A country singer has released a new song about his younger brother with Down syndrome, celebrating the differences they have and urging for inclusion and acceptance.
John Paul Von Arx said on his website that he released the song and music video, which features his brother Sam, to “bring hope to parents expecting a baby with Down Syndrome and express [his] solidarity with families of people with special needs.”
Read the full article here.
International pressure to change Malta’s abortion law has ebbed and flowed, but has increased greatly in recent years.
On June 23, the Maltese Government made an abrupt positive pro-life U-turn, shelving an abortion “reform” bill the Labor Government had introduced in November 2022 and hoped to enact by Christmas.
It reversed course following a huge public outcry, compounded by the President’s threatened resignation if the bill passed Parliament. As a result, Malta remains one of the last countries in Europe that still protects unborn life.
See the full article here.
It is a legitimate fact: pregnancy is not always easy! Just as we are all unique, every experience we face may also be particular to each person. Some women seem to breeze through their pregnancy and birth with minimal side effects. However, it may not always be as rosy for others.
A woman’s body goes through many changes when she is expecting. She faces physical issues and exacerbated conditions which can be extremely exhausting. Her mental and emotional wellbeing is also put through the wringer, with intense levels of psychological ups and downs. She may even feel guilt and shame for experiencing depression at a time when she is expected to be celebrating the new life inside her.
I spoke to three Maltese women to explore what they went through during their pregnancies.
In the course of her two pregnancies, at ages 39 and 42, C. experienced various challenges which affected both her physical and mental state.
“I suffer from scoliosis, and my back problems increased during both my pregnancies. I endured an inflammation of the sciatic nerve both times, leading to a constantly painful back which made sitting and lying down extremely tough.”
Eating was also a “double-edged sword” for C. “I used to get hungry, of course, but after eating, I would feel very bloated, heavy, and nauseous. I also suffered from heartburn, which was more severe in my second pregnancy. This left me with constant pain in my stomach. As the baby grew, its position increased my discomfort considerably.”
Sadly, C.’s first pregnancy resulted in a stillbirth a few weeks before her due date.
“Yes, there were obviously mental struggles. I’m sure these occur in every pregnancy—you don’t need to experience a stillbirth. The worry, the sleepless nights, the fear of the unknown. Will the baby be delivered safely? How will I manage to breastfeed?”
“It is obviously quite tough to have another child after experiencing a stillbirth. But I really wanted this child, and we happily got pregnant—and I repeat, happily! Thankfully, our second pregnancy was fruitful!”
S.* fell pregnant at 19 years of age—“and it just shook my world!”
An unplanned pregnancy may bring overwhelming psychological issues, which, along with the physical side effects, can be enormously distressing. Furthermore, a girl still in her teens might not feel fully prepared for such a tremendous change in her life.
“My first pregnancy resulted in a very traumatic birth,” explained S.* “I was prepped for a C-section—which never happened! My baby was born via ventouse. I had a million doctors observing me during the birth—for which I was never asked permission. Afterward, I couldn’t even sit down because of all the stitches. It was a nightmare!”
Assisting a birth with a ventouse involves attaching a vacuum cup to the baby’s head through suction, a procedure which involves a number of risks for both the mother and the baby. Moreover, S.* felt that no one was explaining anything to her during the process.
“I was so traumatised by the birth of my firstborn, I thought I was going to die.”
S.*’s troubles did not stop there, however. “I had problems breastfeeding. I was really struggling and having a hard time mentally. In fact, I had post-natal depression for a year afterwards. The whole experience left me shaken.”
In spite of all this, S.* still went on to have two more children in her twenties.
At 42 years of age, J.’s experience “defied science and logic from the start”.
“Getting pregnant at 42 was incredible, especially without the basic vitamins needed. Since this was my first pregnancy, however, I had a high chance of miscarrying. We learned that, scientifically, the mother is simply a carrier and cannot protect from or prevent the worst. The baby is completely on its own to fight for its own life.”
“I had a fibroid on the posterior wall of my cervix, meaning a natural birth was impossible. This landed me a couple of times in the hospital. I also suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome from the beginning of the second trimester, as well as hypertension (high blood pressure) and gestational diabetes. I was confined to bed rest and ended up giving birth via C-section a week before plan. The procedure per se went well; the aftermath was an event that nearly landed me in the ITU.”
