Have premature births increased?
In the early years of legalized wide-open abortion, there was ample evidence of the fact that induced abortion caused a sharp increase of premature births and their unfortunate aftermaths. Some of the major original studies included:
- After one legal abortion, premature births increase by 14%; after two abortions, it is 18%, after three, it increases to 24%. Klinger, "Demographic Consequences of the Legalization of 162 Abortion in Eastern Europe," Internat’l Jour. GYN & OB, vol. 8, Sept. 1971, p. 691
- Non-aborted women have a premature birth rate of 5%, aborted women have a rate of 14%. R. Slumsky, "Course of Delivery of Women Following Interruption of Pregnancy," Czechoslovakia Gyn., vol. 29, no. 97, 1964
- Women who have had abortions have twice the chance of delivering a premature baby later. G. Papaevangelou, U. Hospital, Athens, Greece, Jour. OB-GYN British Commonwealth, vol. 80, 1973, pp. 418-422
- In Czechoslovakia, premature births resulting from abortions are so frequent that a woman who has had several abortions and who becomes pregnant is examined, and: "If the physicians can see scar tissue, they will sew the cervix closed in the 12th or 13th week of pregnancy. The patient stays in the hospital as long as necessary, which, in some cases, means many months." "Czechs Tighten Reins on Abortion," Medical World News, 106J, 1973
Among others, Dr. Zedowsky reported a higher percent of brain in juries at birth. His report cited "a growing number of children requiring special education because of mental deficits related to prematurity." ibid.
A very large study, by the World Health Organization, of 7,228 women in eight European countries, showed that previously- aborted women had significantly higher midtrimester pregnancy loss, premature delivery and low birth weight babies. Collaborative Study, Lancet 1979 20 Jan; 1 (8108): 142-5 163
Are there any comprehensive studies on premature births?
In New York State, a major prospective study was done between 1975 and 1979 which compared over 40,000 women; half of whom had an abortion and half of whom had a live birth. An analysis of the subsequent reproductive history of these women found a definite pattern of increased complications for those who had abortions (see chart below).
Study Group
(had an abortion) Control Group
(had a live birth) Difference
Spontaneous fetal deaths
All subsequent pregnancies 8.7% 5.3% 1.65 times more
Spontaneous fetal deaths
First subsequent pregnancies 8.7% 4.7% 1.85 times more
Low Birthweight
(less than 2500 gms) white 7.0% 4.7% 1.5 times more
Low Birthweight
(less than 2500 gms) non-white 13.4% 8.4% 1.5 times more
Premature Birth (less than 33 weeks) 2.3% 1.3% 1.8 times more
Labor Complications 13.0% 4.3% 3.0 times more
Congenital Malformations same same same
Newborn Death 36% 0.98% 1.4 times more
V. Logrillo et al., "Effect of Induced Abortion on Subsequent Reproductive Function," N.Y. State Dept. of Health, Contract #1-HD-6-2802, 1975-78
More preemies die?
Yes. A study of 26,000 consecutive deliveries at UCLA was done to determine if previous abortions (and premature births) had increased the number of stillborn babies and neonatal (after birth) deaths. The findings were that the death rate "increased more than threefold." 164 S. Funderburk et al., "Suboptimal Pregnancy Outcome with Prior Abortions and Premature Births," Amer. Jour. OB/GYN, Sept. 1, 1976, pp. 55-60
Why does the U.S. rate about 20th in the world in its infant mortality rate?
There are five major reasons:
(1) Because in some cases we’re comparing apples with oranges. Rated #1 is Japan. But they do not count deaths until 72 hours after birth. If the U.S. did this, it would be almost first too.
(2) Some nations, like Sweden, do not have large numbers of low socioeconomic people. Therefore, you could more realistically compare Sweden to Minnesota than to the entire U.S.
(3) When asked, many blame it on "poor" prenatal care, particularly in the groups with the highest rates, i.e., teens and low socioeconomic groups. But, good prenatal care is almost universally obtainable. The problem is that mothers in these groups often don’t avail themselves of it.
(4) The big one is the trio — alcohol, smoking and drugs — often associated with illegitimacy. Bluntly speaking, many newborns die because of their parents’ unhealthy behavior. Even good prenatal care cannot compensate for the mother’s smoking, drinking and drug use.
Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute has studied illegitimacy. He points to an eight-state study that found a higher infant mortality among unmarried college graduates than among married grade school dropouts. M. Charen, Inst. Mort., "Deeper Than Health Care," Feb. 2, 1992
(5) Prematurity as a result of earlier induced abortion.
More preemies die than full term babies.
With increasing technology, more ought to survive.
As detailed in the viability chapter, this is true, but technology has also brought a new way for them to die. Through In-Vitro fertilization, multiple pregnancies are common. The technique of "pregnancy reduction" (see chapter on Abortions) sometimes results in the loss of all the fetal babies. L. Wilcox et al., "Assisted Repro. Tech . . . & Multiple Births..," Fert. & Ster., vol. 65 #2, Feb. ’96, p. 361
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