In a heated election year where tensions are rising across the country over abortion access and restrictions, an Arizona lawmaker took to the Senate floor on Monday to reveal she had a planned abortion scheduled for later this week.
Democratic Sen. Eva Burch delivered an emotional 10-minute speech to her colleagues about the hoops she’s had to jump through to end her non-viable pregnancy. The 43-year-old nurse practitioner is a mother to two boys, and has been outspoken about her failed pregnancies and former subsequent abortions in the past. While running for office in 2022, Burch said she had an abortion because that pregnancy wasn’t viable and even mentioned on the campaign trail that she had undergone the procedure.
While Burch’s pregnancies have not been viable and there is no sign of life, under Arizona’s restrictive abortion laws, a mother can only terminate a pregnancy up to 15 weeks and 6 days.
“I don’t think people should have to justify their abortions,” she said, her voice shaking. “But I’m choosing to talk about why I made this decision because I want us to have meaningful conversations about the reality of how the work that we do in this body impacts people in the real world.”
In the process of seeking to end her nonviable pregnancy, which is about 8 weeks along, Burch underwent a transvaginal ultrasound, then was read a list of mandated recommendations from her provider — including advice on foster care or adoption alternatives, despite the fact that her fetus has no chance of survival. After receiving all of the required information, she would need to wait 24 hours before receiving an abortion.
“Some of the statements read to me, for example, advised me that there are alternatives to abortion, including adoption or parenting, which in my case is particularly unfair and unkind and cruel, since parenting is an option I would love to take on,” Burch said. “The intent is clear: they don’t want to make sure that it is accurate and appropriate care. They want patients to make a different decision. They want patients to make a decision that the legislators feel more comfortable with.”
Burch, who has two young sons, has experienced infertility for years. She was not trying to get pregnant – but when she discovered she was, Burch and her husband were happy and hopeful.
That happiness changed quickly as tests revealed Burch’s pregnancy was not advancing and would end in a miscarriage, Burch said.
Having had experienced a miscarriage two years earlier, Burch said she knew immediately she would prefer to have an abortion, rather than waiting for the pregnancy to expel itself naturally.
Abortion Procedures in Situations of Miscarriage
While some women who miscarry a baby will do so without medical intervention, it’s estimated that 50 percent of women who suffer from miscarriage will actually have no signs or symptoms at all. When that happens, it’s called a “silent miscarriages,” and it means their pregnancy has stoped progressing without any signs or warning, and their bodies have not begun the process of disposing of the baby and “conception material” on its own. In these cases, a Dilation and curettage (D&C) will often be offered as a way to complete the miscarriage.
A D&C is the same procedure used for some abortions. With more restrictive abortion laws being put in place across the country, women who never wanted to end their pregnancies, and are grieving the loss of a desired child, are no longer being granted access to D&C procedures in some areas and cases because of their association with abortion.