Miscarriage is awful. It just became much worse with abortion pill ruling. | Opinion

On Friday night, a federal judge in Texas released a ruling that overturned federal approval of a common abortion pill, mifepristone. If that ruling stands, it could ban a drug commonly used for miscarriage from being prescribed in the United States.

That’s a devastating thought for women like me — the hundreds of thousands of us who have experienced a miscarriage.

I was beyond excited to become a mom. I had been planning this for years. The timing was finally right. And then it happened for me — I was finally pregnant and elated.

At my first appointment, eight and a half weeks along, the ultrasound technician points out the amniotic sac and the embryo on the screen. Immediately, instinctively, I ask, “does everything look all right?” She pushes the probe around for a few more minutes without saying anything, and then “there is no heartbeat. I am sorry.” My heart drops. A few minutes later the doctor comes in. “The pregnancy is not viable. I’m sorry.”

My first option was to wait it out. Is there any chance at all that this embryo will ever become a baby? “No.” Is there any reason to wait it out then? “Some women prefer to miscarry naturally.”

For those unfamiliar with what “miscarrying naturally” means — it involves carrying a non-viable pregnancy, continuing to feel fatigue and morning sickness until the body gets the memo in the coming weeks or even months to launch a hemorrhage with potential health complications, including sepsis which can lead death if the body can’t dispel the tissue on its own. This can take as long as two months.

No one would suggest treating a broken arm “naturally.” We help it heal as quickly as possible. The “natural” solution to miscarriage does not sound like an option that will be good for my mental health or my ability to try again for a healthy pregnancy quickly.

I am given two other options which are typically referred to as a medication or procedural abortion. These methods would remove the embryo, eliminating the pregnancy symptoms I was still experiencing and give me the best chance to quickly recover emotionally and physically so that I could try again for a healthy pregnancy. This made the most sense to me, and I would without question make this choice again if I had to.

I am grateful to have had that choice. Forcing any person to carry a non-viable pregnancy for a minute longer than is medically necessary is torture, pure and simple.

Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court on June 24, 2022. Right now, women in America going through the devastating experience of miscarriage face being denied the evidence-based medical care needed to safely treat their condition. The judge’s ruling Friday in Texas on mifepristone stands to worsen the issue.

I urge our lawmakers to consider all the complicated and difficult circumstances surrounding pregnancy as they review the issue of abortion access. There are myriad reasons why terminating a pregnancy is necessary — my case is unique to me, but is also sadly common. Today, we have safe and advanced medical treatment options to lessen the burden. Ensuring that people can exercise those options by having access to the healthcare they need is a moral imperative.

This story was originally published April 11, 2023 at 8:38 AM with the headline "Miscarriage is awful. It just became much worse with abortion pill ruling. | Opinion."