* Disclaimer * – I try to stay away from politic issues on this blog. I have strong political beliefs, just like anyone else, but I will try to keep those opinions at bay in this post.

“Wiggles” at 16 Weeks

No matter whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, I think you will find this next story pretty disturbing. It belongs in the “too awful to be true” category, and all the reputable news sources (CNN, LA Times, etc.) don’t believe it’s a hoax. And after digging around, unfortunately, I’ve come to the conclusion this story must be true – but I cross my fingers that it is just a hoax.

A Minnesota couple – Pete Arnold and his pregnant wife, Alisha – have started a website called “Birth or Not” (www.birthornot.com), where the general public can go and vote on the outcome of Alisha’s pregnancy. Whatever the general public decides is what the couple will end up doing.

“We meant what we said: your vote will not go unheard,” the couple writes on their website. “By voting on whether to continue or abort an actual pregnancy, you are doing so much more then simply telling an elected representative your feelings. You are actually changing something in the real world.”
What makes the Arnolds’ website disturbing is the fact that they are regularly posting updates and pictures of their baby – ultrasound photos – who they have named “Wiggles.” As of today, November 20, Wiggles is a healthy baby boy at 17 weeks.

According to the couple’s website, December 9th (Wiggles will be 20 weeks old) is the last day that they can legally get an abortion in their state. So their internet poll will remain open until December 7 to allow for the abortion.

The Arnolds have apparently have lost two babies to miscarriage. The other pregnancies ended up in miscarriages due to genetic defaults in the babies. (Pregnancy fact to know – your risk of miscarriage increases with each pregnancy loss that you experience.)

As the time of this writing (Saturday, November 20, 2010), 66.9 percent (129,114) of the website’s visitors have voted for them to give birth, and 33.09 percent (63,852) have voted for the couple to have an abortion. CNN reports that early Friday morning, 81 percent encouraged Alisha Arnold to give birth, and 19 percent voted for an abortion.

You’ve heard my opinions on this. (I work for an OB/GYN and babies and pregnancy are what I love for – so obviously, I am very biased.) What do you think? Does this sound like a reckless and irresponsible way to determine whether or not a pregnancy continues? Or maybe you don’t think so. Sound off in the comments below. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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