Protecting the Unborn Q&A Panel
Dive Into Current Abortion Laws, Practices, & Demographics; and the Need for Compassion & Prayer
Carrie Slaton, Next Step Executive Director
Carrie Slaton, Next Step’s Executive Director, recently had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A panel at Harvest Valley Church in Pleasanton. The purpose was to get educated about this topic, and hear what local pro-life organizations are doing and how they’re impacting the community.
Conversation Overview
The conversation covers several key topics related to the current state of abortion in the U.S.
Carrie discusses the division recent law changes have caused across the country, with some states banning abortion while others, like California, have become destinations for women seeking abortions.
She also covers the abortion pill and the morning-after pill: clarifying the difference between them, outlining the risks and complications associated with the abortion pill, and highlighting the possibility of reversing the abortion pill if the first pill after the first dose.
Pastor Derek Meekins talks with Gabriel Penner of Students for Life and Carrie Slaton of Next Step.
The conversation also touches on changing demographics, with more than half of the women seeking help now being over 30, and why these changes are occurring.
There is a discussion on the importance of compassionate conversation, as demonstrated through the Students for Life outreach efforts, particularly on college campuses, where they engage in meaningful discussions with students about the pro-life message.
Finally, the conversation stresses the importance of prayer and action in supporting pro-life ministries and helping women in crisis, with an emphasis on providing resources and support for those facing unplanned pregnancies.
Journey to Birth
9 Weeks
At the beginning of the 9th week, Olivia has grown from a single cell into nearly 1 billion cells and she is now called a fetus. She sucks her thumb, swallows, grasps an object, touches her face, sighs, and stretches.
11 weeks
At 11 weeks, she is playing in the womb, moving her body and exploring her environment.
12 Weeks
Her taste bud cells have matured by week 12 but are still scattered throughout her mouth.
14-18 Weeks
Her mother will first sense Olivia's movements between 14 and 18 weeks, an event called quickening beginning at 18 weeks.
20 Weeks
Ultrasounds show speaking movements in her voice box around 20 weeks. With a lot of help these babies have survived outside the womb.
27 Weeks
At 27 weeks, her eyes are responding to light she can recognize her parents' voices and will even recognize lullabies and stories
38 Weeks
Olivia has gone on an amazing journey during these last 9 months. She will soon signal to her mother that it is time for delivery and greets the outside world!
Transcript
This transcript is edited for clarity.
Q: Carrie, what has changed in the nation since Roe v. Wade was overturned?
Carrie:
It’s probably no surprise that when Roe was overturned, it created division in our country. Many of us celebrated, but many others did not—and we’re still seeing that division today.
Currently, there are about 14 states with abortion bans, meaning it’s illegal to get an abortion there. The remaining states have various restrictions: some ban it after 6 weeks, others after viability, which is typically between 24 and 26 weeks. So across the U.S., we have a wide range of laws and regulations.
Here in California, the overturning of Roe didn’t change much. Abortion was already legal, and now we’ve essentially become a destination for abortions. After the decision, Governor Newsom even put up billboards—not just in California, but in states where abortion is banned—inviting women to come here. California offers not just the abortion but assistance like ultrasounds and even travel help.
So, while abortion numbers have decreased in the states where it's banned, they’ve actually increased in states like California. We’re now receiving women from those restrictive states.
I know this can make us angry—and it should—but we have to turn that into prayer. There are too many good people and prayer warriors in this state for us to lose hope. We can be part of the change.
Q: We’ve also been hearing a lot about the abortion pill. What is it, and what’s going on with that?
Carrie:
Great question, and it’s one I get asked a lot. First, let me clarify: the abortion pill and the morning-after pill are two very different things.
The morning-after pill is emergency contraception. A woman can take it within 72 hours after sex to help prevent pregnancy. It works similarly to birth control.
The abortion pill, however, is for women who are already pregnant. It stops an already-confirmed pregnancy from continuing.
The abortion pill actually involves two medications:
The first pill blocks progesterone, a hormone the baby needs to grow. Without it, the pregnancy ends.
The second pill, taken 6 to 48 hours later, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. This part typically happens at home.
The abortion pill is approved for use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. In states where abortion is banned, women are now ordering it online and receiving it by mail—without ever seeing a doctor in person.
This raises serious concerns. For example:
How does a provider know she’s under 10 weeks without an ultrasound?
