Yesterday on our unit we had a young woman come in by ambulance. She stated she was bleeding and 15 weeks pregnant. In getting the rest of the story she had been to an abortion clinic the day before and they "put something in" so she could have an abortion. She panicked with the bleeding which was minimal and came to our Catholic hospital.
Sadly when she delivered a couple hours later she delivered a live approximately 22 week baby. The baby lived for about 1/2 an hour. The woman was hysterical and kept saying they(the abortion clinic) told me it wasn't a baby yet.
It was a very difficult delivery for our staff. I think it was a blessing for this baby that she decided to come to our hospital instead of going back to the abortion clinic. The baby was held and treated with respect. She was given support and information for follow up with our RTS group and other community resources and we helped her with funeral arrangements.
I think this also speaks to the lack of education and insufficient knowledge that many women have when having an abortion.
I'm sure that was very upsetting to you to have to witness this. But I'm glad that she did come to your hospital instead of being alone. If she was alone, I believe that this could have been much worse on the mom. She got some good information from you all, and I pray that the healing process starts soon for the mom.
It's inexcusable, especially since every abortion clinic I know of is run by medical professionals who require signed informed consent. Sounds like she had a change of mind; unfortunately, you can't protect people from themselves.
That book by the doctor, just curious, What was her purpose/overall thesis in writing it?
It was at the local community college library. I don't remember the name or the author (Iremember she was a woman) but I'm thinking the book was titled "Why I am an abortion doctor"...I distinctly remember where the book was in the library and I'd be more than happy to go back and find it.
I'll see if I can get an author/title and excerpt in reference to what I was talking about.
The cynic in me calls BS on this story - it looks like it was posted here to cause an abortion debate. I'm not "up" on abortion procedures, but even at 15 weeks, I don't believe they give a lady partsl suppository and then send the girl home.
Perhaps the girl was lying and had been trying to perform a do it yourself abortion or the who thing is just invented.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
It was at the local community college library. I don't remember the name or the author (Iremember she was a woman) but I'm thinking the book was titled "Why I am an abortion doctor"...I distinctly remember where the book was in the library and I'd be more than happy to go back and find it.
I'll see if I can get an author/title and excerpt in reference to what I was talking about.
Thank you. I am very interested in reading it. I appreciate your help. :)
The cynic in me calls BS on this story - it looks like it was posted here to cause an abortion debate. I'm not "up" on abortion procedures, but even at 15 weeks, I don't believe they give a lady partsl suppository and then send the girl home.
Perhaps the girl was lying and had been trying to perform a do it yourself abortion or the who thing is just invented.
Definitely not posted here to start an abortion debate. Everything posted is what happened and what was said by the woman. I don't know what of her story is true but my recounting is what we experienced. I have posted on abortion in this forum and I am known to be against abortion but when you deal with an individual situation it is much more compelling and awful.
My thoughts after this whole situation
1. Whether she went to a clinic (and the clinic did acknowledge she was seen there the day before, I left before the information was faxed over, I will see if others know what it said) for the abortion or tried herself I think this young woman was unfortunately uninformed. Be it denial, lack of information given, or lack of her being able to understand information given, she really did not expect the baby that was delivered. I openly cried as she touched the baby's hands and face and sobbed "it's a baby"
2. There are good and bad practitioners in every medical field and while we can all say no practitioner would ever say that or do that we know there are those bad eggs out there. This could be a bad clinic or the patient could have gotten it wrong.
3. I was glad for the woman that she came to us but I was also glad for the baby as the thought of this little life ending without comfort was awful.
4. The initial information from the clinic was that she was 15 weeks. How did they get it so wrong????
Please believe this was posted only to share of very difficult experience
This brings to mind an incident I heard about a few years ago, that proves even among the educated, sometimes we aren't ready to deal with reality. A nurse was assisting a doctor with an abortion. After the abortion the corpses were placed in cold storage. This aborted fetus didn't die immediately, though. And after the nurse placed it in the cold storage room she could actually hear the fetus crying. And it kept crying. About 10 minutes later the nurse started begging the doctor to take the fetus out and put it out of its misery, but he wouldn't. The crying eventually stopped but it affected this nurse. This issue will never be a pleasant one to deal with.
