Tennessee law prohibits women from having abortions in nearly all circumstances. But once the babies are here, the state provides little help. We followed one family as they struggled to make it.

In the midst of the turmoil in July 2022, they learned Mayron was pregnant again. But this time, doctors warned she and her fetus might not survive.

The embryo had been implanted in scar tissue from her recent cesarean section. There was a high chance that the embryo could rupture, blowing open her uterus and killing her, or that she could bleed to death during delivery. The baby could come months early and face serious medical risks, or even die.

Tennessee already had some of the worst outcomes in the nation when measuring maternal health, infant mortality and child poverty. Lawmakers who paved the way for a new generation of post-Roe births did little to bolster the state’s meager safety net to support these babies and their families.

  • Flying Squid
    20•10 months ago

    A lot of them also claim that it is interfering in god’s will to allow anyone an abortion. A raped 10-year-old- no abortion. A fetus that will only live for six hours after birth and be in agony the entire time- no abortion. The woman and the fetus will both die without emergency medical intervention- no abortion.

    • @[email protected]
      21•10 months ago

      while also getting LASIK, having their appendix removed, pulling wisdom teeth, getting cancer treatment…

      which apparently wasn’t God’s will.

    • @pivot_root
      7•10 months ago

      God is a genocidal asshole. Jesus was more about love, equity, and forgiveness. If laws are meant to be a reflection of society’s morals, you would think the laws introduced by Christian politicians would be more aligned with Jesus’ teachings.

      But, of course not. Why listen to your own religious teachings when you can cherry-pick examples out of the Bible to justify creating legislation that exerts control over women.