movement):

Sunflower wrote:
"judge and you shall be judged" [Bible]
'Ultimately we should not be judging anyone for their sins or actions, but we should however be forgiving them and hope they can forgive themselves. We should be compassionate for whatever their "sins" might be, especially in the case of abortion, where no one knows what might bring a "mother to be" to come to such decision!'

I completely agree with this. It is not our place to judge. Especially if she is feeling hurt, loss, regret, or sorrow, she doesn't need salt rubbed into her wounds (metaphorically speaking) But nor do we have to condone the sin to love the sinner. "Hate the sin but not the sinner" [Bible, I need to look up the verse) I reassure you that we don't have to condone abortion to give compassion and mercy to the woman facing an unplanned pregnancy or who have chosen abortion. This is the attitude more of the pro-life movement needs to take on.

On an additional note, there's a grieving post-abortion woman on Feminist Forum needing support. As I was following a referral link to my web journal from a Google search of abortion regrets, I found a grieving post-abortion woman's post at feminist forum in the UK.

She originally wrote: "I already have a nine year old daughter and have a very good job and am still with my daughters father, but i fell pregnant in feb and had a abortion and now i feel so gulity. I was given the injection that last three months and it will be over may 12 i want i have a baby now because i now feel that ishouldnt have done it. what shall i do?"

She received a lot responses from pro-choicers and prolifers condemning to indefferent (telling her to "seek forgiveness" and to "get over it").
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/board/about21348-0-asc-0.html

Her original post is a few months old, however another greiving post-abortion woman posted in June. These ladies could use some supportive and encouraging words among the highly political responses.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum: It's Beyond Morning Sickness.

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a rare condition adversly affecting pregnant women, where nausea and vomiting is excessive and severe to the point a woman and her unborn baby's health can be adversely affected. It is not the same thing as your typical morning sickess. But you don't have to suffer through this alone. I hope to help you by connecting you with information, support, and resources on dealing specifically with hyperemesis gravidarum.

Defined by Rare Diseases.org:
"Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a rare disorder characterized by severe and persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that may necessitate hospitalization. As a result of frequent nausea and vomiting, affected women experience dehydration, vitamin and mineral deficit, and the loss of greater than five percent of their original body weight."

An article from a Ugandan newspaper about hyperemesis gravidarum:
Morning Sickness: The Ignored Killer

H/T to After Abortion for the link

Informational and Professional Websites:

Beyond Morning Sickness: Battling Hyperemesis Gravidarum
The website, named for the book written by Ashli McCall, contains resources as well as a support forum for women suffering from HG.

Body Mutiny: Extreme Morning Sickness.com
"Through this website, hyperemesis survivor Jenna Schmitt recalls her high-risk pregnancy, offering insights and education that speak volumes to pregnant women and their families. In particular, those suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum or any other complication will find understanding and inspiration here. Jenna’s pregnancy has produced her first book entitled Body Mutiny: Surviving Nine Months of Extreme Morning Sickness. In a powerful mix of poetry and prose, she takes you through 40 harrowing weeks of a hyperemesis pregnancy."

Take Two Crackers...
"Approximately two-thirds of all pregnant women experience some form of morning sickness either at the beginning or throughout the duration of their pregnancy. Our goal is to introduce lifestyle modifications and increase nutrition awareness to help reduce morning sickness during your pregnancy. Miriam Erick has pioneered the modern discussion of truly effective diet and lifestyle modifications that help women tolerate morning sickness during pregnancy. She is an experienced Registered Dietitian (Clinical Obstetrics, Rheumatology, General Surgery and Orthopedic). Her approach to morning sickness is explained in her informative, eye-opening book "Take Two Crackers and Call Me in the Morning!".

HER Foundation: Hyperemesis Education and Research
The HER Foundation provides education & support for mothers suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum and those who care for them.

Blooming Awful
The UK hyperemesis gravidarum awareness group

Hyperemesis Gravidarum.com
A personal website with basic information on the condition and available treatment options.

