OMG, you guys. So, like, we totally need to talk about how banning abortion is, um, literally killing babies. And no, that’s not just a dramatic take—it’s what actual science is saying. A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics (yes, like, a real legit medical journal) found that states with abortion bans have seen a totally horrifying increase in infant mortality rates. And honestly? It’s kinda the opposite of “pro-life.”
So, let’s back up a sec for a little history lesson. Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973 and basically said, “Hey, women actually have rights over their own bodies!” It protected abortion access nationwide for, like, 50 years. But then, in 2022, the Supreme Court was all, “LOL, never mind!” and overturned it. And just like that, a bunch of states rushed to ban abortion or slap on some wild restrictions faster than you can say “Handmaid’s Tale.”
And guess what? Now, babies are dying more often in those states. Johns Hopkins researchers analyzed states that went all-in on abortion bans between September 2021 and August 2022 (so, right before and after Roe was overturned). And, um, it’s bad. According to their findings, infant mortality rates in these states were significantly higher than expected. So much for “saving babies,” huh?
Like, let’s get into the numbers. We’re talking about 13 states that totally banned abortion and four more that restricted it to six weeks of pregnancy (which, like, most people don’t even know they’re pregnant by then). These states saw an increase in deaths among infants—especially babies born with congenital anomalies, meaning, like, life-threatening medical conditions that could have been detected earlier in pregnancy.
And the worst part? The most affected groups were Black infants, young moms, and people without a college degree—basically, the most vulnerable people who already struggle with healthcare access. Like, way to make things even harder, right?
Dr. Alison Gemmill, one of the study’s lead authors, explained it like this: “These findings suggest that abortion restrictions may have serious unintended consequences for infant health.” Yeah, like, no kidding.
This Johns Hopkins research backs up earlier findings, like a separate analysis that showed Texas’ strict 2021 abortion ban was linked to a rise in infant deaths the following year. Like, we already knew this would happen, but lawmakers totally ignored it.
And let’s not forget, even before Roe was overturned, the U.S. had one of the highest infant mortality rates among wealthy countries. So, instead of fixing that, lawmakers doubled down and made it worse. Like, what’s next? Bringing back leeches as a medical treatment?
It’s not even just about mortality rates. The study also found that states with bans had higher birth rates—an estimated 22,180 more births happened in those states because people were forced to carry pregnancies they might have otherwise ended. And those are babies being born into situations where their parents might not be financially, emotionally, or physically prepared to care for them. That’s a huge jump, and it means that thousands of people had to give birth even when they weren’t ready or didn’t want to. More births also mean more strain on healthcare systems, especially in states that already have poor maternal care.
And, like, let’s be real—these states aren’t exactly famous for their top-tier social safety nets. With rising birth rates and no real support for new parents, a lot of these babies are being born into some really tough situations. It’s almost like lawmakers want to force people to give birth but then, like, forget about them the second the baby arrives. Make it make sense!
At this point, it’s pretty obvious that banning abortion isn’t making life better—it’s literally causing more deaths. Experts and doctors are practically screaming about it, but, you know, politicians seem to have their fingers in their ears like, la la la can’t hear you!
So, yeah. Maybe, just maybe, we should start listening to, like, actual science and doctors instead of politicians who think pregnancy just magically “ends” at six weeks or that babies are, like, downloading from the cloud. Just a thought!
The bottom line? Abortion bans aren’t saving lives—they’re taking them. And that’s not an opinion, that’s just the facts.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
