The Most Unexpected Consequence of the Texas Abortion Ban [View all]

[Demovictory9]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-most-unexpected-consequence-of-the-texas-abortion-ban/ar-AAWy47R

**long article about women's rush to make the shortened window for abortion. Peeing on a pregnancy stick every day. Feeling they dont have enough time to make a decision. Deer in headlights look when told they now have to travel to another state. ***

really sad and scary for women

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It takes about five weeks for the first glimmer of a pregnancy, a gestational sac, to show up on a uterine ultrasound. About seven days after that, fetal cardiac cells begin moving in unison, at which point clinics like Houston Women’s Reproductive Services are no longer permitted to terminate the pregnancy. The week in between these two milestones is a precious, fast-closing window that patients can easily miss.

The timing is made even trickier by another Texas law that requires each patient to see the same doctor for two separate appointments, scheduled at least 24 hours apart, before terminating her pregnancy.

The average patient used to come to the office around the seventh or eighth week of pregnancy. Now, many patients are coming in so early that their pregnancies are undetectable by the ultrasound machine, even if their pregnancy tests come back positive. They are often distraught when told to return in a week for another ultrasound, especially if their work and family obligations would prevent them from traveling out of state if they miss their chance in Texas.

“Women are peeing on sticks every day,” said Catalina Leaño, 51, the lead nurse at Houston Women’s Reproductive Services. “People are coming in in chaos and desperation, with this anxiety that you’re either too early or you’re too late.”