Life in womb is as precious as life in Hand
Ann Mary Kottaram
“I will not kill my baby”
I got to know about a case in Kerala High Court about aborting a 23 weeks old baby who is ill. I don’t have any details about the illness of the baby or about the parents. But I thought I should share my personal experience.
I am a mother of 2 sons of 11 years old and 7 years old. When I was pregnant with my second son, the doctor asked me to take an NT scan in the 12th week. When I asked the doctor about the reason for this scan, she explained that it is to diagnose any anomalies of the baby.
My next question was, “what if there is an anomaly” and she said “then, you can take a call”. I realized the meaning of that “call” and I did not take that scan because I was pretty sure that if there is an anomaly, I will be forced to do a “pregnancy termination” (what a fancy term to kill a baby ☹).
When I took the 20th week scan, we got to know that child’s growth and development is not at par, as the opening of my umbilical cord was not enough to provide sufficient food and oxygen for the baby. Though I was 20 weeks pregnant, we did get advice for “abortion” and I was very adamant that “I will not kill my baby” and I will nurture my child with all love and care, whatever disabilities and anomalies the child has.
When the well wishers around me advised me on why I should not have this child and when they explained me the struggles (mentally, physically, financially and socially) I need to go through as a mother and the struggle the child has to go through his / her whole life, my response back to them was; will they kill their living son or daughter who will fall sick. How much time does it take for a person to fall ill – an accident, an unfortunate fall when the child plays or a high fever – is more than enough for a “smart, intelligent, healthy” child to be in bed for the rest of life
. If a parent cannot think about killing their child who is diagnosed with any physical or mental ailments, how can the same parent think of killing their own child in the womb? What makes a parent think that a child in the womb is less privileged than the child in the hand? When a parent is willing to go to any extent to save the life of their child who had “anomalies” after birth, what makes the same parent KILL a baby in the womb? Why is that life not precious? Do you think that you will become a parent only when you have a child in hand? – NO, the moment a life is born in the womb, a mother and father is born. It’s our duty to respect and protect that life through all stages – from conception to death.
My 11-year-old Son is a child with special needs. He was 4 years old when I was pregnant with my second baby and I got happily prepared throughout my pregnancy that I will have one more child who is “differently abled”. By God’s grace I had a normal delivery and when the baby was born, he was absolutely healthy and fine
. We did all scans and tests for my baby after his birth and he had no health issues. My little son is 7 years old now and by God’s blessings he is physically and mentally healthy till today. “Whatever is impossible for man, is possible for GOD”.
In today’s particular circumstances of my life, my children – my 2 angels – are my happiness and strength; my elder son and I look upto my second son for support
. We never know how children will become our blessings and when we kill each life, we are killing a beautiful plan of God.