Parental notification

Teenagers are different. They are big and seem mature, but often they are little children and scared. And they have a lot of health problems, which they see their fmaily doc or pediatrician to talk about. Usually we don't tell the parents about this, and sometimes this includes prescribing them birth control.

One thing all too common that we find out is a girl is pregnant. Some of these are picked up at routine screening, but usually they tell their mom they need to see the doctor or they are sent by their moms to the doctor for various things, often "ovarian cysts"; you see, the moms are suspicious (and often phone us telling they are suspicious) and since we routinely screen for last period, and if there is a question, do a pregnancy test, we pick it up.

This leads to a family conference...and discussion of many options...and often referral to a social worker who can explain how to get on welfare, etc. etc. and we arrange prenatal care by the local obstetrician.

The reason that you notify the parents is to have the parents support the girl emotionally if she aborts, and essentially raise the kid until mom finished school if she decides to keep it.

I live in a rural area. The parents usually shrug and say, well we'll help you care for the baby until you are older...

But other times, the upright pillers of society can't stand the stimga and force the girl to abort her child...others can't be bothered raising grandchildren, and bluntly say so...

And sometimes the parents decide the girl is too young, and arrange an abortion for her sake...

But other times, the girl goes elsewhere for advice... once in awhile, these teens panic for fear of telling their parents, and are diagnosed by the school nurse or guidance counseler, who are often feminists and pro aborts...and these "helpful" people arrange an abortion for them...

And some go to Planned parenthood for free tests....Planned parenthood clinics vary. Most clinics are not abortuaries and are good places for teens to get birth control (it's cheaper, for one, and a female nurse does the pap), and when a teen is diagnosed as pregnant, the better clinics actually counsel them the pros and cons, and encourage them to tell their parents...

So the "parental consent" laws are good, no matter what the outcome...
And when the girls grow up, they can blame their parents for the abortion, so the guilt of killing their baby is less...

The real problem is the college aged girls. They have no parents to help, often the boyfriends run away, and their friends all push abortion as "the only way"...noone more coercive in persuading someone to have an abortion as a girl who has had a couple for convenience, and tries to assuage her conscience by "helping" others to do the same...

These are the true diabolical aspects of abortion that need prayer...

You see, most abortions are done in sorrow, as a last resort...

But there is another type: where the mother coldly looks at you and says no matter what I WILL NOT BEAR THIS CHILD...and the hatred and evil makes one's hair stand on end...

But even these respond to prayer...

I once had a girl who came and had a positive pregnancy test...she was one of these women, who just would NOT have the child, even though her grandmother, a Catholic, offered to raise the child...so she went to planned parenthood, and they refered her...but she got busy, and by the time she was at the abortion clinic, she was over 20 weeks...

I didn't know this story until much later.

You see, she had the baby, and indeed lived with grandmom who babysat...and she came in to have a lump checked, and it was Hodgkins' disease...

Perhaps, in ten years after chemotherapy and surgery, and she is cured, she might try another pregnancy...but chances are that this child was the only one she will ever have...

And when I checked with grandmom, she described how she prayed and prayed the rosary when the girl had the appointment with the abortion clinic...and the girl never did get around to going there...despite several appointments.

So do not underestimate prayer.