There has been a lot of confusion about the legality of abortion after the Supreme Court ruling in June, the executive order President Biden gave, and the timing gaps with different trigger laws.
If you are pregnant and wondering what your options are in Texas, here is the 411:
The Supreme Court decision set in motion a Texas trigger law that will ban abortion after the moment an egg is fertilized at conception. This means basically all abortions will be illegal, except in the rare case to save the life of the mother.
However, the law has a 30-day gap delay, which means it has not yet gone into effect.
In the meantime, abortion is legal until a fetal heartbeat is detected around 6 weeks.
What Happens if You Receive an Illegal Abortion in Texas?
In Texas, doctors, abortion providers, drivers who transport a woman to an abortion clinic and those who pay for an abortion can all be prosecuted if they are caught participating in illegal abortions.
The law does stipulate that a woman who receives an abortion can’t be sued.
How is Texas Helping Pregnant Women?
In 2005 the state passed legislation for a program that would provide help to women who choose not to have an abortion. In 2021, the program received $100 million in funding.
The program’s services include counseling, mentoring; classes on pregnancy, parenting, adoption, life skills, and employment readiness; supplies such as car seats, clothing, diapers, and formula; and housing through maternity homes.
Also the state pays for more than half of all births through Medicaid.
Pregnant women can apply for WIC and other government aid for food or childcare.
And at our clinic, we offer free and confidential ultrasounds and pregnancy and STI testing, as well as counseling and community resources like housing and baby items.
What are your next steps?
- Get an ultrasound. Before you can make any decisions about your unplanned pregnancy, you need all the details. An ultrasound will tell you how far along your pregnancy is, and alert you to any potential complications with your health. It is also required by law in the state of Texas.
- Ask questions. The more information you have, the better informed your decision will be. Some questions to ask include:
- How much will it cost me to travel out of state for an abortion?
- What are the health risks to an abortion?
- Would I qualify for government assistance if I choose to parent this child?
- What would placing my child for adoption look like?
Your unplanned pregnancy journey does not have to be walked alone. You have help right at your fingertips. Please give us a call today and we will walk you through some next steps you can take towards a confident future and help you answer these questions and more.
