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'Overjoyed': Women against abortion react to 'fetal heartbeat' bill, share personal stories

'Overjoyed': Women against abortion react to 'fetal heartbeat' bill, share personal stories
YEARS, REPUBLICANS HAVE TRIED TO RESTRICT ABORTION ACCESS IN IOWA. THEY SAY THE LEGISLATURE ASHTON IS NECESSARY TO, QUOTE, PROTECT LIFE. KCCI IS OFELIA JACOBSEN SPOKE WITH THREE WOMEN TODAY WHO SHARED DEEPLY PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT WHY THEY ARE AGAINST ABORTION. SHE’S LIVE AT THE STATE HOUSE TONIGHT. OFELIA. STACEY THE WOMEN I SPOKE TO TODAY SAY THEY’RE OVERJOYED WITH HOW LAST NIGHT’S SPECIAL SESSION PLAYED OUT. THEY WERE HERE AT THE STATE HOUSE AS LEGISLATORS PASSED THIS BILL TODAY, THEY’RE CELEBRATING WHAT THEY CALL A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I’M A MOTHER OF SIX, SEVEN CHILDREN ON THE WAY. MAUREEN EDSON STILL GETS GOOSEBUMPS EVERY TIME SHE HEARS A FETAL HEARTBEAT. HEARING THAT HEARTBEAT FIRST CHILD UP TO SEVENTH CHILD IS IT’S SURREAL. LIKE EVERY TIME THINKING LIKE I HAVE THIS LITTLE LIFE INSIDE ME. HER FAITH AND TITLE AS MOM HAVE GUIDED HER BELIEFS AGAINST ABORTION IN OUR NUMBER SIX HAS DOWN SYNDROME. NO LIFE IS LESS WORTHY BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT THEY WERE CONCEIVED OR THE SPECIAL NEEDS THEY MIGHT HAVE. MAUREEN IS CELEBRATING, OVERJOYED. A HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF AFTER IOWA LAWMAKERS VOTED ON A BILL THAT WOULD BAN ABORTIONS AFTER A FETAL HEARTBEAT IS DETECTED. AND SHE ISN’T ALONE. WE’RE HAPPY TO SEE IT. IT WAS A LONG NIGHT, BUT PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME. KRISTI JUDKINS WITH IOWA RIGHT TO LIFE IS ALSO PRAISING THE BILL, SHARING WHY SHE BELIEVES SO STRONGLY IN IT. BECAUSE A WOMAN WHO HAS HAD AN ABORTION LOOKING AT THAT SIX WEEK ABORTION BAN, IF I WOULD HAVE HEARD THE BABY’S HEARTBEAT THAT WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. SARA I-80 SAYS THE IOWA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE IS HAPPY WITH THE BILL. SHE IS TO. SARAH HAS FIVE KIDS, THREE OF WHICH ARE ADOPTED IN MY CHILDREN. THEY’RE TEENAGERS, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZE THAT THAT PERHAPS IF THEIR BIRTH MOTHER HAD MADE A DIFFERENT CHOICE, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULDN’T BE HERE. ALL THREE WOMEN SAY THEY’RE PRAYING THAT MORE RESTRICTIONS WILL BE PASSED IN THE FUTURE. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THERE WAS THERE’S NO ABORTION AND NO NEED FOR ABORTION. A RIGHT TO LIFE WOULD WANT LIFE AT CONCEPTION. I WOULD LOVE ABORTION AND TO BE NON EXISTING. THE MAIN MESSAGE FROM THESE WOMEN TODAY, THEIR FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER. NOW THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND AWARENESS AND ALSO EXPAND RESOURCES FOR WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT. LIVE AT THE STATE HOUSE, OFELIA
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'Overjoyed': Women against abortion react to 'fetal heartbeat' bill, share personal stories
After a long week at the statehouse, Iowans are reacting to the "fetal heartbeat" bill passed by lawmakers Tuesday. Some are angry with the restrictions, which ban abortions after a cardiac activity is detected. Doctors say that occurs around six weeks.Others are celebrating the bill. KCCI spoke with three women who say they are "overjoyed" by the passing of this legislation. They shared personal stories on why they are against abortion.Meet Maureen EdsenMaureen Edsen is a mother of six, soon-to-be seven. She says she still gets goosebumps every time she hears a fetal heartbeat."Hearing that heartbeat, first child up to seventh child — it's surreal every time thinking I have this little life inside me," Edsen said. Her sixth child, who was born with Down syndrome, is one of the reasons why she believes every life is precious."No life is less worthy because of the circumstance that they were conceived or the special needs they might have," Edsen said. As a Catholic, Edsen's faith has also played a huge role in her guiding her beliefs toward abortion. Edsen was at the statehouse on Tuesday and said she was "overjoyed" by the outcome."It was exciting to find out last night that life was chosen for these babies," Edsen said.Q: What else would you like to see happen with abortion in Iowa?A: "Ultimately, I would love abortion to be non-existing, obviously. But for right now, to help these women out and to be able to help them get to the resources that they need and the truth and to be able to see that life and that heartbeat on the screen. That's all you need," Edsen said.Meet Sara EideSara Eide's advocacy against abortion is rooted in two things: her faith and family. Eide has five children, three of which are adopted."My children, they're teenagers, recognize that perhaps if their birth mother had made a different choice, they wouldn't be here," Eide said. She said abortion is a "personal issue," so much so that she has used her family's story to show what she believes could be an alternative to abortion: adoption. "People don't talk about adoption as much as they used to," Eide said. "We need to start looking at the alternatives to abortion and supporting the moms and promoting adoption. And really addressing some of the economic structures that we have in our society that make it hard for new moms."Eide works as an associate director for the Iowa Catholic Conference. She said the organization is "pleased with this legislation" but believes more work needs to be done."We would advocate for even further protections for the unborn. But we feel like this is this is a great step in the right direction and will really save a lot of babies' lives," Eide said.Q: What else would you like to see happen with abortion in Iowa?A: "We would like to see that there's no abortion and no need for abortion," Eide said.Meet Kristi JudkinsKristi Judkins is the executive director of Iowa Right to Life. Years ago, Judkins had an abortion. It's a procedure she regrets having. She believes if a bill like the one that was passed Tuesday had been passed when she was considering getting an abortion, things would've been different."If I would have heard the baby's heartbeat, that would have made a difference," Judkins said. "I believe for me, I feel like when you hear that heartbeat, I think that there's just something innate in us as women that would impact us."Judkins shared what changed her views on abortion."It was the low point that I had reached in my life," Judkins said when talking about how she felt after getting an abortion. "Suicidal tendencies, drug addiction, severe depression."Her organization is planning to focus on education and awareness surrounding abortion, specifically the science of fetal development. Q: What else would you like to see happen with abortion in Iowa?A: "Our preference would be life at conception, and that's what we've pretty much advocated for along with the Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders. We would want a little bit more but again; you fight the fights that you hopefully can win. And we feel like this is momentum to progressively save babies in Iowa," Judkins said.