It is vital to point out that most physical and mental issues during pregnancy are treatable.
The women I spoke to certainly did not have easy pregnancies. But they all found their own ways to cope.
“I never allowed the negative thoughts to take over. My attitude was: this child is precious, and an accident that happened in my first pregnancy will not take that away. I was grateful, and the gratitude literally took over. I just felt . . . it will be ok.”
S.*, on the other hand, was closed to children in her mind, but she reached out to others.
“My family really helped me during my first pregnancy. And my then boyfriend, who is now my husband, was very supportive. It was not easy—we were young but in a totally different stage of life to our friends. My second pregnancy was the best out of the three. During this time, I attended meetings provided by the perinatal mental health services in hospital. These really helped me overcome my past anxieties.”
The major support that J. received from her husband and family was “stellar”.
“I also received support from the perinatal mental health services. Due to a genetic predisposition, I immediately accepted their assistance, even at a time when all I felt was happiness and awe. Thankfully, all tests done on the baby in the womb showed him to be growing in a healthy manner.“
So, is it worth it being pregnant and having babies?
C.’s response was categorical. “In spite of all the issues, it is worth it 101%—if not more! A child is a blessing, a joy, innocent. Children bring out the beauty in humanity. I like to say: humans are children, then they become adults—unfortunately! I find it in myself as well; I’m not always a nice adult,” she added with a smile.
S.* also agreed that the struggles were all worth it. “I would do it again—no doubt about it. Because it’s not about me, it’s about my children. Even with my first pregnancy, it was always about my son. He’s here, so I’m happy about that. Abortion never even crossed my mind. No way—I prefer to die! Giving birth is always stepping into the unknown, but it is so rewarding.”
“A pregnancy and a baby, in all their powers, have the strength to defy science from start to finish. The simple fact that we did manage to deliver a healthy baby is in itself a defiance of the odds. Furthermore, this baby never needed the resuscitation room and never experienced any withdrawal symptoms from the medications I was taking. And if you see him today, he is just a joy to be around.”
“My experience as a mother, both mentally and physically, is another trip of choices. I had every excuse to give in to a pity party. This was an opportunity to become a woman more resilient in all my ways. I want to ensure that, whatever negatives come my way in life, I have an option not to transfer any of them to the baby. I learnt, instead, to deal with them as they come—at times with outside help—and develop new skills on how to tackle every situation.”
It is clear that both mental and physical issues during pregnancy are common and may be present even after the baby is born. It is vital that the woman or girl speaks up and reaches out. Mental problems are nothing to be ashamed of, and neither is seeking help for them.
Most women do survive the challenges they face when expecting, and most of these can be remedied. Abortion, however, is not a remedy. It is merely a procedure that will bring its own physical and mental problems, rather than solve the situation.
Be inspired by the women who endured and came out stronger than before—as mothers!
And reach out to LifeLine if you are experiencing any kind of predicament during or after your pregnancy at https://lifelinemalta.eu/
*First initial was changed to protect anonymity.
Life is never plain sailing! Many times, you are cruising along without a care in the world, when an unexpected wave hits you. It may be a small wave, one which you overcome easily by yourself or with the help of your loved ones. But sometimes, you get hit by a huge squall, a storm that leaves you breathless, out of your depth—and, worst of all—feeling alone!
Your period is late—and you do not know who to turn to.
You are the victim of abuse, and you’re terrified you might be pregnant.
You are being pressured into having an abortion—and you’re not sure what to do.
You were raped—and you need to reach out.
You had an abortion, and you need to talk to someone about it.
Your pregnancy test is positive—and you are too young, too old, too broke, too alone, too scared.
In short, you have been hit by a crisis!
Life Line Malta is a service within a pro-life non-governmental organization – Life Network Foundation Malta. The foundation advocates that all human life is valuable and unique , from the moment of conception all the way to natural death. It provides the full resources and authentic information that a person may be seeking when facing an unexpected crisis.
