NH finally protects the unborn in the last months of pregnancy

By Sens. Regina Birdsell and Sharon Carson

At long last, New Hampshire has joined the ranks of 43 states that limit the practice of late-term abortion. For too long, we were among a small group of states that provided no protection for unborn children until the moment of birth.

The recently-passed budget bill includes the Fetal Life Protection Act, which limits abortions to the first 24 weeks (6 months) of pregnancy unless the life, health, or well-being of the mother is endangered. This is in line with most other states, which place limits on abortion late in pregnancy. Most states limit abortions at 18 to 22 weeks. At 24 weeks, the child is considered viable. Testing for major birth defects occurs much earlier in the pregnancy.

The public has consistently and overwhelmingly supported limits on late-term abortion. 79% of voters oppose third trimester abortions (7 months through 9 months). Even 66% of self-described pro-choice voters oppose third trimester abortions. There is plenty of disagreement over abortion early in pregnancy, but most pro-life and pro-choice voters agree that we have a compelling interest to protect innocent lives as they approach the day of birth. Only 6% of people believe that abortion should be allowed up to the time of birth. This is abortion extremism, but it has fueled opposition to New Hampshire’s reasonable new law.

Supporters of late-term abortions complain that we require an ultrasound for doctors to determine fetal age before performing an abortion. But as Lovering Health Center in Greenland recently told New Hampshire Public Radio, “ultrasounds are already routine for most abortions.” And they are covered as prenatal care under New Hampshire insurance policies and ACA plans. In fact, 27 states have some sort of imaging requirement in place, so that doctors can be sure whether the fetus has passed its sixth month and is protected. Doctors acting to save the life or health of the pregnant mother would not be breaking the law.

Supporters of late-term abortions say that by punishing doctors who perform late-term abortions, we will discourage them from practicing in New Hampshire at all. Yet 35 states have criminal penalties for doctors who perform illegal abortions.

Those who support abortion until birth object to any and all protections for the unborn. They objected to setting a viability standard to protect the baby, arguing that it was too vague. Now they object to 24 weeks, arguing it is too rigid. They opposed parental notification requirements to ensure that children would not be seeking abortions without their parents’ knowledge. They even voted against New Hampshire’s ban on partial birth abortion. Now we’re hearing that this late-term abortion law is extreme, even though it’s already in place in 43 other states.

We are proud that New Hampshire has finally become the 44th state to finally protect infants in the 7th, 8th, and 9th month of pregnancy. This is long overdue. Voters have consistently and overwhelmingly supported limits on abortions in the third trimester. They oppose an extreme pro-abortion agenda without any limits up to the moment of birth.

Sen. Regina Birdsell (R-Windham) represents District 19. Sen. Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) represents District 14.