Abortion laws nationwide can be confusing, and a state’s laws can change quickly with the stroke of a pen. In West Virginia, a licensed medical professional may perform an abortion if, in their “reasonable medical judgment,” the embryo or fetus is nonviable, the pregnancy is ectopic, in the case of sexual assault or incest, or a medical emergency exists. Certainly, the possible death of the woman is a medical emergency.
Do Pregnant Women Die?
There are no guarantees when it comes to our death. Pregnant women die, but according to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. They state that deaths related to pregnancy are rare.
A healthy pregnancy begins before a woman becomes pregnant. The proper diet, weight, and amount of exercise make a healthier pregnancy. Some of the physical factors that can cause issues include:
- Diabetes
- Chronic heart disease
- Infection or Sepsis
- Hemorrhage
- High blood pressure
- An ectopic pregnancy*
*An ectopic pregnancy is when the embryo implants outside the uterus. It is unable to continue growing. An abortion cannot end an ectopic pregnancy.
The Hear Her Campaign
The CDC has developed a program to help women recognize possible maternal warning signs. It is called the Hear Her campaign. Here are some of the symptoms to pay attention to:
- Headache that won’t go away or gets worse over time.
- Dizziness or fainting
- Changes in your vision
- Fever of 100.4°F or higher
- Severe nausea and throwing up
- Severe belly pain that doesn’t go away
- Baby’s movement stopping or slowing during pregnancy
- Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking during pregnancy
How Women’s Care Center Can Assist You
If you are unexpectedly pregnant, we invite you to visit our clinic for complementary pregnancy-related services. We provide a urine pregnancy test, confirmation of your pregnancy through a limited obstetrical ultrasound, and limited STD testing and treatment.
We can review your options if you’re undecided about your next steps. Although we do not provide or refer for abortion, we can provide factual information about abortion procedures, side effects, and potential risks.
Call us today at 304-485-7113 to make an appointment. We’re ready to listen.