Not every pregnancy is planned or even welcome. It can occur when a woman least expects it; when a girl is still at school; when a baby is the last thing that is wanted. It may be a result of abuse, incest, or violence. A pregnancy may be planned but medical complications affecting either mother or child can lead to a crisis. The news that the baby in the womb may have a disability, other medical complications or a low survival expectancy, either in the womb or after being born, can be overwhelming for the parents.
These and other situations signify a crisis pregnancy. Each pregnancy varies, and every woman may—or may not—experience life-shattering circumstances.
Life Line’s mission is to endorse every human life from conception to natural death. We aim to help empower every person to make life-affirming choices. We provide the practical, psychological, and material assistance that a woman may need when her world is collapsing about her. And we do this by always prioritising life, both for the woman and the baby!
Life Line offers confidential care, friendly and professional support, and a safe environment for women and all those in need, not only during the pregnancy but also beyond by providing aftercare for the client until they become self-sufficient enough not to require it any longer.
Services offered include:
Life Line also operates a shelter, Dar Tghanniqa T’Omm (Mother’s Embrace Home), for women facing crisis pregnancies. This home provides accommodation as needed, as well as full support and assistance from a skilled team of counsellors and volunteers, throughout the pregnancy as well as after.
Women and girls in these troubling situations need proper care, love, and support. They require help to deal with their situation and to move on with their life in a way that prioritises their general wellbeing and health. And this cannot be done if one of the choices presented to them is a procedure which not only terminates the life of the baby, but leaves long-lasting physical and psychological effects on the woman.
Life Line offers all this to women during this most critical time in their lives. Experience has repeatedly shown that women and girls are, in fact, a lot stronger then they may initially believe themselves to be and that this process of empowerment provides the nudge needed to control their situation and overcome the difficulties that accompany it.
This is why we, as a pro-life organisation, will not offer referrals for abortions, not because we want to take away a woman’s right to choose, but because the choices we provide take proper care of both the woman and the baby—at all times! And we will also assist and support any woman or girl who is considering, or has had, an abortion and who comes to us for help
(I would rephrase this as follows :- )
This is why we, as a pro-life organisation, will not offer referrals for abortions – not because we wish to limit any woman’s choices but because we believe in presenting choices that are genuinely intended to provide optimum care for both woman and child – at all times !
And we will also assist and support any woman or girl who is considering or, indeed, has had an abortion and who comes to us for help.
Life Line Malta aims to provide a warm, friendly interface to help empower people to make life-affirming choices. We offer non-judgmental care and support to people in need, and although we are a faith-based centre, we do not impose our faith on any who may seek our help.
We believe that women are strong and resilient in the face of adversity. If you are pregnant and feeling alone and overwhelmed, we want to give you hope. By offering you the right support and encouragement, we know that you can choose life.
Let us hold on to the beauty of life—all the way from conception until natural death!
”Just a clump of cells’’ is the cliched mantra which is often intoned by those who describe themselves as pro-choice, when faced with the accusation that abortion is nothing less than the deliberate killing of a human life. But we all know – or should know – that there is a distinct human life within the mother’s womb. We should also know that this life within the womb is equipped not only with its own genetically distinct and unique identity, but also with the ability to develop all those characteristics which form a fully-fledged human.
Does this mean that any deliberate termination of a human life inside the mother’s womb is tantamount to homicide, if and when one intentionally brings about the destruction of that life? If we define homicide as the deliberate killing of human personby another human person we find ourselves immediately mired in the controversy of what constitutes personhood.
One of the great debates within the abortion controversy is the question of whether, in its early stages, the zygote/embryo is to be considered a person. Personhood is not a scientific concept. If there is a human biological development which unequivocally signifies that the human life is, as from that moment, to be considered a human person we do not know what it is.
Personhood is a legal and philosophical concept. In so far as the law and philosophical ideas are changeable, so is personhood in this sense. Legally and philosophically one may ‘’decide’’ that a human being is to be considered a person right from birth. But human intuition would rebel against such a definition: how can a particular individual be considered a person the moment he or she emerges from within the mother’s womb but not one second before? Or five minutes before, or two hours, or even seventy-two hours, before? And so on.
