Both Lives

This evening, the House of Lords  voted on the decriminalisation of abortion in England and Wales, Dawn McAvoy, Both Lives UK lead, said:

This is an important opportunity for the US but also the UK to review current practice because both lives in pregnancy matter. The de-medicalisation of abortion via a pills by post system increases risk and also reduces real choices for women. Its implementation has been an example of pro-abortion activism prioritising access and sacrificing care. Their willingness to subvert democratic rights and frameworks, to achieve their goal of unlimited and in effect unregulated use, reveals a zealous dogmatism and callous arrogance that should concern us all.

Rosalie was pressured to take the abortion drug by her boyfriend. This is what is at stake in this case.

Both Lives Podcast - Brand new episode out now! 📣 S2E5 – Pregnancy crises: Is adoption an option? A conversation with Sue Lucas In this episode, Dawn is joined by adoptive mum and co-founder of ASIST, Sue Lucas. In the 1990s, ASIST was set up with a group of adopters, driven by a vision that any woman, could easily access information about baby adoption as a positive and informed choice in the face of an unplanned or crisis pregnancy.The charity went on to work with pregnancy counselling centres, run a helpline and website, and engage with local and national government across political parties. Also in this episode, Dawn and Lisa reflect on an encouraging story from a listener, dive into a lively social media discussion, and share highlights from a busy week of events, revealing a growing desire across the UK for people to be equipped to speak up for both lives in pregnancy. 🎧 Listen now: podfollow.com/1838921586

Doctors recommended killing this baby in an abortion because she has spina bifida. But her parents REFUSED! Doctors warned Bethan and Kieron Simpson to “expect the worst” when their unborn baby was diagnosed with spina bifida. But today their daughter, Elouise, is thriving thanks to a pioneer prenatal surgery that helped to lessen the effects of her disability. The Simpsons, from the UK, learned about their daughter’s diagnosis during a 20-week ultrasound scan. Though Elouise was approaching the point of viability, doctors encouraged her parents to consider abortion. But after learning about a new prenatal surgery, Bethan said the decision was a “no brainer.” “I couldn’t justify terminating a child I could feel kicking." She decided to undergo a new fetal surgical procedure in which doctors repair the unborn baby’s spine in utero. During a four-hour procedure, doctors at the University College Hospital in London worked to close a hole in Elouise’s spine. Though the surgery does not cure spina bifida, it can minimize the effects of the disorder. For Elouise, the surgery was a huge success. She was born on April 1 “kicking and screaming,” her mother. “It’s a miracle, that’s the only way I can describe it. We may have been through a lot, but I’d do it for Elouise all over again in a heartbeat."

Prestigious doctor leaves a crowded room stunned after asking pro-abortion politicians: "If abortion is healthcare, my question is: what disease are you treating?"

This is brilliant news! We welcome this long-awaited and deeply needed step forward at Belfast City Hospital. For too long, mothers in mental health crisis have been separated from their babies, cared for in general psychiatric wards at one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Around 100 women each year in Northern Ireland face this reality. A dedicated mother and baby unit changes that. It means care that recognises both lives, treatment that protects the bond between mother and baby, and the chance to recover and thrive together. For decades, families have campaigned for this. The Health Minister has called it a “significant step forward,” with the aim for the unit to open no later than 2028/29. This is what compassionate, holistic care looks like, supporting women and their babies together. Source: bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

“You cannot rewrite biology…” Who is listening to the voices of children born from surrogacy? Children’s rights as well as needs, must always come before the wants and created “rights” of an adult.

At the current rate of abortion in GB, one baby is lost to abortion every two minutes. One in three pregnancies end in abortion. One boy, one girl, one abortion. These statistics must not be dismissed as numbers on a spreadsheet or points on a graph. They represent real women and real babies, and their impact reaches far beyond individual lives, shaping British society and culture itself. We all deserve better than abortion. The effort to build a society that is truly just, humane, and compassionate must continue - because pre and post birth, both lives always matter.