After a long week at the statehouse, Iowans are reacting to the "fetal heartbeat" bill passed by lawmakers Tuesday. Some are angry with the restrictions, which ban abortions after a cardiac activity is detected. Doctors say that occurs around six weeks.

Others are celebrating the bill. KCCI spoke with three women who say they are "overjoyed" by the passing of this legislation. They shared personal stories on why they are against abortion.

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Meet Maureen Edsen

Maureen Edsen is a mother of six, soon-to-be seven. She says she still gets goosebumps every time she hears a fetal heartbeat.

"Hearing that heartbeat, first child up to seventh child — it's surreal every time thinking I have this little life inside me," Edsen said.

Her sixth child, who was born with Down syndrome, is one of the reasons why she believes every life is precious.

"No life is less worthy because of the circumstance that they were conceived or the special needs they might have," Edsen said.

As a Catholic, Edsen's faith has also played a huge role in her guiding her beliefs toward abortion. Edsen was at the statehouse on Tuesday and said she was "overjoyed" by the outcome.

"It was exciting to find out last night that life was chosen for these babies," Edsen said.

Q: What else would you like to see happen with abortion in Iowa?

A: "Ultimately, I would love abortion to be non-existing, obviously. But for right now, to help these women out and to be able to help them get to the resources that they need and the truth and to be able to see that life and that heartbeat on the screen. That's all you need," Edsen said.

Meet Sara Eide

Sara Eide's advocacy against abortion is rooted in two things: her faith and family. Eide has five children, three of which are adopted.

"My children, they're teenagers, recognize that perhaps if their birth mother had made a different choice, they wouldn't be here," Eide said.

She said abortion is a "personal issue," so much so that she has used her family's story to show what she believes could be an alternative to abortion: adoption.

"People don't talk about adoption as much as they used to," Eide said. "We need to start looking at the alternatives to abortion and supporting the moms and promoting adoption. And really addressing some of the economic structures that we have in our society that make it hard for new moms."

Eide works as an associate director for the Iowa Catholic Conference. She said the organization is "pleased with this legislation" but believes more work needs to be done.

"We would advocate for even further protections for the unborn. But we feel like this is this is a great step in the right direction and will really save a lot of babies' lives," Eide said.

Q: What else would you like to see happen with abortion in Iowa?

A: "We would like to see that there's no abortion and no need for abortion," Eide said.

Meet Kristi Judkins

Kristi Judkins is the executive director of Iowa Right to Life. Years ago, Judkins had an abortion. It's a procedure she regrets having. She believes if a bill like the one that was passed Tuesday had been passed when she was considering getting an abortion, things would've been different.

"If I would have heard the baby's heartbeat, that would have made a difference," Judkins said. "I believe for me, I feel like when you hear that heartbeat, I think that there's just something innate in us as women that would impact us."

Judkins shared what changed her views on abortion.

"It was the low point that I had reached in my life," Judkins said when talking about how she felt after getting an abortion. "Suicidal tendencies, drug addiction, severe depression."

Her organization is planning to focus on education and awareness surrounding abortion, specifically the science of fetal development.

Q: What else would you like to see happen with abortion in Iowa?

A: "Our preference would be life at conception, and that's what we've pretty much advocated for along with the Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders. We would want a little bit more but again; you fight the fights that you hopefully can win. And we feel like this is momentum to progressively save babies in Iowa," Judkins said.