Some would take issue with the adoption of a definition of abortion on purely legal and philosophical grounds and would ascribe personhood to all human life which is endowed with at least rudimentary brain structures. The brain starts to form at around the sixth week of gestation which is quite early in the developmental journey inside the womb. However, this position does not quite satisfy the argument that even within the earliest stages of human pre-birth development the individual human life carries within each and every cell the ability to develop all human tissues and organs – what is technically known as toti-potency. What if it is this characteristic rather than a cerebral structure which is objectively the hallmark of personhood?
We simply do not know what objectively, as distinct from ultimately man-made legal or philosophical considerations, constitutes personhood. Faced with this situation the only morally acceptable position is to apply the precautionary principle: we must take care to protect all human life which could possibly be a human person. On this basis abortion would therefore be clearly and unequivocally inadmissible.
It is one of the most controversial expressions ever coined—and it has been around for over 50 years! When the phrase “my body, my choice” started being heard at protests in the 70s, it was the mantra many women shouted out in the name of empowerment and gender equality. Today, the phrase is still at the forefront of many heated discussions in the fight for reproductive rights and access to abortion.
Let us, first of all, consider a woman who is happy to be pregnant. She has just had a positive pregnancy test and maybe confirmed the result with her doctor. She is over the moon. She starts calling her family, her friends—and what does she tell them? “I’m having a baby!”
She reads up on the natural process of the baby’s growth and development. She looks forward to the ultrasound appointments, peering at the screen to try and see the baby’s forming body parts. She marvels at the sound of the tiny heartbeat. She is surprised at how fiercely she wants to protect the small human growing inside her.
Whenever she thinks about her baby, she strokes her swollen belly lovingly. She is careful about what she eats or drinks. She talks to her baby throughout her day, thinking up different names while wondering whether it is a girl or a boy. Her friends throw her baby showers and gender reveal parties, celebrating the new life she is so eager to hold in her arms.
Of course, not every pregnancy is wanted or planned. A girl or woman in a crisis pregnancy is in turmoil. Her doctor offers her the option of abortion. She is terrified. She reaches out to her family and friends—and what do they tell her? “It’s fine to terminate; it’s not even a baby yet!”
She tries to look up more information about abortion, but is left with more questions. At the abortion clinic, she is not even allowed to view the ultrasound. She has no idea that the baby inside her already has visible body parts. Terminating is the only solution that she assumes is available to her. She feels alone and scared.
Whenever she thinks back about the abortion, her belly feels empty and bereft. She loses her appetite and starts to drink at all hours. She wonders whether it would have been a boy or a girl. All she wanted—all she had needed—was just one person to support her, to show her that there were other options.
Abortion supporters frequently refer to the preborn baby as mere “tissue” or “cells”. They claim it is a “parasite” invading the woman’s body. They refute the humanity of the fetus to make abortion sound like a normal medical procedure which harms no one. They push forward the “my body, my choice” mantra and simply ignore the fact that there is another body involved—a body which ends up dead after an abortion.
Women have every right to state “my body, my choice” when it comes to making personal decisions—for themselves alone! A woman can opt for regular exercise, or choose to laze around the house all day. She can decide whether she wants to eat healthily, or have a diet of fast food, cigarettes, and alcohol. She has the right to choose how to live her life, because it will affect her and her alone.
Sadly, many scoff at the scientific claim that life begins at conception. They are adamant that there is no different person in the womb with distinct DNA and characteristics from the mother. They do not see anything wrong with abortion, because, for them, the other person simply does not yet exist.
There is, however, no question about it—a baby in the womb cannot simply be referred to as a “clump of cells” when it is undesired, and yet regarded as a human being when it is wanted. There is no miraculous switch in the womb that changes one into the other!
Furthermore, the argument that the baby in the womb is not important because it relies on the mother for survival is moot when you consider that even a one-year-old toddler relies completely on its parents. And if a woman can state that a pregnancy is a violation of her bodily autonomy, then, the baby in the womb—as a person independent from her—embodies the same concept with regards to abortion.
From conception, every human being has rights which are distinct from the mother’s, even when still in the womb. When women state “my body, my choice” with regards to pregnancy, they are effectively aiming to stop their rights being taken away, while simultaneously dismissing the rights of the preborn baby.
