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Comment: There are many reasons for premature birth, one of which is previous abortion. Abortion can weaken the cervix, so that as the baby gets bigger, the weakened cervix cannot stay contracted, and the mother gives birth too early. There are now over 140 published studies showing a link between abortion and premature birth. Thus, one way to avoid preterm labor & delivery is to avoid abortion.

 

A new paper from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics finds that among premature babies born at 22 to 23 weeks LMP (20-21 weeks post-fertilization) who are given “active” care, 61 to 71 percent survive.

This is an even higher survival rate than reported last year by the New England Journal of Medicine, fresh evidence that the “viability standard” is a quickly moving target.

The publication came one day after details emerged in the case of a baby being born alive during a failed abortion in Phoenix, AZ. An abortion facility employee can be heard on recently released 911 tapes saying: “The fetus is breathing so we need care for it now…We can’t provide that care except for oxygen and we’re trying to keep the fetus stable until someone arrives.”

“A baby was born alive at 21 weeks and rather than being rushed to the NICU, he suffered, awaiting medical care the abortion clinic was incapable of providing,” said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser.

She added: “That this child could die with so little national attention speaks to the callous state of our laws on abortion. The status quo espoused by Hillary Clinton – legal abortion-on-demand, up until the moment of birth – is a position most Americans reject.

“There is well-documented support for legislation granting equal protections for babies born alive after a failed abortion. A majority, especially among women, supports banning altogether late-term abortion after five months. We urge Congress to advance a federal Born Alive Infant Protection Act as introduced by Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Nebr.) and to continue efforts to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

“The Pain-Capable bill is a line we have set in the sand, and a line GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump has agreed to. Hillary Clinton has declared that the ‘unborn person’ has no constitutional rights.’ Would she support either of these bills, which would have saved this child? The American people have a right to know the answer in this year of decision.”

Arizona legislators took action in 2012 to protect babies from abortion more than halfway through pregnancy. The state’s Pain-Capable legislation was struck down by a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel in 2013 and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case on appeal.

Without that obstruction from the judicial branch, this child might be alive today, as many preemies are.

The JAMA study is new evidence that these tiny children can and are being cared for with ever greater survival rates.
[Mallory Quigley, May 26, 2016, Washington, DC, http://www.lifenews.com/2016/05/26/amazing-new-study-impacts-abortion-71-of-babies-born-at-22-23-weeks-survive/ ]