Jodia Peters was 16 when she had an abortion. Seven years later, she spoke out in support of Amendment 25, a bill that would require abortion clinics to give information about abortion’s risks, the development of the unborn baby, and abortion alternatives. Women would not be forced to view this information, but it would have to be offered to them. Planned Parenthood and other pro-choice groups oppose these informed consent laws.
From the author of the article:
“Peters said she had no idea of the possible medical and emotional risks [Of abortion]. Many came true for her. She became severely depressed and had uterine scarring which, five years later, caused the premature birth of her son, Jereth. Now 3, he’s had seizures and faces possible eyesight complications.
Jodia tells her story:
“I think my life would have been different with more information,” she says. “If I had numbers for adoption agencies, or had 24 hours’ notice, maybe I could’ve gotten away from my (family member). But I didn’t know I had any other kind of support.”
Again from the author:
She also wishes she knew what her unborn child looked like at 11 weeks, but she says the ultrasound presented to her by the abortion practitioner was done too quickly. When a doctor showed her Jereth’s ultrasound at the same stage of pregnancy, she clearly saw fingers and toes.
“If I knew, I think I could have stood up to the pressure.”
Jodia Peters says that after the clinic worker obtained her consent for the abortion, the clinic showed her a video on the procedure:
“It showed the instruments they used. I remember the words, ‘gentle suction’ and ‘slight pressure,’ all these rosy words, everything to make me feel good.”
The author continues:
Any feel-good sense vanished when the abortion practitioner entered the room with a brief hello, and quickly began dilating her cervix without taking any time to visit with her.
Right away, she said, “It hurt so bad I wanted to die. I told him to stop. He looked at me and said, ‘I can’t.’ I kicked, tried to get up. The person in there for support was holding me down. I was screaming, crying, kicking, everything.”
She’s still tormented wondering “whether he could have stopped when I told him to.”
….
Not until after the abortion was she given a small booklet called “Facts for Abortion Patients.” She recalls reading for the first time about excessive bleeding, possible infection and other dangers and risks associated with abortion. Only then, after reading the book following the abortion, did she learn the name of the abortion practitioner.