Introduction

Abortion has been an arguable topic for as long as the idea has existed and it continues to be a controversy between pro and con supporters. There are so many different opinions on why people are for and against abortion. 

People argue that it is the mother's body, the mother's choice and the unborn may not be considered human. Others say that a life is a life, no matter how small it is and unborn children deserve the right to live. 

I'm strongly against the idea and practice of abortion and in my blog, there will be three arguments explaining why abortion should be illegal.

The first argument will be that the fetus is a human being from conception, this makes abortion murder and that is immoral and illegal.

The second argument will address the effects of abortion to the mothers, both physically and mentally.

The final argument will be that people should take responsibility for their actions instead of terminating the babies no matter what.

Human life begins at conception

There is no more moral wrong in killing a child after it is born than these is killing a child before it is born. It is yet unborn, but is every bit as much alive, has all bodily organs, feels pain and functions just as any human being. 

Dr. Jerome Lejeune, “Father of Modern Genetics”, states that “From the moment of fertilization, which is from the earliest moment of biologic existence, the developing human being is alive and entirely distinct from the mother who provides nourishment and protection”. 

Fetuses and embryos actually are biologically complete individual humans from the moment of conception. However during the pregnancy fetuses develop in the human form. The truth is that by 4 weeks nearly all of the baby's major organs and body systems are in place and beginning to form and by the end of 12 weeks, the organs and body systems are fully formed. 

Development occurs much more rapidly than most people realize as by the end of the first trimester, a fetus has a beating heart, has brainwaves, moves on its own, and has many complete organs. The fetus eventually gains the ability to live without its mother during the last second trimester and by the beginning of the third trimester, a fetus is completely developed. 

One of the most important questions is whether an unborn baby can feel pain. While some Pro-choice supporters think that fetuses cannot feel pain, researches and biological indicators suggest that fetuses at 20 weeks or younger feel pain intensely, even without any developed connection between the thalamus and the cortex, which has been thought necessary for pain to occur. 

Maureen Condic at the University of Utah believes that a fetus can feel pain as early as 8 weeks after conception, developing into a more mature perception by the 18^th week.

Negative effects of abortion on women

Abortion is the knowing destruction of the life of an unborn child. But this is only part of the story as abortion hurts the women involved. While some people believes abortions are not harmful to the mothers, others see that abortion affects women physically and emotionally.

The immediate complications of abortion can include hemorrhage, cervical injury, convulsions, infection and shock. Those immediate complications can lead to the risk of damage to a woman’s reproductive organs and her future ability to have children.

Studies have also found a statistically significant association between abortion and breast cancer and seriously, abortions can lead to deaths. 

Besides, emotional and psychological effects of abortions are also very common and can range from mild regret to more serious complications like depression.

David’s findings from the 30-year longitudinal study suggest that women who have abortions are at risk of severe mental health problems. Another study also shows that those who undergo abortion face nearly double the risk of mental health difficulties compared with others.

Abortion and responsibility

Most people think that human beings should take responsibility for the consequences of their actions therefore a woman who become pregnant should accept the pregnancy as the consequence of taking the risk involved in sexual intercourse. However, some women, especially teen girls are having repeated terminations as an alternative to contraception. Bronx Democrat Michael Benjamin, a New York State assemblyman mentions that 41 percent of New York City pregnancies ended in abortion last year and the fact is that the majority of abortions serve as nothing more than routine birth control.

Those mothers may mistake abortion for birth control but obviously, birth control does not kill a fertilized fetus while abortion does. When the mother has sex of her own free will, she also has a duty of care to the unborn baby. 

What if the woman is raped and gets pregnant? This is the subject of many heated arguments over the world. Sexual abuse or rape that results in pregnancy is the leading cause for abortions these days. No one wants to carry the rapist's child inside them for nine months but with abortion, it is the baby who suffers for the act of the father. A mother can always choose adoptions as a second chance if she does not want to bring her baby up but terminating an unborn baby is obviously not an action that can easily be tolerated. 

Conclusion

In some countries abortion is legalized; nevertheless, abortion is a very inhumane act. Abortion should be illegal as a child, whether he/she is born or not, has the right to live and nobody has a right to curtail the life of something that providence has created. People can have better alternatives to abortion such as adoptions, therefore mothers should think carefully before they decide to terminate their own children. Moreover, the risks of abortion overweight the advantages that abortions can lead to many serious physical and mental health problems.

Just don't say the A-word!

References

Baklinski, T. (2013). Indian study: Abortion raises breast cancer risk over 6-fold. Retrieved September 1^st, 2013, from

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/indian-study-abortion-raises-breast-cancer-risk-over-6-fold/

Friedman, T.L. (2012). Why I am Pro-Life. Retrieved September 1^st, 2013, from

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/opinion/sunday/friedman-why-i-am-pro-life.html?_r=3&

Hinkle, L. (2013). When does unborn baby have a beating heart? Retrieved September 1^st, 2013, from

http://www.livestrong.com/article/242600-when-does-an-unborn-baby-have-a-heartbeat/

Maessen, J. (2010). White House science Czar questioned the right of unborn child to live inside womb. Retrieved September 1^st, 2013, from

http://www.infowars.com/white-house-science-czar-questioned-the-right-of-unborn-child-to-live-inside-womb/

Marsh, B. (2009). Girls using abortion as birth control and having up to four terminations by the age of 18. Retrieved September 1^st, 2013, from:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1238612/Girls-using-abortion-birth-control.html

Why abortion should be illegal (LINKS)

1. When Does an Unborn Baby Have a Heartbeat?

2. Human fetal development conception to birth

3. Unborn babies can feel pain

4. In our opinion: Feeling their pain: Science, abortion and fetal pain

5. Indian study: Abortion raises breast cancer risk over 6-fold

6. Negative mental health effects of abortion

7. Abortion increases risks of mental health problems, new research finds

8. The truth about abortion

9. Abortion should not be used as a contraceptive

10. Why I am Pro-Life