Congress: Don't Punish Mothers of Stillborn Children

Amanda Kimbrough was halfway along in her pregnancy when she learned that her fetus had severe Down's Syndrome. She elected to carry it to term, but her child died 19 minutes after birth. Now, Amanda is facing a maximum prison sentence for the alleged "murder" of her fetus.

In 38 out of 50 states, women who have stillborn children face possible feticide charges. At least 21 of these states protect fetuses literally from the moment of conception. In other words, if a court finds that a mother's behavior harmed her fetus, even before she knew she was pregnant, she could be accused of murdering a child.

Although these laws were originally created to protect pregnant women, they are increasingly used to punish mothers for their personal tragedies. The experience of having a stillbirth is devastating enough. Urge representatives of the 38 states to stand up for the rights of pregnant mothers today.