Monday, October 30, 2006

stem cell research

this is in response to:   This may push readers away, but... by Nancyluvspix regarding fetal stem cell research....

I think that one reason fetal stem cell research is opposed by so many is that the very idea and act of abortion is so oppositional.  It's a bridge we would have to cross to say, "well if the baby is going to be discarded anyway"....it's just too hard to do this.  Not that I will ever sit in judgement of a woman who has had an abortion.  Only God knows her heart, her circumstance...and while He would never condone the act, He does love that woman very much.  I also want to be clear that while I oppose abortion, I would never, ever condone the actions of many anti abortionists who have harmed others in their protests.  And in the case of in vitro fertilization,  I believe that life begins at conception, and to deliberately bring a life into being to destroy it in the name of research....I just can't condone.

I think the better alternative is using umbilical cord blood, placentas and adult stem cells.  This has been proven to be effective and has already been used to treat many diseases.  Embryonic stem cells have yet been used to treat the first disease....yes....it might be said that its because of the opposition to the research...but there has been research for both, and it is documented that its the adult stem cells where there has been success.  I know that depending on the prevailing beliefs of the one doing the research, data can be found to support either side.
 
I am a nurse and have experience in Labor and Delivery.  That's where I worked during both of my pregnancies. I worked the night shift...one night we had no patients...I was 12 weeks pregnant, and we got the bright idea to hook me up on the sonogram machine we had just gotten in the department.  I was amazed.  At 12 weeks we were looking at a little baby....she was moving all around, and at one point, she startled...throwing out all limbs....you could actually see all fingers and toes!  Never again did we see all of her, but I think at that particular time, she was small enough that we got her whole image on the screen.  I'm telling you this because it's at 12 weeks that a lot of abortions are performed.  I believe that if mom's could see what that little fetus really looked like at that stage, there would be fewer abortions.
 

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well said & well written, Gina~
Marie

Anonymous said...

I agree with you Gina..a very good entry. Bam

Anonymous said...

I agree totally too Gina. Jeannette xx  http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels/

Anonymous said...

Very good post, Gina... I wasn't wanting to really get into the idea of abortions and invitro...but I guess my entry demanded it.   Your point is a good one...and I'd still hang out with you any day!

Nancy
http://journals.aol.com/nhd106/Nancyluvspix/entries/2006/10/29/trying-to-be-happy/1300

Anonymous said...

Perfect post.
~Meg

Anonymous said...

Agree with you on that point. Was reading just today that they had managed to culture livercells out of stemcells obtained from umbilical cord blood. It is an ethical minefield, and it requires some careful deliberation - not grandstanding by various lobbygroups who only want one extreme or the other.

http://journals.aol.co.uk/pharmolo/NorthernTrip

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting your view point. I enjoyed reading it. I could relate to the feeling you must get when seeing the 12 week sonogram knowing that is the age of many fetal abortions. I'm still a bit stuck in the middle of the abortion issue; it seems to me that people who don't want children make lousey often neglectful or abusive parents so I'm not sure it's a bad idea that they don't have children. Then again what happened to birth control? Again thanks for sharing. Blessings, Sassy ;-)

Anonymous said...

The tiny baby heart begins beating at day 21.  So amazing is human life.  I am in 100% agreement with you on all counts.

Anonymous said...

I came over to check out Bam's 6 pics and am glad I did. I feel you stated your feelings about abortion in a very sensitive way. I was so glad to read, as this is such a difficult issue.  I am coming backwhen I have more time and can see the photos that Bam recommends.    Gerry

Anonymous said...

Great post.  I, too, saw my daughter early on in an ultrasound picture.  It was about at 9 weeks... they had to make sure some spotting I was having wasn't the placenta ripping.  Even at 9 weeks you could see her heart beating.  She most definitely was a life!  
- Annmarie

http://journals.aol.com/SheldonAnnmarie/AnnmariesJournal