13-year-old Rape Victim Forced to Have Baby Amid State's Abortion Ban

In the heart of Mississippi, one of the poorest states in America, life is a daily struggle for many. Regina, a determined mother of three daughters, epitomizes resilience. Holding down a day job while attending nursing school, she manages to keep her family afloat. However, late in 2022, her life took a harrowing turn.

Regina's middle daughter, Ashley, just 12 years old, began to withdraw from her usual activities. Once a lively cheerleader, Ashley stopped participating in her team and avoided going outside. Then came the severe bouts of vomiting. Concerned, Regina took Ashley to the hospital, where their world was upended.

"We took her to the hospital and rushed her in, and they took her to the back… The nurse [was] like, 'You pregnant.' And that's when I just broke down and started crying," Regina recalls. Ashley was 11 weeks pregnant, a result of rape by a stranger in their own yard.

"She's just 12. She don't know nothing about having no babies. Nothing," Regina lamented. Yet, despite the dire situation, Regina was unaware that Ashley qualified for an abortion under Mississippi's law, which allows exceptions in cases of rape. But even with this knowledge, finding a willing physician in the state, where doctors face severe penalties for performing abortions, was another matter entirely..

Ashley, now 13, is the mother of an 8-month-old baby boy, affectionately nicknamed Peanut. Instead of focusing solely on her seventh-grade studies, Ashley's days are now filled with preparing bottles and changing diapers.

Dr. Erica Balthrop, the OB-GYN who attended to Ashley, is haunted by their encounter. "You see this timid little girl -- she's literally a little girl -- and she was like a deer in the headlights. She had no idea what was going on," Balthrop said. "It's sad … I think about a woman -- a girl with no rights of her own, basically. She can't make a decision about her own body."

Regina and Ashley reported the rape, which should have paved the way for an abortion. However, caught in the confusion of conflicting laws and unaware of their rights, they were left without clear options. When Regina inquired about abortion services, Dr. Balthrop mentioned the nearest clinic was in Chicago, a trip far beyond their financial means.

"That's like $800; $1,500 to have an abortion up there. And I'm like, I have to drive, I leave work. I can't afford that," Regina said. With no viable alternatives, Regina decided to homeschool Ashley and kept the pregnancy private.

The accused rapist was apprehended last year, with DNA from the baby confirming his identity. He remains jailed, charged with felony rape. "He took my child's innocence," Regina said, reflecting on the ordeal. "She didn't have to go through this. It's not her time to go through this."

Mississippi is among at least 14 states where nearly all abortion services have ceased following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. In 2023, only four abortions were recorded under the state's exceptions, compared to approximately 3,800 in 2021. The state does not track whether these cases were due to rape.

The broader impact of these abortion bans is staggering. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimates that nearly 65,000 pregnancies across these states may have been caused by rape. Yet, the requirement to report such cases for an abortion leads to significant underreporting.

"The reality is that rapes are underreported… and so when you have a situation where you have an abortion ban that requires a report, women are much less likely to use that pathway to get an abortion when they feel they need one," noted Salganicoff, a health policy expert.

Despite repeated inquiries, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves' office, state lawmakers, and congressional representatives did not respond to requests for comments on this issue. Former President Donald Trump, who played a pivotal role in the overturning of Roe v. Wade, continues to express pride in the outcome. On his social media platform, Trump stated, “After 50 years of failure, with nobody coming even close, I was able to kill Roe v. Wade, much to the ‘shock’ of everyone.”

As Mississippi and other states navigate these stringent laws, the human cost is undeniable. For Regina and Ashley, the struggle continues, embodying the profound personal impacts of legislative decisions on reproductive rights.

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Yvon Lux is the editor of her Apple News channel covering lifestyle news and current events. Her “blogazine” celebrates sisterhood and empowers women by focusing on women’s health, travel, lifestyle, and entrepreneurial news while also sharing the most coveted beauty news and style stories.

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