Andrea Minichini’s son, Gabriel, is one of 78 babies born since the first abortion pill reversal was performed in 2007. Another 49 women are still pregnant with babies saved from medical abortion.
At a press conference at 10 a.m. Feb. 23 in the Zenger Room at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Ms. Minichini will describe how progesterone injections saved Gabriel’s life.
The press conference is being sponsored by Priests for Life and the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetrician-Gynecologists to call attention to the life-saving procedure and to an “RU-486 Reversal Kit” available to physicians.
Since Dr. Matt Harrison, medical advisor to Priests for Life, did the first reversal in 2007 – relying on prayer and a deep understanding of the way mifepristone works – 223 reversals have been attempted, with 127 babies already born or on their way.
Noting that one-quarter of abortions now performed before eight weeks are medical abortions, Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, said it’s vital for women and doctors to know that reversals are possible and often successful.
Last year, Ms. Minichini sat in a Planned Parenthood exam room in New Jersey knowing she didn’t really want to swallow the deadly pill in her hand.
The doctor chided her that the pill was expensive and would melt if she didn’t take it soon. This doctor repeated what she and her boyfriend told themselves: This was not the right time for a baby.
She swallowed the pill and went home with a second pill, misoprostol, that she was to take 24 hours later.
“I waited the 24 hours, and then I went to the emergency room,” desperate to find a way to save her baby. Hospital personnel said her baby would be born “deformed” if she didn’t complete the abortion. She called two ob-gyn doctors, including her own, but neither could help her.
By then she had started to bleed. She thought it was too late, but a Google search led her to a story about a woman in California who had a child after a reversal. That led her to a 24-hour hotline (877-558-0333), and a nurse there connected her to a doctor in New Jersey. The doctor gave her progesterone injections to counteract the mifepristone, and monitored her throughout the pregnancy.
Gabriel David was born Dec. 31, 2014, two days before his due date and weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces.
“Abortion supporters like to say that women who choose abortion have made well thought-out decisions. The reality, however, is that those going into abortion facilities are filled with doubt and ambivalence,” Father Pavone said. “It’s important for those who take the deadly RU-486 drug to know that there is time to save the baby if they have a change of heart. And it’s important that doctors know this simple protocol is available.”
Mothers and doctors looking for more information may go to www.AbortionPillReversal.com
The National Press Club is at 529 14th St NW in Washington, D.C.
