Baton Rouge Mom Claims She Was Denied an Abortion in Louisiana Despite the Abnormal Condition of Her Baby

Nancy Davis abortion Acrania Abortion in Louisiana

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Aug 17, 10:26 am

Photo: (Photo : FRANCOIS PICARD/AFP via Getty Images)

A Louisiana mom has only a week remaining to make an unthinkable decision. Nancy Davis had to choose whether to carry her baby to term even though doctors told her it would not survive or find another state where she could abort the fetus.

The Baton Rouge native, who is 13 weeks pregnant with her second child, said it was hard knowing she was carrying her baby to bury it. She got her first ultrasound at Woman's Hospital when she was ten weeks pregnant, according to WAFB.

Davis and her boyfriend were both excited to welcome their new child, but they soon learned that the pregnancy would not go the way they planned. She explained that it was an abnormal ultrasound, and doctors quickly noticed that the top of the baby's head and the skull were missing.

Davis' baby diagnosed with acrania

According to Davis, her fetus was diagnosed with acrania. It is a rare and fatal condition wherein the baby's skull fails to form in the womb. Health experts said babies with this medical condition only survive minutes to hours after delivery.

According to Carnegie Imaging, acrania is the absence of a fetal skull with the fetus having freely exposed brain tissue to amniotic fluid. The condition often results in anencephaly, and some doctors believe it is a precursor to all cases of anencephaly. Both can be detected on ultrasound in the first trimester of the pregnancy.

However, she was denied an abortion as doctors deemed Davis's life was not in danger and that the baby's condition does not fall under the Louisiana Department of Health's list of qualifying conditions for such a procedure.

Davis leans on family as she nears decision

Davis is unsure about what to do in the very near future. She is faced with a difficult decision, either to carry her baby to term or cross state lines for her to get an abortion, Yahoo reported. She added that the states she is considering for her abortion are Florida, which is the closest to her, and North Carolina, which would be the next closest place.

Without taking a position on the controversial practice, Davis said she thinks lawmakers in the state need to consider broadening the list of conditions that qualify for abortion in Louisiana. She said she wants them to consider special circumstances related to abortion. She cited her medical problems, saying this one needs to be on that.

Davis said she needs to make a decision fast since other states allowing abortion have cut-off eligibility at 15 weeks. She said her family is sticking close to her and will support whatever decision she eventually makes.

Davis said she is also willing to testify before the legislature to shine more light on this particular issue. A spokeswoman for Women's Hospital said they could not comment on the issue because of patient privacy laws.