What is a high-risk
pregnancy?
And do abortion ban exceptions really
protect people at high-risk?
There are many reasons a pregnancy might be considered high-risk, just like there are many reasons someone may need an abortion—some reasons are medical, some are mental health-related, and some are based on a person’s life circumstances.
Sometimes, people carrying high-risk pregnancies need abortion care. But every day in Georgia, patients can’t get the care they need—because Georgia’s abortion law doesn’t capture the nuances of high-risk pregnancy care.
In 2022, Georgia passed a law that bans most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy—often before many people even know they’re pregnant. The law includes limited exceptions for “medical emergencies,” “medically futile pregnancies” (i.e. lethal fetal anomalies), and rape/incest if an official police report is filed.
Supporters of the law often claim these exceptions are enough to protect people with high-risk pregnancies.
But in real life, it’s not that simple.
Follow The Stories
Click to follow the stories of Jane, Chris, and Adrian as they try to get care for high-risk pregnancies in Georgia.
Jane
Jane is a high school student who got pregnant unexpectedly. Living in a rural area, Jane struggles to find care to stay healthy and assess her options.
Chris
Chris and her husband’s joy of getting pregnant is short lived when they receive devastating news that leaves a lifelong impression.
Adrian
Parenthood can be beautiful and hard at the same time for Adrian and her partner who feel rushed to make a very important decision…