“Mom I had sex last night and I am afraid I could be pregnant,” says your 14 year old daughter.
Words that every parent fears. What in the world do you do?
The discussion of old has been resolved.
Thanks to technology we no longer have to wonder. Science now backs it = life begins at conception. If you believe that life begins at conception, what do you say to your 14-year daughter who said she had sex last night and is worried she may be pregnant? Any parent would be freaked out at the possibility of their young 14 year old teenager in 9th grade being pregnant. A pregnancy would certainly ruin her chances of getting on the sports team she has worked all through middle school for, or her chances in getting in the college she wants to attend, right?
Of course you would think: “She’s nowhere near ready to be a parent or even be pregnant.”
While there are no easy answers once a potential unplanned pregnancy occurs, the decision made will impact the mother and father of the baby as well as other family members for the rest of their lives. At Hope Women’s Centers, we have seen a consistent story with both the women and men who chose to have an abortion: that it was supposed to be a quick fix – the only way to keep her life on track…but as hard as she tried, the memories didn’t stay buried. The broken places in her life keep surfacing. The “freedom to choose” didn’t produce a feeling of freedom at all.
While many doctors are quick to prescribe Plan B as an alternative to having a baby, with “one tablet taken up to 72 hours (3 days) after sexual intercourse (usually after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure) to prevent pregnancy.” Seems easy, one pill and guaranteed no pregnancy. But it’s not that simple.
Although many claim that Plan B wont cause an abortion of an existing pregnancy, it may, in some cases, prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in a uterine lining not allowing the fertilized egg to receive the nutrients and environment it needs to grow, this an abortion.
What does God say about this? “Scripture is clear that all humans have value because they are imago dei, or made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28; James 3:9). In other words, humans are valuable by virtue of who they are, not because of what they can do. Humans have value simply because they are human” (Klusendorf and Stonestreet, p.6).
Science proves life begins once egg and sperm unite, in the moment of fertilization.
Any pill or procedure that interferes with the development of a fertilized egg is an abortion.
Humans are equal simply due to the fact that they are human, not due to their abilities.
“Is the unborn a member of the human family? If so, killing him or her to benefit others is a serious moral wrong…The facts of embryology establish that from the earliest stages of development, the unborn are distinct, living, and whole human beings. True, they have yet to grow and mature, but they are whole human beings nonetheless. Leading embryology textbooks affirm this. Embryologists Keith L. Moore & T.V.N. Persaud write: “A zygote is the beginning of a new human being. Human development begins at fertilization” and “marks the beginning of each of us as a unique individual.”
“There is no morally significant difference between the embryo you once were and the adult you are today that justifies killing you at that earlier stage of development. Differences of size, level of development, environment, and degree of dependency are not good reasons for saying you could be killed then but not now” (Klusendorf and Stonestreet, p.13).
“Stephen Schwarz suggests the acronym SLED as a helpful reminder of those non-essential differences:
Size: You were smaller as an embryo, but does body size determine value? Of course not!
Level of Development: You were less developed as an embryo, but infants are less developed than teenagers physically and mentally. Do we think they have less value? Of course not!
Environment: Where you are has no bearing on what you are. Does an eight inch journey through the birth canal change the essential value of the unborn? Of course not!
Degree of Dependency: You depended on your mother for survival, but does dependence on another human determine value? Of course not! (Consider those with disability, or conjoined twins, for example.)
In short, humans are equal by nature, not by function” (Klusendorf and Stonestreet, p.13).
Parents: We know that even if you agree with the above facts, this is still a very difficult time. Processing facts verses feelings can be difficult, but doing so when your baby girl might be pregnant is a whole other level. Know that she does have time on her hands. It may not be Plan B but there are other options should she choose to have an abortion. We highly encourage both parents and the girl to come to one of our medical centers and get the support you need from professionals that specialize in this. Get your questions answered to ensure the course of action that is taken is truly the best for her – for today and the future.
At Hope, we offer free and confidential services:
Since 1987, Hope Women’s Centers has been helping women and men make informed decisions regarding unplanned pregnancies because we never want people to look back at their decisions and say I didn’t know or I didn’t have the necessary resources.
If you or someone you know is in need of our services, visit www.hopewomenscenters.com to schedule your appointment. We are here to help you during this time.
For a list of FAQs, click HERE.
If you need assistance during non business hours, contact 24-hour helpline: OptionLine: 1-800-712-HELP
SOURCE: Klusendorf, S. & Stonestreet, J. (2016). 21 days of prayer for life. Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org/images/content/breakpoint/Document_Links/redesign-21-days-of-prayer-for-life-2016-v3.6.pdf