One adult cannot just decide to attack another person just because they feel that, since it is their body, they can do anything they want with it. If their actions hurt others, then it is not acceptable behaviour in any society, even more so if the chosen action ends the life of the other human being. The same holds true if the other human being is still in the womb!
The phrase “my body, my choice” may be a shout for empowerment, but it completely ignores the other people in the equation. The baby within the body is a unique person who also needs to be taken into consideration. Just as the girl or woman experiencing a crisis pregnancy must be cared for and supported in every way, so must the baby inside her body be protected from all life-threatening choices.
And finally, we turn to the last scenario. Finding out that the baby she is carrying is disabled is surely a heartbreaking experience for any woman. What should she do in such a situation?
She might feel she would be incompetent to care for a disabled child—or even be unwilling to do it. She may want to spare her child a lifetime of possible heartache, lost opportunities, discrimination, and disadvantage. She might feel that her child would not live a normal life, so why give it to him or her?
But what if the son or daughter that she already has—and who was born without disability—has an accident and becomes a paraplegic? Or suffers a debilitating disease? What would the mother do?
There are many women in the world who choose to continue with their pregnancy, despite knowing that the baby in their womb has some form of disability or condition. Many of these mothers are pressurised to terminate their pregnancy, but there is no evidence that suggests that doing so is the best option.
The parents may think it would be a better choice for the baby, but in reality, they are more likely to suffer from depression and loss as a result. Some women have even gone on to deliver healthy babies, meaning that there was a misdiagnosis during the pregnancy. And others brought their special babies into this world and gave them as much love as they could, even if it was only for a little while.
Surprised by her unexpected pregnancy, Katyia and her partner were nevertheless thrilled to discover they were going to be parents. They then received the devastating news that their son had severe brain abnormalities and would never be able to walk or talk. Doctors advised them to consider terminating. But Katyia would not hear of it.
Instead, she read up on her baby’s condition and began preparing herself on the best way to care for him after birth. When more scans were carried out to investigate further, Katyia’s decision was cemented by what she saw on the ultrasound. Her baby boy was smiling, blowing bubbles, and waving his arms. Katyia declared:
Every kick, every wriggle, every movement was treasured by Katyia and her partner, who were determined to enjoy every moment they had with their baby.
Sadly, when baby Lucian was born, he only lived for nine hours. And yet, in spite of his short life, his mother had no regrets whatsoever. She made sure he enjoyed his life while inside the womb, instead of taking it away from him. And once born, she was able to hold him and give him cuddles, claiming lovingly: “Just because his life would be shorter or different, didn’t mean he didn’t deserve to experience it.”
And what if the prenatal diagnosis is wrong?
When 24-year-old Gemma Rogers went for a scan at 20 weeks’ pregnancy, doctors told the couple that the baby had spina bifida. They were urged to opt for abortion, because the baby would have no quality of life. He would be born paralysed and incontinent and would never be able to look after himself properly. The doctors told his parents he would be a burden.
Gemma and her partner did not even want to entertain the idea of terminating. This turned out to be the best decision they ever made. When Ciaran was born, Gemma immediately knew the doctors had been wrong.
Apart from having no problems with his health when he was born, Ciaran went on to grow and develop in the same way as children of the same age. Gemma was deeply troubled by the warnings she had received from her doctors. She said:
“A mother’s instinct is always right and I knew from the moment I was told he would be disabled that I didn’t want to give up hope on my son. I’m so glad I didn’t because he is perfect in every way.”
Even if a diagnosis is correct and a baby is born disabled, no one has the right to decide whether or not they deserve to live, no matter how severe the situation is. A life is not measured by a person’s abilities or disabilities, or by their personal health condition.
Most people with disabilities say that they would much rather be alive, as opposed to being disposed of in the womb. Aborting people because they are disabled implies that their lives are less worthy than others.
It is deeply mistaken to assume that the life of a disabled person is not worth living. Anyone with a disability can still have a full and happy life. They may need other people’s help, and caring for them might not be easy. And yet, numerous families and caregivers emphasise that looking after the person in their care is hugely rewarding and enriches their lives immensely.
This should also apply to people who are still to be born. Just because it is found in the womb does not mean that an embryo should not deserve the chance to live. No one looks at their disabled loved one and decides they need to be put down. The disabled baby in the womb surely merits that same consideration.
