Republicans in the Florida Legislature are fast-tracking a 15-week abortion ban over the objections of activists and medical professionals.

Last Thursday, students activists chanted "Let us speak," after the committee chairperson, Rep. Bryan Avila - R-Miami Springs - cut off public comment to give committee members time to debate.

The bill was approved on a party-line vote. It states a "physician may not perform a termination of pregnancy if the physician determines the gestational age of the fetus is more than 15 weeks."

Dr. Guy Benrubi, a Jacksonville-based obstetrician and gynecologist, said the rule is problematic for a number of reasons.

"We have some women that only have three cycles a year," said Benrubi. "How is this woman doing to know that she hasn't had a cycle this month because she's pregnant? And, you know, 15 weeks is three-and-a-half months. She may not have a period during the three-and-a-half month period."

The ban includes an exception if the pregnant person's health is at risk, but there are no exceptions for rape or incest.

The legislature has a GOP majority and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has already signaled his support for the ban. The bill has one final committee stop this week before a House vote.

Dr. Benrubi predicted if the bill becomes law, it would have the most impact on the state's most vulnerable populations - including some who would have to drive up to 570 miles to the nearest clinic.

"Worst impact for women of color, for women who do not have a lot of resources, for rural women," said Benrubi, "because its difficult to get to providers. There are not that many providers in the state, and there are a lot of counties that have absolutely no providers."

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Florida issued this statement: "Like all medical matters, decisions regarding reproductive medical care should be made between a patient and their health care provider - not lawmakers."

The bill's next hearing is Wednesday in the Health and Human Services Committee.

Support for this reporting was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Abortion rights advocates in Kentucky are concerned as the Department of Health and Human Services has revoked a policy requiring hospitals to provide abortion care in emergency situations.

Known as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, the rule offered federal protection for the procedure, particularly in Kentucky and other red states with near total abortion bans.

Tamarra Wieder, Kentucky state director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, said stripping away protection will be catastrophic for women in rural counties who already face barriers to care.

"We know in a state like Kentucky that people have already turned up at emergency rooms because of our abortion restrictions," Wieder pointed out. "Doctors have been forced to wait until patients were at life-threatening situations, sepsis, hemorrhage, before they are able to provide care."

According to the National Institutes of Health, pregnancy complications are the fifth-most common reason women of reproductive age visit the emergency room.

Weider added rural communities across the Commonwealth suffer the nation's worst family planning and sexual health outcomes and continue to struggle with access to safe and convenient obstetric and reproductive health care.

"I think it's really important to note that 57% of Kentucky's rural hospitals no longer offer obstetric services, 57%," Weider emphasized.

Kentucky's Human Life Protection Act, passed by lawmakers in 2019, banned all abortions except to save the life of the mother and it went into effect immediately after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The same year, voters in the Commonwealth rejected a ballot measure which would have amended the state constitution to explicitly deny the right to an abortion.

Arizona doctors have filed a lawsuit to overturn a set of restrictions which they argue interfere with access to abortion care. Arizona voters last year passed Proposition 139 which enshrined the fundamental right to an abortion, up until fetal viability, in the state's constitution.

Gail Deady, senior attorney, Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing some of the plaintiffs in the case, explained that the abortion rights that were secured because of the measure do not go into effect automatically, and existing laws that limit access must be challenged before they can be struck down under Prop 139.

"This lawsuit is intended to honor the will of the voters and it looks to strike down the most onerous abortion restrictions that are currently on the books in Arizona," she said. "The theory behind this case is that these restrictions do not have any medical basis, they do not make abortions safer."

Deady explained that some of the restrictions include forcing doctors to turn away patients if they suspect a fetal genetic diagnosis is the reason for a patient seeking care, requiring patients to wait at least 24 hours before obtaining abortion care, and banning the use of telehealth for abortion. Mailing abortion pills - like mifepristone - is also prohibited. Conservative, anti-abortion advocates have expressed support for the restrictions, its's unclear if they'll oppose the lawsuit.

Deady argues many Arizonans are facing negative consequences as a result of the laws. She adds that it also means a delay in receiving the care most Arizonans supported last year, and added that Arizona has what she calls a "two-trip" law which requires patients make two separate visits to a clinic.

"Just to hear mandatory, state-scripted information about abortion that often is not medically correct, it spreads misinformation and is designed to make people feel ashamed of the decision that they've made which has now been recognized as a constitutional right in Arizona," she explained.

Deady said her organization is currently advocating for the restrictions to be blocked during litigation. The state attorney generals' office is currently examining the complaint.

Perinatal experts said postpartum depression is more common than most people think and those covered by Medicaid are at higher risk.

Two of every five mothers who give birth in Wisconsin are covered by BadgerCare. Federal data show up to 50% of postpartum depression cases are undiagnosed because of the stigma surrounding symptoms.

Jennifer Davis, chapters and international affiliates director for the nonprofit Postpartum Support International, said the condition presented differently for her after both of her pregnancies with symptoms of overwhelming worry and anxiety after her daughter's birth and depression after having her son.

"Crying at night, almost all the time, regretting this decision, feeling emotionally disconnected, but still outwardly smiling," Davis recounted. "Now I really am back in this place of 'I can't share this. I cannot share that I questioned why I had my son.'"

Federal data show the prevalence of postpartum depression is higher among those on Medicaid with an increased likelihood for treatment in Medicaid expansion states. Wisconsin is one of only two states yet to expand Medicaid coverage, although it recently passed legislation to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage from 60 days to a full year.

Even though up to 85% of women experience mood changes in the first few days to weeks after delivery, postpartum depression and anxiety can take months to emerge and involve symptoms lasting longer than two weeks that interfere with daily life.

Jennifer Davis noted she suffered alone after both of her pregnancies but found hope in connecting with like-minded people though Postpartum Support International.

"The weight that lifted off of me first, just knowing that other people are going through this and I am not alone," Davis explained. "Even though we don't talk about it a lot, this is very normal, and that there are so many ways and strategies that you can seek help and support when you are in the midst of it."

Wendy Davis, president and CEO of Postpartum Support International, said even if people are not comfortable speaking with their family, friends or providers, they can utilize resources such as the nonprofit's helpline to get connected with volunteers and resources in their community.

"One thing we know for sure is that families and even health care providers don't know enough about the resources," Davis observed. "That doesn't help a new mom who doesn't even know she has something called postpartum depression or that she could reach out and get support for free."

Common signs of postpartum depression include anxiety, sadness, anger and irritability, difficulty sleeping, and intrusive thoughts, which can include thoughts of harming your baby. Research shows a 98% recovery rate with treatment.


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