HuGs: Hyperemesis Gravidarum Survivors
A personal website with women's stories, medical information (i.e. treatment options and dietary information), and a support message board.

HG Help Boards
A support forum for the women and their families suffering from HG

Motherisk: Resources for Nausea
Offers facts and resources on morning sickness through a publication on nausea research; offers a toll-free helpline for North America.

Matria Health Care: Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy

Information for Women and Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
Prepared by the Obstetrics Committee of the SOGC (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
http://www.sogc.org/health/pregnancy-nausea_e.asp
http://www.sogc.org/guidelines/public/120E-CPG-October2002.pdf

eMedicine Health - Vomiting During Pregnancy
Learn about causes, diagnosis and treatment options

Hyperemesis Gravidarum
by Richard Chudacoff, M.D.

Mothering.com: Discussion of Alternative Treatments for Hyperemesis


HG Supplies, Pharmaceuticals and Supplement Product Pages:

Her Foundation: Common HG Medications

Morning Sickness Help
Various products including vitamin suckers, discreet vomiting bag, and aromatherapy for lessening the effects of morning sickness.


Women Share Their Personal Stories:

Baby, You're Making Me Sick!
"I am a happy wife and a mother to two adorable little boys. I had severe Hyperemesis Gravidarum during both of my pregnancies. I started this blog so I can share my own memories and experiences with the other .03%-2.0% of pregnant women who are experiencing this unrelenting illness."

Building My Baby
"A blog following me through the ups, downs, joys, and woes of pregnancy"

Getting Personal With HG
"This blog will detail my journey through HG. It may not be the most uplifting thing to read or view every day, but it's important to spread awareness about this disease, which often goes undiagnosed."

Hyperemesis Gravidarum: a diary
Journal of a Ashli McCall's 4th experience with hyperemesis gravidarum

My Hyperemesis: Anna's Blog
"This is a collection of information I have gathered through my experience with HG and postpartum residual nausea. My goal is to raise awareness about this understudied, misunderstood pregnancy illness."

Christa's HGStory
One woman's story in her struggle with HG during her first pregnancy, with a husband who stayed by her side

Island of Grief, Mountain of Joy
The story of a woman's triumph, tragedy and hopefully more triumphs with Hyperemesis Gravardium. Often a misunderstood, misdiagnosed and mistreated disease

Knocked Up-Knocked Over: My Journey Through Hyperemesis Gravidarum
A woman details her journey through HG. It may not be the most uplifting thing to read every day, but it's important to spread awareness about this disease, which often goes undiagnosed.

The S.I.C.L.E. Cell
A blog by Ashli McCall, author of Beyond Morning Sickness, who suffered from severe hyperemesis gravidarum during a previous pregnancy. Following the advice of her doctor and relatives, she relented into a late-term abortion, ending the very much wanted pregnancy. Her blog consists of her personal experience and insights of her situation, as well as healing from the abortion.

The Whinning Puker
Thoughts, agitations and cogitations of a 27-year old woman considering a second pregnancy while pondering the likelihood of a recurrence of hyperemesis gravidarum.

Self-Induced Abortion or Domestic Violence?

Teen Gets Life Sentence For Helping Girlfriend End Pregnancy

The case of the teen girl in Texas who asked her boyfriend to stomp on her stomach to end her pregnancy has become national news. Pro-choice activists cry, "This girl had to resort to self-inflected abortion when she didn't have access to a safe and legal abortion." while pro-life activists cry "Charge the boyfriend for murder of the unborn babies".  On June 7th, the boyfriend was prosecuted under the state's new fetal protection law and given a life sentence. But it seems the case isn't that simple.