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Apart from being fatal for the baby, abortion in itself is often a traumatic experience for the mother. It may also be extremely risky for her, with lasting psychological and physical side effects. Resorting to it as a way of trying to eradicate other problems will only serve to make the situation worse. Bad circumstances are rarely solved by equally bad decisions.
Today’s society strongly advocates the rights that humans should enjoy universally. Many will claim that a woman who is denied access to have a termination is being robbed of her human rights.
But then, does the innocent baby—a human being just like everyone else—not have rights at all? Does it not have the right to have a chance to live, no matter the circumstances surrounding its young life?
Even when it is not fully developed, when it doesn’t even resemble the shape of a human being—even when it is unwanted—it is still alive, and it is still human. And it still deserves the chance to live, to be born, to grow, to play, to laugh, to love, and be loved.
Let’s look at the second scenario. When a woman is pregnant, her health and her life may, at times, be put at risk. Complications might arise, or medical treatment has to be stopped during the pregnancy. Pre-existing conditions sometimes turn into life-threatening situations. When things go wrong, a choice may present itself.
If the mother is to be saved, the baby may have to go. But if the baby has to stay, then the mother will possibly die, leaving the husband a widower and the baby—and any other children they may have—without a mother. Therefore, it would appear to be better if the baby was sacrificed, so that the woman is given a chance to live and be a wife and mother to her other children.
With the vast advances in medicine in today’s world, medical professionals say that there are never any conditions arising in pregnancy that can only be treated by performing an abortion. In fact, former Surgeon General of the United States, Dr C. Everett Koop, said:
“The life-of-the-mother argument surfaces in every debate concerning abortion. The fact of the matter is that abortion as a necessity to save the life of the mother is so rare as to be non-existent.”
These medical experts emphasise that there is a fundamental distinction between an abortion, which is the direct termination of the baby’s life, and any other procedures or treatments they may need to resort to in an attempt to save the life of the mother. In the latter scenario, they will still do their utmost to save the baby’s life as well. If they are not successful, it is not an abortion, but a consequence of their attempt to save both lives.
“Abortion is never medically necessary.”
The above statement was a declaration by 30,000 medical doctors from the American College of Pediatricians, American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and other medical groups. They claim that pregnancy should not be treated as a disease, and abortion is definitely not healthcare because it takes away a human life.
It is very uncommon that a woman’s health or life is put in danger in the late stages of her pregnancy. However, if there is an amount of risk, abortion is never the solution. In fact, late-term abortions can take days to carry out, and they bring their own complications, risking the mother’s life even further.
In a letter signed by these doctors, they state:
“After 20 weeks fertilisation age, it is never necessary to intentionally kill the fetal human being in order to save a woman’s life. In cases where the mother’s life actually is in danger in the latter half of pregnancy, there is no time for an abortion, because an abortion typically is a two- to three-day process. Instead, immediate delivery is needed in these situations, and can be done in a medically appropriate way (labour induction or C-section) by the woman’s own physician.
We can, and do, save the life of the mother through delivery of an intact infant in a hospital where both the mother and her newborn can receive the care that they need. There is no medical reason to intentionally kill that fetal human being through an inhumane abortion procedure, e.g., dismembering a living human being capable of feeling pain, or saline induction which burns off the skin, or feticide with subsequent induction.”
Countless mothers around the world refused to have abortions in spite of critical health risks. Some willingly gave up their lives for the innocent babies they were carrying. Why? Because that’s what a mother does for her child, whether it has been born or not!
Two months into her pregnancy, Brit Cheryl Anderson, 32 years old at the time, received a devastating cancer diagnosis. She knew that she would not be able to receive chemotherapy without endangering her baby’s life. Nevertheless, Cheryl refused to have an abortion. In fact, so as not to risk any harm to her unborn daughter, she merely resorted to paracetamol to relieve the crippling pain she was enduring.
Cheryl bravely struggled on, knowing that, the longer her baby was in the womb, the higher her chances of survival. At six months pregnancy, doctors performed an emergency Caesarean. Cheryl came around just in time to hear that her daughter Taylor had survived—and sadly, just hours after the birth, she passed away.
