Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, there have been rumors circulating about abortion access and women’s health. If a woman needs an abortion to save her life, can she get one in states where abortion is illegal?
South Dakota is one of thirteen states where abortion is no longer legal after Roe v. Wade’s reversal. However, exceptions are in place to save the mother’s life. What complications cause necessary intervention to save a mother’s life?
What Complications Put Pregnant Women At Risk?
Maternal death is rare in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the maternal mortality rate for 2020 was less than 24 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Various health and pregnancy issues exist that can cause complications during pregnancy for some women. Possible factors that can lead to pregnancy complications or maternal death include:
- Unmonitored high blood pressure
- Untreated or undiagnosed HIV
- Previous abortions
- Untreated high or low blood sugar
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Existing or pre-pregnancy health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, pulmonary hypertension, asthma or a compromised immune system
- Older maternal age
- Pregnant with twins, triplets, or other multiples
How Can A Pregnant Woman Avoid Life-Threatening Complications?
When a woman finds out she is pregnant, a medical provider should conduct an extensive health history and perform an ultrasound to evaluate the viability, gestational age, and location of the pregnancy. Ultrasounds are also used to determine the number of fetuses present and the estimated due date. These are all important factors to know during a pregnancy decision-making process.
Getting proper prenatal care, eating a balanced diet, exercising appropriately, and making healthy lifestyle choices are also important to reduce complications during pregnancy. And if you are considering abortion, it is necessary to be informed about all possible side effects and potential risks.
How We Can Help You
At Alpha Center, we provide lab-quality pregnancy tests at no cost to you. If your test result is positive, we also offer no-cost, limited obstetrical ultrasounds after our licensed medical professional reviews your health history and determines if an ultrasound is applicable.
If you have specific medical questions regarding how a pregnancy might affect your health, we can provide a no-cost consultation with trusted physicians to make sure you get the care and information you need.
We believe education is vital for your future health. Talk with us about the many resources and referrals we have to offer. Contact us 24/7 by chatting online or calling (605) 361-3500.
We are here for you.