Woman Who Survived Mom’s Abortion Tells Democratic Senators: I Do Exist

A woman who survived her mother’s abortion attempt urged senators Tuesday to pass a bill protecting babies who live through abortions. 

She also said she’s not the only abortion survivor in the U.S.  

“I know of 281 others just like me,” said Melissa Ohden, founder of the Abortion Survivors Network. The actual number, though, is likely “much higher,” she said.

Ohden appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to urge passage of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would prohibit abortion at the point an unborn baby can feel pain. Supporters of the bill say that’s at 20 weeks. The bill also would protect babies who survive abortion. Democrats on the committee oppose it. 

In 1977, Ohden’s mother underwent a saline infusion abortion at age 19 at a hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, when she likely was around 31 weeks pregnant, Ohden said. Ohden’s grandmother forced Ohden’s mom to get the abortion. 

“As the toxic salt solution of the saline infusion abortion was injected into the amniotic fluid surrounding me in the womb, attempting to scald and poison me to death, I wonder how long it took for the pain to set in,” Ohden said. “If you read about it online or in medical journals, you will find children like me called the ‘red skinned,’ or ‘candy-apple babies,’ because that toxic solution would turn the skin…