The shocking news from doctors revealed to the young mother that her pregnancy had triggered a life-threatening condition. The resulting hormones were producing large tumours in her vital organs. She also suffered a ruptured kidney and collapsed lungs. The medics urged Donna to have an abortion to preserve her life.
She refused, claiming, “My maternal instinct was too strong to even contemplate a termination.” At 28 weeks, baby Lily was born by C-section, amazing the doctors by being fully healthy. Donna then began receiving treatment and, despite her uncertain long-term prognosis, she was glad she had never given up on her baby.
When her cancer returned, Elizabeth Joice also rejected abortion for her baby, even if it meant she could not receive cancer treatment. Having previously faced the possibility of infertility, the tumours in her body did not deter her, and she bravely continued with the pregnancy. She did not want to lose her chance of bringing a child into the world.
Despite having surgery, the tumour returned, but at 34 weeks, baby Lily was by then big enough to be born safely. Sadly, the doctors then discovered that Elizabeth’s body had been overrun by more tumours, and it was too late for treatment. Merely seven weeks after Lily’s birth, her mother slipped out of this world, having given up her life for her daughter.
These stories are truly heartbreaking, but they reflect the natural maternal instincts which inspired these women to a truly selfless response to the threats they were facing. Regardless of the fact that their children were still in the womb, these and many other brave mothers gladly risked—and even gave up—their lives in order to give their unborn babies a chance to live.
It is true that the situation might be a little different for a woman or girl facing a pregnancy she does not want or expect. However, abortion can be avoided, because medical professionals can and do offer alternative treatments that safeguard both the lives of the mother and the baby. They may not always succeed in saving them both—but, at least, they would have tried!
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Rape is an unimaginably horrific experience! It is a brutal invasion of a woman’s body, her dignity, and her very soul. The after effects of such a trauma are severely deep-rooted. And if the attack results in a pregnancy, the woman will feel even more depressed and might understandably not feel any motherly instincts, even more so if she is young herself.
She would probably envision a life where the baby would be a constant reminder of the rape, especially if it turns out to have physical resemblances to the rapist. She might feel, or be told, that the only way out would be to have an abortion. She will thus seek to rid herself of the situation and, as a result, be able to forget about the rape and move on with her life.
Or does she?
Statistics have shown that very few women who end up pregnant after they have been raped actually even want to have an abortion. A study of rape victims who conceived after their attack, carried out by professional rape specialist Dr Sandra Mahkorn, found that over three-quarters of these women did not seek an abortion.
Many women realise that abortion is another act of violence—on their bodies and that of the baby. Eliminating the life of the child would cause them more suffering than seeing the pregnancy through to term. Many agree that abortion does not fix the trauma of the rape. What fixes rape is stopping rape!
Psychologist David Reardon also conducted a study which showed that almost 80% of the women admitted that having an abortion was not the right solution and that it only served to augment their trauma. Many of them were pressured or forced to seek a termination, either by their family, their doctors, or their abuser. Young girls were often taken to abortion clinics without even realising what was being done to them and why.
Sadly, a large number of women state that, if they had found the right support and assistance at the time, they would have kept the baby. This is why pregnancy support centres are crucial in their outreach to rape victims. When everyone else is pressuring them to abort, all these women need is just one person to show them there are better alternatives to abortion—and that all the assistance they require is, in fact, available.
It is interesting to note that none of the women who chose life after rape ever regretted giving birth to their child, or wished that they had chosen abortion instead. The findings of these studies are, in fact, proof that no one should presume that abortion is the best solution for pregnant rape victims. However, citing statistics to a woman who is facing the trauma of abuse—and then finding out she is pregnant—is probably not going to help her much.
One of the women in Reardon’s study revealed her regret after she aborted.
“I was an innocent victim of a horrible crime. I was not to blame for what the rapist did to me. But in choosing to abort…the innocent child growing within me, I lowered myself to the level of the rapist…It only compounded my pain; it didn’t solve anything.”
Another said:
“I soon discovered that the aftermath of my abortion continued a long time after the memory of my rape had faded. I felt empty and horrible. Nobody told me about the pain I would feel deep within, causing nightmares and deep depressions. They had all told me that, after the abortion, I could continue my life as if nothing had happened…I found that, though I could forgive the man who raped me, I couldn’t forgive myself for having the abortion.”