Correction Time From Feminst Blogs
"It looks like there's a very good chance that this homemade abortion was the last incident in a string of abusive encounters. The boy admitted to hitting the girl in the past to keep her from berating him, and the hospital report indicates that she was hit on the face and had a huge bruise on her arm from someone grabbing her. This casts doubt on her story that she wanted to abort the pregnancy so much as it was lost after her boyfriend beat her. The girl had, after all, been keeping up her doctor's appointments. From the affidavits, it looks like parental notification wasn't an issue. "My mom, my sister and my sister-in-law all said that I should get an abortion," Erica stated in an affidavit last July. "They said that I was too young to have children. Jerry and his family did not want me to get an abortion, and they asked me to move in with him in Jerry's house." This entire case is disturbing on a number of levels. First of all, it's disturbing that it was so widely reported as a simple issue of two teenagers getting caught doing a homemade abortion, when it's very likely that instead it was closer to the all-too-typical scenario of domestic violence escalating due to a pregnancy. But the prosecution carries a lot of the blame in that--instead of treating this incident for what it most likely was, which is a case of domestic violence leading to a miscarriage and prosecuting the young man for hurting his girlfriend, they grandstanded on the whole abortion bullshit instead of standing up for the young woman who was victimized in all this."

I agree, it looks like a case of domestic violence. In the original story Houston Press:Stomped Out)...
According to the Family Violence Prevention Fund: Reproductive Health and Violence Fact Sheet
"Each year, about 324,000 pregnant women in this country are battered by their intimate partners.(v) That makes abuse is more common for pregnant women than gestational diabetes or preeclampsia -- conditions for which pregnant women are routinely screened. However, few physicians screen pregnant patients for abuse.(vi)
Women with unplanned pregnancies have a two to four times greater risk for violence than women whose pregnancies were planned.(vii)
No fewer than a quarter of adolescent mothers experience intimate partner violence before, during, or just after their pregnancy, with some studies reporting rates of 50 to 80 percent.(xi) "
____________________________________
v. Gazmararian JA; et al. 2000. .Violence and Reproductive Health; Current Knowledge and Future Research
Directions.. Maternal and Child Health Journal. 4(2):79-84.
vi. Parsons, L., et.al. .Violence Against Women and Reproductive Health: Toward Defining a Role for ReproductiveHealth Care Services.. Maternal and Child Health JournalVol. 4, No. 2, pg. 135. 2000.
vii. Rabasca, Lisa. .More Research is Needed on Violence and Reproduction.. American Psychological Association
Monitor. Vol. 30, No. 8. September 8, 1999. available at http://www.apa.org/monitor/sep99/pi1.html.
xi. Leiderman, Sally and Cair Almo. 2001. Interpersonal Violence and Adolescent Pregnancy: Prevalence and Implications for Practice and Policy. Center for Assessment and Policy Development and the National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting, and Prevention.

See here and here for a list of signs of abuse. Although the focus of the article is on the politics of abortion, there are plenty of red-flags of abuse. Should the boyfriend have been better investigated for perpertrating abuse, definatly! Should he have been prosecuted for domestic violence? Depending on the results of the investigation. Unfortuantly, now we will probably never know.  I believe there needs to be more awareness and education on domestic violence in the media.

Update 9-30-05
The teenager who caused his girlfriend to miscarry by repeatedly whacking her in the belly with a baseball bat has been sentenced to serve 200 hours of community service in a pro-life pregnancy center, after his conviction prompted objections.

MOUNT CLEMENS -- A teenage boy convicted of striking his girlfriend with a baseball bat to end her pregnancy has been sentenced to 200 hours of community service at a pro-life pregnancy center, drawing objections from his lawyer and his family.

Macomb Circuit Judge Matthew Switalski on Thursday sentenced the 17-year-old Richmond teen to two years probation and community service at Compassion Pregnancy Centers, which has two locations in Macomb County.

The youth -- who pleaded no contest in August to hitting his 16-year-old girlfriend in the stomach with her consent to cause a miscarriage -- hugged the girl in the hallway outside the courtroom after the sentencing. The teens' names are being withheld because they are juveniles.

According to Compassion Pregnancy Centers' Web site, the center is "directed by the Holy Spirit, will encourage and comfort women and their families who face a crisis pregnancy by: extending Christ-like compassion and the soul-saving good news of salvation; giving spiritual, emotional and physical support and educating about life issues."
http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0509/30/B01-332781.htm

H/T to AfterAbortion