Your life begins at delivery, little princess

At least that's what Cecile Richards says she believes.  As CEO of Planned Parenthood, she has to be careful what she says.

If life begins at delivery, then of course that raises questions.  It suggests that until they're outside their mom's belly, they're not really alive.  

Let's watch it happen for a little princess -- in the months before delivery, she already has a routine of wake and sleep, of activity and rest.  Movement brings sensations and sometimes a response from mom.  Mom's voice is familiar, being held close is familiar, and there's something new in every moment that passes. Stretch and flex, it's fascinating, moving arms, then legs, and figuring out how it works.  First awarenesses are probably intriguing; of touch and taste, of light and dark, activity and stillness, sounds and silence and calm, and the occasional hiccup.  Then there are voices she hears and maybe mom sings her a song.  

When it comes time to be born, it's got to be a bit difficult.  The tension mom feels has got to be unnerving.  Struggle and then, out!  Whoohoo, first breath!  Okay, that was bizarre, and look at all this light, and it's kind of loud out here, and apparently I need some clothes! 

Shhhhhh.  Her Royal Highness
is sleeping!

Afterwards, when she's wrapped up and warm and in mommy's arms, now she can hear her voice really clearly, and she's comforted.  Too, there's daddy saying comforting things to both of them and others making lots of interesting noises.  As things quiet down, and she's where she belongs, she'll probably take a nap.  That was a lot of work, after all.  

Cecile Richards tells of her own abortion, “It was a decision my husband and I made. It was a personal decision. And we have three children that we adore and that are the center of my life. And we decided that was as big as our family needed to be. That was really the story. It wasn’t anything more dramatic than that." 

Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards was asked, "When does life start? When does a human being become a human being?"

After equivocating a bit, Richards replied, "Every woman has to make her own decision." 
Pressed again to say when she thinks life begins, Richards said, "I'm a mother of three children. For me, life began when I delivered them. They've probably been the most important thing in my life ever since. But that's my own personal decision, right?"*

That's an interesting question.  Does my preference determine when my child's life begins?

While lawmakers struggle to draw the line, all the science agrees; conception marks the beginning of a distinct and uniquely identifiable life.  Consciousness, awareness, and viability emerge along the way, and full functionality precedes delivery by months.
   

Strong majorities of Americans think that abortion should be illegal after the first three months of pregnancy.  Planned Parenthood is currently leading a campaign to ensure that the United States remains one of seven countries in the world where elective abortions are legal later than five months into pregnancy.

*I don't think CEO Richards was completely truthful.  I don't think she watched her belly in the weeks before delivery and thought it was anything other than her living child.  As wiggling and heartbeat and hiccups and response to her voice were all obvious, I doubt she thought about dumping it in the trash.  I suspect she knew the truth but for political reasons, she said otherwise.