Dying is one of the greatest fears women have in the United States after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Now that abortion is illegal or highly restricted in many states, women fear that lack of abortion access will result in a medical emergency for which they won’t be able to receive help.
But is there any data to bring validity to these fears?
The evidence is just not there.
According to researchers at Harvard University, “Women in the U.S. who are pregnant or who have recently given birth are more likely to be murdered than to die from obstetric causes…Homicide deaths among pregnant women are more prevalent than deaths from hypertensive disorders, hemorrhage, or sepsis.”
How Do Abortion Law Changes Affect Women’s Mortality Rates?
But even if you did experience one of those obstetric emergencies, the chances of death directly from illegal abortion are extremely low. Even in Texas, abortion is accessible in cases where it might change the outcome of the woman’s life—of your life.
According to the Texas Tribune, “Texas’ ban on abortion makes exceptions for cases in which an abortion would save the pregnant patient’s life or prevent ‘substantial impairment of major bodily function.’”
But what about people who can’t afford good healthcare?
Many people say that the lack of abortion access will primarily impact people in lower socioeconomic circles who can’t afford health insurance for their pregnancy needs.
But because of the Emergency and Medical Treatment and Labor Act, doctors can legally do everything in their power to save a life, regardless of the patient’s socioeconomic status or ability to pay.
So, lack of abortion access cannot be an excuse for higher maternal mortality rates because even those without health insurance in a state where abortion is illegal can receive emergency healthcare.
Also, pre-existing prenatal healthcare like ultrasounds, pregnancy testing, pap smears, and genetic testing are still available just as they were before. Attending regular prenatal appointments can help doctors catch any abnormalities or complications before they become emergency situations.
Now that abortion has been brought back into state courtrooms, the pressure is on state legislators to create more opportunities for women to access good healthcare and have financial aid for medical bills. So in fact, it may actually save more lives due to better access to good prenatal health care and attention at the judicial
How Many Women Die Due to Pregnancy Complications in the US? level.
The United States–where abortion was legal up until only a few months ago—has one of the highest rates of pregnancy-related deaths in the world. In 2020, about 861 women died of maternal causes. That is about 24 for every 100,000 deaths, which is more than double that of other countries.
These pregnancy-related deaths in the United States were not a result of inaccessible abortion because, in 2020, abortion was still legal nationwide. Lack of access to good prenatal care is more commonly the cause of maternal mortality.
Many women do not realize they can access good healthcare even if they do not have suitable insurance or financial stability. According to one survey, women who felt they had to pay for healthcare out of pocket were the most likely to not receive prenatal care in the first trimester.
Many women may not know that Medicaid pays for almost half of all births nationwide, and there are other options for those who can’t qualify for Medicaid.
The CDC is currently working to decrease the pregnancy mortality rate through a number of programs that help pregnant women find important prenatal care.
International Data Regarding Maternal Mortality
Christina Francis, a practicing OBGN in Indiana, told NPR, “two of the countries with the best maternal mortality rates in the world – Poland and Malta – abortion is illegal in both of those countries. And Poland actually saw their maternal mortality rates drop dramatically when they went from legalized abortion to making abortion illegal. And in this country, where we’ve had access to abortion on demand for the last 50 years, we have one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the developed world.”
In Denmark, where abortion is only legal until 12 weeks, they have the second-best mortality rate in the world (second only to Poland). In Spain, the third-best country for maternal mortality rates, abortion is technically legal until 14 weeks, but most doctors refuse to perform the procedure.
In the top three countries for maternal mortality, abortion is illegal after the first trimester.
So it stands to reason that abortion laws have little to do with maternal mortality rates, and failing to attend regular prenatal appointments is more likely the issue women should be associating with mortality rates.
We Are Here For You
If you are worried about your pregnancy or afraid of not having access to good healthcare, we are here for you! Our clinic offers free ultrasounds, pregnancy testing, and more. We can connect you with resources that will ensure you have everything you need for a healthy and safe pregnancy. Please contact us today for a confidential consultation.