A young girl, impregnated by her stepfather at the tender age of 12, was taken for an abortion by her mother, who knew of the abuse. Her heartbreaking testimony years later clearly indicates that abortion was not the right solution for her, despite her age at the time and the circumstances of conception. She wrote:
“Throughout the years, I have been depressed, suicidal, furious, outraged, lonely, and have felt a sense of loss…The abortion, which was to ‘be in my best interest’, just has not been. As far as I can tell, it only ‘saved their reputations’, ‘solved their problems’, and allowed their lives to go merrily on…Problems are not ended by abortion, but only made worse.”
Jennifer Christie is a well-known public speaker and a voracious supporter of choosing life after rape. Why? Because she went through it herself!
When she came to Malta in December 2018, Jennifer recounted how a horrific attack left her almost dead one snowy day in 2014. She had been brutally raped and critically injured. The weeks that followed were darker than night for her and her husband Jeff, and she had to go through numerous surgeries to treat her severe injuries.
What she wasn’t prepared for was the fact that, weeks later, she would discover she was pregnant. The couple already had four children, and Jeff had had a vasectomy years earlier. So, she knew right away that the baby could only have been conceived from the rape. But, instead of sinking further into despair, Jennifer found herself smiling—for the first time in what seemed like forever!
Jennifer recounts how the first shaft of light that pierced the darkness that had taken over her life was when she saw her baby for the first time—as a “a little pea” on an ultrasound. She claims:
Jennifer’s son—for he is her baby, and not the rapist’s—is part of a family who took him in as their own and love him wholeheartedly. The little boy did not deserve the death penalty for a crime committed by someone else, at a time when he had not even come into existence. His mother saw his value and gave him the life he deserved just as much as the rest of the human race.
“During a nightmare I couldn’t awake from, a child was conceived. This child had nothing to do with the attack on my body or the scars on my soul. He had everything to do with my healing—giving me a reason to hope. I did not save my son. He saved me.” ~ Jennifer
Many other women like Jennifer also felt “saved from a lifetime of grief”, “hope after seeing that little being”, that they could “actually be happy again”, that they would be ok. This is solid proof that keeping her baby is probably the best decision a woman can ever make—even after rape.
It is indeed a terrible situation when a young teen is a victim of abuse and rape and, to top it all, finds herself pregnant. Many of these girls would still be at school, and they—and more often, their parents—may think a pregnancy will ruin their chances at getting an education.
When she was only 13, Ashley, from Elwood, Indiana, was raped by her brother’s 17-year-old friend. Soon after, she discovered she was pregnant. In spite of public shaming and harassment in her hometown, as well as alienation from her friends, Ashley bravely decided to keep the baby.
She eventually gave birth to a beautiful little boy named Aiden. She then returned to school to continue her studies, excelling as a straight A student while raising her young son who, she claims, “impacted my life more than anyone could ever imagine, at a time when I was falling apart.”
These girls kept their babies against all the odds. It is definitely not an easy situation, but the baby is also an innocent victim. And if it is a result of incest or recurring abuse, then terminating its life only serves to remove the evidence of the violation. After the abortion, the girl is returned to her previous situation, and the abuse continues intermittently.
It is often claimed that carrying a pregnancy to term and giving birth may wreak havoc on a still developing body. However, in these cases, the pregnancy is rarely discovered in its early stages. Carrying out a late-term abortion on a young girl’s body would be far more dangerous for her than having a C-section to deliver the baby safely.
Two wrongs never make a right. Both the woman and the child are victims. Removing one from the equation will not eradicate the evil, but will only serve to add to it. The only one who deserves any form of shame and punishment is the rapist.
In these cases, what the woman or girl needs is more love and less violence; more support and less shame; more truth and less deceit. And if you were wondering whether the baby would be a reminder of the rape, Jennifer sums it all up beautifully when she says:
“Is he a reminder? He is. He’s a reminder that, as women, we can be stronger than our circumstances. He’s a reminder that beauty can come from darkness. And he’s a reminder that how we began does not determine how we end.”
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