The hell and chaos of Alabama's IVF ruling

The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter](     February 23, 2024 I had my kid at 34, roughly seven years later than the [average first-time mother](. Some might call that old-ish. But among my friends, that's relatively normal, if not slightly early. So it should come as no surprise that my social circle has a ton of friends who have conceived through IVF. A quick mental tally would guess around 40 percent of our friends with kids. As I slide closer to 40 and consider more kids, I'm firmly aware that IVF may be a serious option for me. It's against this personal experience that Alabama's ruling that embryos are considered children, which cited [biblical scripture and 19th-century law](, genuinely shocked me. We had been warned for years, well before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, that this would happen, that the anti-abortion crowd would go [far beyond abortion rights]( to attack [birth control](, abortion pills, surrogacy, and "fetal personhood." But still, I was stunned reading the news this week. I couldn't help but ask: What would my life look like without the children I know and now love who have been conceived through IVF? How would the lives of our friends be so drastically different without the help of such procedures—procedures that are so physically and emotionally taxing? My colleague Katie Herchenroeder talked to a former IVF clinic worker, who herself successfully conceived through IVF in Alabama, about [the heartbreak of Alabama's ruling]( and the immense challenges ahead for people who will seek IVF out of state. It's a terrific read that hits at many of the [brutal ramifications]( that will come from this ruling. But before I sign off, I want to underscore, for those who may not be familiar, that IVF is already an incredibly difficult process, one in which timing is of utmost importance. I'm screaming for the countless people who have had their journeys completely upended by this ruling. —Inae Oh Advertisement [House Donations Ad]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [“It Broke My Heart”: The Brutal Effect of Alabama’s Supreme Court Ruling on IVF Patients]( A former IVF clinic worker in Alabama, who successfully had a baby through the process, discusses the unprecedented ruling. BY KATIE HERCHENROEDER MOJO MUST-LISTENS BY REVEAL   Mother Jones and The Center for Investigative Reporting have [joined forces](! [Subscribe to the Reveal podcast]( for in-depth investigative journalism at its finest. Each episode brings to light untold stories and critical issues, with meticulous research and compelling storytelling. Stay informed and engaged with the world around you. [Subscribe today]( and never miss an episode of Reveal, where truth and storytelling meet. [Trending] [The GOP border bill would deport families of child migrants]( BY NINA WANG   [The Smirnov affair: MAGA Republicans are useful idiots for Russian intelligence]( BY DAVID CORN   [Soccer fans fought back against private equity and won]( BY TIM MURPHY   [Biden is reportedly considering an asylum restriction from the Trump era]( BY ISABELA DIAS Advertisement [House Subscriptions Ad]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [Meet the religious crusaders fighting for abortion rights]( Christian conservatives worked to topple Roe. Can members of different faiths save abortion access? BY ABBY VESOULIS [Fiercely Independent] Support from readers allows Mother Jones to do journalism that doesn't just follow the pack. [Donate]( Did you enjoy this newsletter? Help us out by [forwarding]( it to a friend or sharing it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755