In early October, Avery Davis Bell, a 34-year-old geneticist, faced a heartbreaking reality: the pregnancy she and her husband had eagerly anticipated was ending in miscarriage.
Bell, who had been hospitalized in Georgia due to persistent bleeding, and her doctors knew the necessary steps to manage the miscarriage and prevent infection. But there was one major obstacle: Georgia’s restrictive abortion laws. Because of the state’s strict regulations, Bell was forced to wait for treatment that could have been provided immediately in other states or under different circumstances.
Bell’s pregnancy was 18 weeks along, far beyond Georgia’s six-week abortion limit. Doctors could not perform the required procedure—dilation and evacuation—until Bell’s condition worsened, as the state law mandates a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion, except in medical emergencies.
“Had I been in Boston or anywhere else, the procedure would have been done right away,” Bell said. “But because I’m in Georgia, I was stuck in limbo.”
Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, laws governing miscarriage and abortion care have become more complicated, and in some cases, more dangerous. While many miscarriages are managed without medical intervention, Bell’s situation required medical procedures that are also used in abortions.
Thirteen states, including Georgia, now have near-total abortion bans. This has meant that many women experiencing miscarriages or pregnancy complications are left without timely care. In Bell’s case, the fetus was not viable, but because it still had a heartbeat, medical professionals were restricted in their ability to intervene.
Bell, a former Boston resident who moved back to Georgia with her husband to be closer to family, had already experienced one miscarriage in the past. This pregnancy was especially significant to her, as she and her husband had been thrilled to be expecting a second child. By September, Bell had begun experiencing complications. Doctors diagnosed her with a subchorionic hematoma, a condition causing bleeding between the uterine wall and the amniotic sac. While this condition often resolves on its own, Bell’s case worsened, and by early October, her bleeding became more severe.
On October 17, Bell was told by her doctor, who had delivered her first child, that her pregnancy needed to end. At 18 weeks, the fetus had no chance of survival outside the womb. Bell’s doctor, who had hoped for a different outcome, called in a specialist to perform the dilation and evacuation procedure, but the procedure could not be scheduled immediately.
“I was devastated,” Bell recalled. “I knew the baby couldn’t survive, and yet, I had to wait.”
Georgia’s abortion law, which criminalizes abortions after six weeks unless it is necessary to save the woman’s life or prevent severe health risks, left Bell and her doctors in a difficult position. Despite the urgent need for medical intervention, the law dictated that Bell wait 24 hours before the procedure could be performed.
The delay was not only physically taxing but emotionally draining. Bell described the experience as being “in limbo,” knowing that her fetus was dying but unable to receive immediate care.
“They were telling me I had to wait,” Bell said. “I couldn’t understand why. It was just so painful to sit there, knowing that something could go wrong at any moment.”
Bell was eventually transferred to another facility where the procedure could be performed, but she had to wait again, enduring both physical pain and emotional distress. It wasn’t until tests showed a dangerous drop in her hemoglobin levels that doctors were able to move forward with the surgery.
By the time Bell received care, she was relieved but also angry. “I’m grateful for my doctors, but this law made it harder for them to do their jobs,” she said. “They had to follow rules that are completely disconnected from medical reality.”
Doctors in Georgia are required to navigate a complex legal framework when providing care, often putting them in the position of choosing between the law and what’s best for their patients. Bell’s experience is not unique. Since Texas implemented its abortion ban in 2021, maternal mortality rates have risen significantly, with a 56% increase in maternal deaths between 2019 and 2022.
Dr. Sarah Prager, a fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, condemned laws like Georgia’s for putting women’s health at risk. “It’s cruel to prolong this suffering for no reason other than politics,” Prager said. “The law is not grounded in science, and it jeopardizes women’s health.”
For Bell, the emotional toll of the experience is only beginning. She is still recovering physically, having required an iron infusion after the surgery. While she is grateful for her doctors’ support, she remains frustrated that her care was delayed because of state laws. “This should never happen to anyone,” she said.
Despite the pain and loss, Bell and her husband are determined to try again for a child in the future. But the frustration and anger over Georgia’s laws remain.
“It’s one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to go through,” Bell said. “And adding this law on top of it only made it worse.”
She expressed concern for others who might not have the same support or medical knowledge to advocate for their care in Georgia. “I was able to fight for myself because of my background in science,” she said. “But not everyone has that advantage.”
Bell hopes her story will shed light on the challenges women face under restrictive abortion laws. “No one should have to go through what I did,” she said.
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