Definitely not posted here to start an abortion debate. Everything posted is what happened and what was said by the woman. I don't know what of her story is true but my recounting is what we experienced. I have posted on abortion in this forum and I am known to be against abortion but when you deal with an individual situation it is much more compelling and awful.
My thoughts after this whole situation
1. Whether she went to a clinic (and the clinic did acknowledge she was seen there the day before, I left before the information was faxed over, I will see if others know what it said) for the abortion or tried herself I think this young woman was unfortunately uninformed. Be it denial, lack of information given, or lack of her being able to understand information given, she really did not expect the baby that was delivered. I openly cried as she touched the baby's hands and face and sobbed "it's a baby"
2. There are good and bad practitioners in every medical field and while we can all say no practitioner would ever say that or do that we know there are those bad eggs out there. This could be a bad clinic or the patient could have gotten it wrong.
3. I was glad for the woman that she came to us but I was also glad for the baby as the thought of this little life ending without comfort was awful.
4. The initial information from the clinic was that she was 15 weeks. How did they get it so wrong????
Please believe this was posted only to share of very difficult experience
I am sure that was a difficult experience and you are right about the lack of education. Unfortunately, so much of it is politicized, beginning with basic sex education all the way up to childbirth and abortion that people aren't getting the facts they need to make informed decisions. And that is tragic.
Specializes in Case Mgmt; Mat/Child, Critical Care.
Yesterday on our unit we had a young woman come in by ambulance. She stated she was bleeding and 15 weeks pregnant. In getting the rest of the story she had been to an abortion clinic the day before and they "put something in" so she could have an abortion. She panicked with the bleeding which was minimal and came to our Catholic hospital.
Sadly when she delivered a couple hours later she delivered a live approximately 22 week baby. The baby lived for about 1/2 an hour. The woman was hysterical and kept saying they(the abortion clinic) told me it wasn't a baby yet.
It was a very difficult delivery for our staff. I think it was a blessing for this baby that she decided to come to our hospital instead of going back to the abortion clinic. The baby was held and treated with respect. She was given support and information for follow up with our RTS group and other community resources and we helped her with funeral arrangements.
I think this also speaks to the lack of education and insufficient knowledge that many women have when having an abortion.
I am very sorry to hear what happenned w/this woman. I would bear in mind however, people pretty much say whatever they want. Stories change from one minute to the next. And in healthcare we see the worst in people, as well as the best sometimes.
I'm sure the girl was upset, but we really do not know the circumstances involving this story. I'm sorry to sound so cynical, but after 15 yrs of Maternal/Child nursing....I know how people are.
And, I will say it again....and I hope other healthcare professionals agree, too.... People have a responsibility for themselves....a responsibility to educate themselves...about all aspects of their healthcare, not just OB. As a society we are very much in a "dependent" cycle. Take care of me, give to me, think for me, tell me what to do....etc, etc. That way when something goes wrong I don't have to take any accountability/responsibility. I can blame it all on you (the doctor, the nurse, the clinic. etc...) and then sue you! It is truly sad the society we live in today.
If it's true then this young woman was seeking an abortion....perhaps she was farther along than 15 wks and was turned down by an abortion clinic, tried something on her own....of course unprepared for the harsh reality of what happenned. We will never know the "truth". Either way it is a choice this woman made and it is her life to live.
Yes the terrible sense of loss and guilt this girl will feel......
I hope she is referred and seeks good counseling to help her cope with the horror of her situation. She definately needs someone on her side to listen and care.
That poor poor girl.
RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN
8,498 Posts
As I read your post my heart ached
I can bet she will regret what she did especially if she thought that the baby was the size of a bean sprout
Absolutely clueless and no education. Such a terrible thing.