Abortion research: negative impact on parenting

While the Mainstream Media Planned Parenthood groupies would like us to all remain blissfully unaware of the negative impact of abortion, in reality hundreds of thousands of women are coping with post-abortion stress syndrome.

And while pro-lifers say there is not one, but two victims in every abortion - the baby and the mother - the truth is there may be more as husbands and other children deal with the psychological aftermath of a woman who's been taught to deny her emotions and guilt.

Funny how in so many other areas of life, we encourage coming out of denial and provide help for people coping with trauma.  But when it comes to abortion, it's supposed to leave no lasting impact.

Research shows a different picture:  mothers coping with depression, sleep disturbance and substance abuse:

 Study: Abortion Has More Negative Parenting Impact Than Pregnancy Loss

by Amy Sobie
July 6, 2009

LifeNews.com Note: Amy Sobie is the editor of The Post-Abortion Review, a quarterly publication of the Elliot Institute. The organization is a widely respected leader in research and analysis of medical, mental health and other complications resulting from abortions.

A new review of studies examining various types of prenatal loss and the effects on subsequent parenting has concluded that abortion may be "particularly damaging to the parenting process."

The article, published in Current Women's Health Reviews, looked at already published studies on miscarriage, induced abortion and adoption. The author, Priscilla Coleman of Bowling Green State University, focused on psychological reactions to these various types of loss and discussed how they might affect a mother's relationship with children born after the pregnancy loss.1

It is now known that women usually begin feeling maternal attachment in the early stages of pregnancy. The paper notes that despite the increased responsibilities and stress involved in raising children, "numerous studies have documented positive psychological characteristics associated with motherhood including increases in life satisfaction, self-esteem, empathy, restraint, flexibility and resourcefulness in coping, and assertiveness." Losing a child before or at birth, for any reason, however, "can be a profound source of suffering."

While all forms of pregnancy loss can cause emotional distress that can impact future parenting, the available research indicates that emotional responses after induced abortion are more likely to go unresolved and to persist for a longer time period.

Read entire article here.

Since in the US by age 45, 1 out of every 2.5 women has had an abortion (I had one in 1977), chances are that you or someone you know may be suffering from the monumental psychological effort of trying to suppress the natural emotional aftermath. 

Emotional and spiritual health require that we get beyond denial and - with God's help - work through whatever needs to be worked through.  It's never too late to start.

I've listed resources here: Post-abortion stress the hope.