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Journalist Shares Stunning Photos of Baby Born at 31 Weeks: ‘Hard to Believe Abortion Is Still Legal’

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By Tré Goins-Phillips
Editor

January 24, 2020

Kelsey Bolar, a senior writer for The Daily Signal, the journalistic arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation, posted a then-and-now photo of her infant daughter, who was born last September at 31 weeks.

Bolar shared the pictures to Twitter on the same day as the March for Life, a pro-life rally taking place Friday in Washington, D.C.

This past September, my baby girl was born at 31 weeks. Here’s a picture of us then, & here’s a picture of us now.

It’s hard to believe that at this stage of pregnancy, abortion is still legal in 7 states and the District of Colombia.

This is why I #stand4life & #MarchForLife pic.twitter.com/YjW0Jne4fV

— Kelsey Bolar (Harkness) (@kelseybolar) January 24, 2020

Bolar shared details of her time in the neonatal intensive care unit in an article published last month by The Federalist. Though she said she would never wish a NICU experience on anyone, she and her husband are grateful for the “bonus time” they were able to spend with their daughter, Scarlett Payton.

She’s also thankful for the medical and technological advancements that made her daughter’s survival possible:

It’s scary to think about, but often I do: Had our baby been born 50 or 60 years ago, she might not have made it. But thanks to science, medicine, and modern American free-market health care, by 28 weeks, more than 90 percent of babies survive an early delivery. By 34 weeks, those chances increase to 99 percent.

Scarlett Payton’s birth also reminded Bolar of another reality — the fact that, in seven states and the District of Columbia, abortion would still have been an option for her, legally.

The seven states with no gestational limits on abortions are Alaska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont, as well as Washington, D.C. And last year, New York approved legislation stating women can have abortions at any stage in pregnancy if it’s “necessary to protect the patient’s life or health,” which is a pretty flimsy metric.

She Survived an Abortion Meant to Take Her Life. Here’s Her Story

President Donald Trump, who is pro-life, spoke at the March for Life on Friday, making him the first commander-in-chief in history to attend the event in-person (he addressed the crowed in 2019 via video).

"Every life brings love into this world. Every child brings joy to a family. Every person is worth protecting and, above all, we know that every human soul is divine and every human life born and unborn is made in the holy image of almighty God." pic.twitter.com/JSaBqqJOO4

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 24, 2020

Following the president’s remarks, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), minority whip in the U.S. House of Representatives, contrasted Trump to then-President Barack Obama, who in 2013 became the first sitting commander-in-chief to speak at the Planned Parenthood annual conference.

“Don’t tell me elections don’t have consequences,” said Scalise, urging 18-year-olds at the rally to register to vote. “You know what’s at stake.

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