Abortions, sterilizations rise in uncertain economic times

Can you even imagine having to decide that an abortion of a wanted pregnancy is the answer if you or your partner lost your job and you no longer have health insurance/

This may sound like an unbelievable choice, but it is one that at least one woman had to make, according to this CBC article, U.S. abortion, vasectomy rates rise as economy falters. How heartbreaking.

I'm not taking sides on whether abortion should be available or not, but I am trying to understand the desperation of someone just to even *think* about such a decision. I like the United States. I love my US friends. But I just really don't understand the issue that makes so many Americans want their medical system stay the way it is, user pay, because it's working for them. It's not working for many, that's for sure.

Vasectomies are also up in times of uncertain economies, but that may have something to do with getting it done before health insurance runs out after a lay off rather than preventing the costly parenting route.

There's no doubt about it. Raising children is expensive. Since the US posted a higher than average baby rate for 2007 (the last year the number are available), I wonder what 2009 and 2010 are going to look like. Babies born early in the year will probably remain unchanged because they may have been conceived before the economic downturn. We'll see.