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In a plot twist worthy of a soap opera, it seems that following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which effectively told women to take a permanent vacation from what’s considered reproductive choice, the U.S. saw a spike in infant mortality numbers. Apparently, more infants than expected decided that life just wasn’t worth living, with the majority sporting a variety of congenital anomalies — the kind of sad decorations that remind us life can sometimes be a cruel joke.
Remember when Texas turned the abortion clock back to six weeks in 2021? Turns out that little gem of legislative wisdom led to a delightful rise in infant mortality there as well. Experts are scratching their heads, wondering just how deep the rabbit hole of their decisions actually goes. Spoiler alert: it goes pretty deep.
Enter Dr. Parvati Singh, an epidemiology super sleuth from The Ohio State University, who claims this is all part of a national ‘ripple effect.’ Not quite the kind of ripple you’d enjoy while lounging by a pool, but rather a series of catastrophic waves crashing over expectant mothers nationwide.
In a recent episode of ‘Look What Science Did,’ published in *JAMA Pediatrics,* Dr. Singh and her partner in epidemiology, Dr. Maria Gallo, decided to compare the fortunes of infants born post-Dobbs to those of mere mortals from history. The result? A plot twist no one saw coming — infant mortality that never quite veered back down to the low levels of yesteryear. How quaint!
So when did we hit this unprecedented high score in the infant mortality game? Between October 2022 and April 2023, when rates took a joyful seven percent spike — an average of 247 more infant fatalities each month. Apparently, *this* is what the “pro-life” movement looks like, folks!
A delightful 80% of these additional demises could be traced back to congenital anomalies. You know, those little “surprises” that play Russian Roulette with a baby’s heart or spine — quite the charming addition to the lives of many unsuspecting parents.
But wait, Dr. Singh warns, “This is just the tip of the iceberg!” Cue the ominous music. It seems that this grim reaper of statistics isn’t just about mortality; it points to a multitude of other underlying health crises lurking beneath the surface. Great, just when you thought it couldn’t get worse!
Other studies are popping up like weeds in a neglected garden, revealing an increase in births in those charming states enforcing abortion bans. Experts claim part of this dramatic rise is due to more women carrying fetuses with fatal congenital anomalies to full term. Because why not add an extra layer of irony to an already tragic situation?
Dr. Ushma Upadhyay, who’s clearly not a fan of the current state of affairs, chimed in, emphasizing that had people had access to abortion services, many of these pregnancies would’ve made a right turn before the finish line. But hey, who needs choice when there’s a ‘pro-life’ agenda to uphold?
Experts continue to point out that these abortion bans set the stage for a grander tragedy, blocking access to essential healthcare that could help save both mothers and babies. Because apparently, the well-being of pregnant individuals who are forced to carry unwanted pregnancies is a raging afterthought in this twisted play.
“It’s all connected,” Upadhyay said with the weariness of one who expected better from society. “Abortion restrictions create a domino effect in healthcare access during pregnancy, making the whole system less supportive. It’s a perfect storm of neglect and irony.”
“People who face the most significant barriers in terms of poverty, education, or food security,” she adds with an obvious lack of faith in the system, “will find it almost impossible to access abortion. And surprise, surprise: these are also the ones at higher risk for crummy pregnancy and birth outcomes.”
Trying to sift through these grim statistics is like trying to find a needle in a haystack while blindfolded. Infant mortality rates encompass those catastrophic outcomes occurring before a baby hits the ripe old age of one. And surprise, the timeline aligns perfectly with when many congenital anomalies are discovered. This saga just keeps getting better!
“These studies are flashing red signals,” underlines Dr. Alison Gemmill from Johns Hopkins, “that people aren’t receiving the healthcare they require, and lo and behold, tragic spillover effects are occurring. Guess what? Not everyone can navigate the obstacle course your lawmakers have set up!”
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