12 1996
Human Life Alliance of Minnesota Education Fund Inc. Advertising Supplement
How Developed Is Your Baby?
Baby at Approximately Six Weeks
This remarkable photograph of a tiny preborn baby in his unruptured amniotic sac was taken after surgery (for a tubal pregnancy) at the University of Minnesota by medical photographer, Robert Wolfe, in 1972. This picture demonstrates the remarkable early development of a preborn baby at only six weeks after conception.
Consider This Testimony
"Eleven years ago while giving an anesthetic for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy (at 8 weeks gestation). I was handed what I believe was the smallest living human ever seen. The embryonic sac was intact and transparent. Within the sac was a tiny human male swimming extremely vigorously in the amniotic fluid, while attached to the wall by the umbilical cord. This tiny human was perfectly developed, with long, tapering fingers, feet and toes. It was almost transparent, as regards the skin, and the delicate arteries and veins were prominent to the ends of the fingers.
"The baby was extremely alive and swam about the sac approximately one time per
second, with a natural swimmer's stroke. This tiny human did not look at all like the photos and drawings and models of 'embryos' which I had seen, nor did it look like a few embryos I have been able to observe since then, obviously because this one was alive!
Statement by Paul E. Rockwell, M.D., anesthesiologist, as quoted by Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Willke in Handbook on Abortion.
"When the sac was opened, the tiny human immediately lost his life and took on the appearance of what is accepted as the appearance of an embryo at this stage of life (with blunt extremities etc.)."
Feet of Baby at Ten Weeks
Dr. Russell Sacco of Oregon took this picture of the perfectly formed feet of a 10week-old aborted baby waiting for disposal in a pathologist's laboratory. The feet in the picture are held between the doctor's thumb and forefinger.
Don't Make My Mistakes
Some people say that abortion is "an informed decision between a woman and her physician." You hear that a lot. But the fact is that most women never meet the abortionist until they are on the table, as happened in my case.
Michelle C.
I was 18 years old when I got pregnant. I wasn't serious about my boyfriend. It was a casual relationship. Since I had already enlisted in the Air Force, I thought I had to have an abortion in order to make something out of my life.
My best friend drove me to the abortion clinic. I was there for about four hours. It was like an assembly line. When the ultrasound was being done I asked to see it. But this wasn't allowed (so much for "an informed decision"). Then I asked how far along I was. I was told I was nine-and-a-half weeks pregnant. That hit me hard. I knew then that my baby was further developed than I had thought. I started doubting, and wanted to talk to my friend. But I wasn't allowed to do that either.
When it was my turn the nurse told me that I was going to feel some discomfort, like strong menstrual cramps. The truth is that the abortion was more pain than I've ever felt in my life. It felt like my insides were literally being sucked out of my body. Afterwards I went into shock!
After the abortion, I tried to make up for the abortion by trying to get pregnant again. I wanted my baby back. I never got pregnant again. I don't know if I can ever have another baby. I named my baby. I found out later that this is part of the grieving process.
I ended up in the hospital with bulimia two-and-one-half years later. I felt that no one had punished me for what I had done so I was punishing myself. I became obsessed with women who were pregnant, with women who would talk about their pregnancy. My life was in shambles! I was suffering from post-abortion trauma.
When I was 21 years old God brought me help through a woman who was involved in pro-life activism. She helped me a lot. I went through a post-abortion counseling program called "Conquerors." God not only forgave me, He challenged me to help others. I answered the challenge!
I started picketing and sidewalk counseling. There is a healing process that comes from getting involved in the pro-life movement.I talk to youth groups and students about abstinence and I share my testimony.To them, and to you, I plead,"Please don't make the same mistakes I did."
See pages 5 & 8 for alternatives to abortion!
Human Life Alliance of Minnesota, Inc. 3570 Lexington Avenue North, Suite 205·St. Paul,MN 55126·(612)484-1040