TEXAS — In the years since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion bans have gone into effect in more than a dozen states. Amid this landscape, some patients and providers have faced challenges when things go wrong in wanted pregnancies.  

Kiersten Hogan is one of those patients. In 2021, she found out she was pregnant. Although unplanned, Hogan welcomed the pregnancy. But her abusive partner did not and insisted she get an abortion. Hogan fled to Texas, seeking a safe place where she could escape her relationship. 

“I completely relocated and changed my life to come here, hoping that I would be surrounded by supportive people,” she said.  

At just 19 weeks pregnant, Hogan’s water broke. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with cervical insufficiency.  

 “They told me when I got there that it wasn’t likely that my son was going to survive, but we were going to do everything we could,” Hogan said. “The nurses did their best to provide me with factual information.”  

Hogan’s hospital visit took place just weeks after Texas’ abortion law went into effect, which bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. 

Hospital staff told Hogan she had to stay on bed rest. She was told, if she tried to leave the hospital, this could be used as evidence she was trying to kill her baby.  

“I was held there for five days to wait for the inevitable death of my son, or birth, or my inevitable, you know, death or sickness, like sepsis. And the whole thing was extremely traumatic,” Hogan recalled.  

Ultimately, Hogan delivered her son, stillborn. The experience took a heavy toll on Hogan and her mental state.  

“I’ll be honest, I immediately had to ask my friends to hold my firearms. And, you know, I immediately sought professional help because I don’t think I ... I don’t think I would have survived that otherwise,” she said.  

Research has shown that up to 55% of women who experience pregnancy loss have symptoms of depression, and up to 27% experience perinatal grief. 

Hogan said in her case, her trauma was compounded by her knowledge that she could have received the care she needed elsewhere. 

She said, “Had I been in a state without these, you know, restrictions and bans, I would not have endured the situation that I had.”  

Hogan was part of a group of women with serious pregnancy complications who were denied abortions in Texas. They filed a lawsuit against the state last year, seeking more specific guidelines on exceptions to the state’s abortion ban. The Texas Supreme Court ruled against the plaintiffs in May, saying the medical exceptions in the law were broad enough. 

Amy O’Donnell, director of communications with Texas Alliance for Life, an anti-abortion group, supports the decision.  

“Texas law allows doctors to exercise their reasonable medical judgment when they are treating a pregnant patient who has a condition that presents a threat to her life, or a threat of substantial risk of impairment of a major bodily function,” she said.  

Donnell acknowledged that some of the plaintiffs named in the lawsuit should have received better care.  

“We do believe that when a doctor needs to intervene to save a woman’s life, that protection does need to be in place,” she said.  

But O’Donnell defends the law as it stands.  

“Despite what they’re saying, that the laws are confusing or that women are being harmed, the law is very clear,” O’Donnell said. 

Regardless of politics, one thing remains clear: the importance of taking care of one’s mental health when navigating these complicated situations.  

“I’m here today making sure that I am advocating for women to have a support group and to have a plan in place just in case something like that happens, because you never know what mental state you’ll be in when trauma knocks at your front door,” she said.  

A good support system can be vital when going through traumatic life events. This can include professionals like therapists as well as trusted friends and family members.  

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or another type of mental health crisis can call, chat or text 988, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7 to connect with a trained counselor for free.