How do they confirm it's a viable pregnancy (with a heartbeat)?
What if it’s an ectopic pregnancy, which is life-threatening and can’t be resolved with the pill?
These questions often go unanswered, yet the pills are still being sent out.
Now, more than 50% of all abortions in the U.S. are done this way—through what they call “medical abortions.” It’s being marketed as a simple solution, but it's not without risks.
Q: What are some of the health risks women face with the abortion pill?
Carrie:
One major risk is incomplete abortion. If the body doesn’t fully expel everything, it can lead to infection or other serious complications. Some women end up needing a surgical abortion afterward to finish the process.
Also, the further along the pregnancy is, the more traumatic it can be—especially at 10 weeks. This isn’t just a clump of cells. As we saw in Olivia’s story, you’re talking about a recognizable baby. It’s deeply emotional and can be physically painful.
Q: Is there any hope for a woman who regrets taking the abortion pill?
Carrie:
Yes—absolutely. In Jesus, there is always hope.
Medically speaking, if a woman takes the first abortion pill and then regrets it before taking the second, she may be able to reverse it. There’s an organization called the Abortion Pill Reversal Network. They’ll connect her with a medical provider who can prescribe high doses of progesterone—essentially reversing what the first pill did.
This reversal protocol has a 66% success rate when started promptly. We have more info about this at our table, and we always make sure to inform our clients about this option.
This is why we’re sharing all of this—education is key. A few years ago, most of us didn’t even know abortion pill reversal existed. But now, we can be equipped to help someone in need. If someone says, “I’ve already taken the pill—it’s too late,” you can respond with, “No, it’s not too late. There’s still a chance.”
Q: Carrie, what’s the age range of your clients, and why do you think that is?
That's such a good question—and one we get a lot! People are usually surprised by the answer. When most folks think of an unplanned or unexpected pregnancy, they assume it's teens or maybe someone in their early 20s—maybe a college student who made a mistake. And that was our primary demographic back in the '80s when pregnancy centers first started popping up.
But today, things have shifted. More than 50% of our clients are over 30 years old. About 26% are between the ages of 25 and 29. And less than 10% of our clients are teenagers.
Now, I don’t have hard statistics to explain this shift, but I do have a theory. Our younger generation is very used to immediacy—they’re used to finding instant solutions. They face a problem, they Google it, and they get a quick fix. And unfortunately, that mindset gets applied to something as serious as an unexpected pregnancy.
So what happens? They search online, and the first result is usually Planned Parenthood. And while we also do online advertising to try to reach them first, Planned Parenthood often appears right at the top. Their messaging is simple: “No problem, just take a pill and it’ll all go away.”
Meanwhile, the older generation tends to be more contemplative. We slow down, we think through our decisions, we consider the consequences—and that’s exactly what we encourage our clients to do. Take time. Think. Every decision has consequences.
Also, many of our clients are not facing their first pregnancy. They might already have one or two children, and now they’re pregnant again—maybe with financial stress or insurance concerns. That’s where we come in. We help fill the gap with support and resources. We remind them: You have options. You’re not alone. There are people in your community who want to walk alongside you.
Q: What’s it like being on college campuses with Students for Life?
Gabriel:
Yeah, I get that a lot—people wondering how I can go onto college campuses where the environment might seem really hostile to the pro-life message.
And honestly, you're right. It's not always a popular view. But what surprises people is that I actually have a lot of positive interactions and really meaningful conversations. I’ll share a quick story.
I was at CSU Northridge in Southern California doing a tabling event focused on the dangers of Planned Parenthood—specifically, why we should stop federally funding them. If you didn’t know, the federal government gives Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, about $700 million every year. That number shocked me the first time I heard it.
So we had a bright pink display that said “Go Fund Yourself, Planned Parenthood”—kind of cheeky, right? Two girls walked up thinking we were with Planned Parenthood because of the color scheme. They were just looking for free wristbands. I explained who we were, and then I asked if they had a few minutes to chat. They said yes, and we had this incredible conversation.
I shared that 96% of pregnant women who go into Planned Parenthood end up having an abortion, and that while abortion numbers are increasing, all the other services they claim to offer are actually decreasing. We also talked about fetal development and the humanity of the unborn.
