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, 2009LifeNews.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.
I've listed resources here: Post-abortion stress the hope.

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." 
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