(The Lion) A newly opened abortion clinic in Chicago is celebrating its expansive abortion offerings “through all trimesters” – up to 34 weeks into the pregnancy.
One of only a couple of clinics in the country to offer such late abortions, Hope Clinic Chicago announced earlier this month that it is open for “abortion care for all trimesters.”
“Hope Clinic is now open in Chicago, IL, expanding our care through all trimesters! (And OMG we couldn’t be more excited,” the clinic posted on its Instagram page. “Everyone deserves access to abortion care, whenever they need it.”
At 34 weeks into a pregnancy, a baby typically weighs 5 to 5.5 pounds and “has a good chance of surviving outside of the womb,” according to the American Pregnancy Association. At this time, “organs are now almost fully mature, except for lungs, and the skin is pink instead of red,” WebMD notes, adding the baby might also have “lots of hair” this time.
Among the clinic’s listed reasons for a late abortion are that patients “learn new info,” such as discovering “fetal anomalies” and that “they just don’t want to be pregnant.”
“You get to change your mind and make decisions that are right for you,” the clinic advises. “And they don’t have to happen on anyone else’s timeline.”
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The Chicago clinic has sparked outrage from pro-life groups who have called out the “brutality” of late-term abortions.
“Almost everyone recognizes the brutality of an abortion that late in pregnancy,” Pro-Life Action League Executive Director Eric Scheidler said, the Chicago Tribune reported. “I think it’s a common ground area we have with a lot of people. As alarming as it is for someone like me who cares about fetal life, life in the womb, and who cares about the fate of women who participate in the demise of their child, on another level I appreciate the honesty and openness. Because it allows us to have a frank conversation about what late-term abortion really is.”
Other pro-life groups have called out Illinois’ vague abortion laws, which do not set a specific time limit for when abortions can be provided. In Illinois, abortions can be done until fetal “viability,” typically around 24-26 weeks, and can be offered past viability if a provider determines it is necessary for the mother’s physical or mental health.
“The overarching issue is that Illinois law is intentionally vague,” Illinois Right to Life president Mary Kate Zander said, according to the Tribune. “Illinois state legislators don’t want to say that third trimester abortion is legal in Illinois … But the reality is, (elected leaders) want women to be able to come to Illinois in the third trimester and get an abortion.”
The public’s view of abortion varies significantly by trimester, 2023 Gallup polling indicates, with 69% of Americans supporting legal abortion in the first trimester while only 22% support it during the third trimester. A majority of Americans – 70% – oppose abortion in the third trimester, which begins at 28 weeks.
Tweet This: A majority of Americans – 70% – oppose abortion in the third trimester, which begins at 28 weeks.
Editor's note: This article was published by The Lion and is reprinted with permission.