They started off pro-choice, but after about 10-15 minutes, they both said, “You know what, this actually doesn’t make a lot of sense anymore.” They agreed that abortion after six weeks felt wrong, and they even said they’d never support Planned Parenthood again. They went from wanting free merch to nearly signing our petition to defund them. Conversations like that happen every day on campus.
And I hope that encourages you—because you probably have friends or family members who don’t fully agree with your views. But people are more open than you think. Their perspectives won’t change if we stay silent.
Let me share one more story.
We were at UC Berkeley this past fall—definitely not a friendly place for pro-life students. We had a good day with lots of conversations. But at the end of the day, some students came by, stole things off our table, and threw them in the trash.
It would’ve been easy to feel discouraged. But instead, we saw it as an opportunity to be courageous. We even wrote an article about the experience, and thousands of people read it on our website. So even those tough moments can turn into something good.
That’s why it’s so important that we keep standing up—even when it’s hard.
Q: How do you address the fear that some women face regarding the complications of having a child?
Carrie:
We meet the woman exactly where she's at, understanding her fear and the root causes behind it. Often, these fears stem from external pressures or misconceptions. It's important to help her feel valued. We believe both lives—mother and child—are valuable, and we emphasize that we are here not just to save a baby but to transform lives through Jesus. We work to understand her story, provide resources, and support. Sometimes, women simply need someone to listen to them. They often face pressure from their partner, family, or even the church, which can sometimes feel judgmental. We strive to create a safe space where they don’t feel shamed.
Gabriel:
Absolutely, that’s beautifully put. It's crucial that we listen first, especially when working with students or women in difficult situations like unexpected pregnancies. A phrase I often remember is, “He who is convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” We need to listen to their fears and validate their experiences before any change can happen. It's about showing care before presenting the value of life, ensuring they know we genuinely care.
Q: What are the alternatives if a woman feels she cannot keep the child?
Carrie:
It's important to acknowledge that all three options—parenting, abortion, and adoption—feel difficult for most women. When we present adoption, the reaction is often, "I could never give my baby away," but we avoid using that language. Instead, we say “make an adoption plan” or “place your baby for adoption.” While it’s a hard decision, we have seen women successfully place their children for adoption, though it’s a difficult journey. It's about helping them see that while it will be challenging, it doesn’t mean their life is over—it just looks different.
Gabriel:
Adoption is not an easy choice, but there are resources that make it more accessible, like safe haven boxes where babies can be anonymously placed in safe locations. It's important for us to be aware of these resources and make them known to those who might need them.
Q: How do you respond to the “my body, my choice” argument?
Carrie:
It's a challenging conversation. "My body, my choice" is often used in the context of personal autonomy, but what we’re talking about here is a second body—a unique human life inside the woman. From a biological standpoint, life begins at conception, and this is a whole, living human being. The debate isn’t about one body but two. Education is key. People, even those who have had multiple abortions, may not be fully aware of fetal development. When I shared that information with one woman who had previously had several abortions, she cried and said she wished someone had told her about the baby's development before.
Gabriel:
Absolutely. A study of over 5,000 biologists revealed that 96% agreed life begins at conception. This scientific consensus reinforces the idea that we're talking about two separate bodies, one of which resides in the other. It’s important to understand that from conception, it’s a unique human life.
Q: How can we support your ministries through prayer and action?
Carrie:
Please pray for divine appointments, that the women who need our services are led to us. We also need prayers for continued resources as we are a 100% donor-supported organization, and we don’t accept state or federal funding. We rely on the generosity of individuals, churches, and local partners. And if you feel called to volunteer, please consider getting involved and helping at Next Step.
Gabriel:
Pray for our student groups across the country, that they can effectively share the gospel of life. Pray for young people who are wrestling with standing up for the unborn and consider starting groups in their schools or communities. We are also fully donor-supported, so continued prayers for support are essential to our mission. Additionally, we ask for prayer against the enemy’s efforts to disrupt our work.
Q: How can we pray for both of your organizations specifically?
Carrie:
Please pray for the women who need our services to find us, and that we can continue to serve them well. Also, pray for volunteers, as much of our work is done by them. We are always looking for more volunteers who can help us meet the needs of those in crisis.
Gabriel:
Pray for the continued growth of our campus groups and for students to have the courage to stand up for the pre-born. Also, consider helping us start groups on your campus or in your community. Lastly, prayer for protection from any efforts to undermine our work is needed, as we face challenges along the way.
See the full replay of this Q&A panel at Harvest Valley Church here.