Don’t be misled - this is a law that requires the tax payer to fund the NHS, to contract abortion providers - including @BPAS1968 to continue to provide a pills by post service that has been proven to enable women to knowingly or unknowingly terminate their pregnancies, at any stage of pregnancy up to birth. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan… And perhaps most horrifically implements a law that says there’s no crime if a baby is aborted, is born alive, then dies naturally or otherwise, and the birth and body is not disclosed. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan… This is not healthcare!

We’ve a lot to learn from Kenya 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

A surrogacy agency that operates across the United States called GestLife is literally offering a commercial warranty on the baby you purchase by renting someone's womb--if your baby dies within the first two years of their life, you can go through the process of surrogacy again for free. You also are eligible for financial compensation if the woman whose body you're renting happens to die while pregnant with your baby. This is not compassion. This is commodification. & it should make you wildly uncomfortable. Babies aren't products worthy of warranty replacements, and women aren't wombs for rent.

“This is a vital and principled ruling. The High Court has confirmed that even where speech is confronting or deeply uncomfortable, the criminal law cannot be used as a shortcut to silence lawful expression on matters of public interest. “David Skinner was targeted for expressing sincerely held Christian beliefs to public authorities about abortion and buffer zones. Today’s judgment reasserts that in a free and democratic society, the answer to speech we dislike is more debate, not criminal prosecution. “This case should act as a warning to police and prosecutors against misusing communications laws to chill political or religious speech. David’s ordeal lasted far too long, and we hope this judgment will prevent similar injustices in future.”

Motherhood changes a woman, it completely alters who we are, what we desire, what we dream of, what we want. To treat it as just another bodily function is truly one of the greatest disservices we’ve ever done to women, and to children.

We face so much pressure to give children everything they need. We are told not to have them unless we can afford all the modern day conveniences and riches. Vacations, top of the line cellphones, games, clothes, technology… But these things do not make children rich, matter of fact many might have all of this and still be desperately poor in what matters. Rather than material things, what children truly need and what we should focus on given them instead is a home, parents who are together, who love one another, who have a strong marriage, a mother and father who raise them. We have been told to ask “can I afford a child?” And we answer it with numbers, but the real question has never been financial, it is something far more costly— it is a home that does not break.

This is not dystopia. This is real. A surrogacy agency, Gestlife, operating across the US (including Florida) and globally, offers a “guarantee”: ➡️ If the baby dies within 2 years… they’ll REPLACE it. For free. We’ve moved from “having a child”… to consumer warranty logic on human life. Miscarriage? Compensation. Death of the surrogate? Compensation. Death of the baby? Restart the program. This isn’t medicine. This isn’t compassion.

Yesterday marked the end of a busy week for the team as we collaborated with friends and allies to host the Churches & Pregnancy Crises Roundtable – Helpful Practice: Responding to Pregnancy Crises and Abortion. As we reflect on the event, we were so encouraged by the depth of conversation, the recognition of need and the desire for the church to stand for both lives in pregnancy. It was particularly encouraging to have those with us who were engaging in this space for the first time. Across London, Belfast, Oxford, and Glasgow, we had the privilege of gathering church leaders and practitioners who left determined to better support women and families. Together, we shared lunch, listened to real stories, asked important questions, and explored what it looks like to respond to this issue in a practical and compassionate way. If you’re a church leader and want to think more about how your church can respond well to pregnancy crises and abortion, we would love to connect. Send us a DM or email stand@bothlives.co.uk to start the conversation 💬

This is our third and final day in London. We’re getting ready for an event for church leaders across four locations; London, Belfast, Glasgow and Oxford. We’re thinking about “Helpful practice: responding to pregnancy crises and abortion”. Walking to the London venue Dawn walked past a graveyard that holds primarily women and children - a graveyard for “the outcast dead”. We live in a very different era where women have much more agency and considerably more rights and legal protections. But women and children remain some of our most vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Society’s version of progress still dehumanises, treats too many as outcasts and often presents death through abortion as the inevitable and best outcome. How the church responds with compassion and mercy, as well as supports both lives in pregnancy and after birth is as important as ever.

Mums know what they want and government isn’t listening!