Let us go forth and multiply! OR yet another reason for R vs. W

[sproutster]

http://www.midtod.com/fertility.phtml

Getting pregnant through the use of fertility techniques is not a sure thing. Only about 20% of women undergoing such therapy will get pregnant in a given month. Many have to go back again and again.
Nevertheless, in the last two decades, there has been a marked increase in the number of multiple births in the United States. In 1971, there were 1,034 births involving three or more children. By 1994, that number had jumped to 4,594.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributes the number to older women trying to get pregnant with the help of fertility techniques after delaying pregnancy for years.

Of overriding concern, say ethicists, should be that being pregnant with so many babies forces women to make difficult moral and ethical decisions.

"They have to choose between three conflicting values -- their own health, in having to carry so many fetuses; the health of their fetuses; and the moral values of whether or not you have to abort one or more of those fetuses," said Larry Gostin of Georgetown University.

Doctors say the healthy McCaughey septuplets were the exception rather than the rule. Many premature babies, such as the Houston octuplets, are much smaller and face grave dangers.

And, says Gostin, "Many of these children are going to have profound handicaps throughout their lives -- both physical and mental handicaps."

[CornField]

1. Not even the McCaughey septuplets were "healthy"

I believe at least two (if not more) have on-going health problems.

[Djinn]

2. don't know if this is a "reason" for R v W

it's a reason to look seriously at the ethics surrounding assisted fertility, not really sure it relates to abortion being legal

[sproutster]

3. A woman does not have to make a decision when facing multiple births?

Are you serious? Not only is it relevant, it's something that fundie women might actually believe they might face.

[Djinn]

4. well actually if they're consistent fundies

they wouldn't be having fertility treatment, also if they're consistent they would never have a termination regardless of the risk to their health, so why is it something they might face?