Texas’ strict abortion laws may be contributing to a sudden increase in infant mortality rates, as women are forced to carry nonviable pregnancies to term. Preliminary infant mortality data obtained by CNN reveals that there were 2,200 infant deaths in Texas in 2022, marking a significant rise of 227 deaths, or 11.5%, compared to the previous year. Infant deaths resulting from severe genetic and birth defects increased by 21.6%, reversing a decade-long decline.
The increase in deaths could partially be attributed to the fact that more babies are being born in Texas. A recent report found that the state witnessed nearly 10,000 more births than expected following the implementation of the abortion ban, accounting for an estimated 3% increase in births. However, multiple obstetrician-gynecologists who specialize in high-risk pregnancies argue that Texas’ restrictive abortion laws likely played a role in the spike in infant mortality.
The issue of forcing women to carry out terminal and high-risk pregnancies is at the center of a lawsuit filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights. Several women, who experienced difficult pregnancies or infant deaths shortly after giving birth, testified in court this week. Prior to the recent abortion restrictions, Texas banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, allowing parents more time to gather crucial information about a fetus’s brain and organ development. However, the current ban has limited access to necessary obstetrical care for many women.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are seeking clarification from the courts regarding medical exceptions to the state’s abortion ban. Lawyers representing the state argued that the plaintiffs’ doctors were to blame, alleging misinterpretation of the law and inadequate care for high-risk pregnancies. Experts warn that abortion bans like the one in Texas increase risks for both babies and mothers, with the United States already having the highest maternal mortality rate among wealthy nations.
Healthcare professionals assert that pregnancy can be dangerous, and forcing women to carry non-viable pregnancies to term unnecessarily puts them at risk when it’s evident that the baby will not survive. The vagueness of Texas’ abortion laws leaves doctors uncertain about the healthcare they can provide and forces women into life-threatening situations. The lawsuit seeks to challenge the restrictions and advocate for better access to critical reproductive healthcare.