Is Plan B Abortive?

I was recently shown a video which claims that Plan B is not abortive. I was intrigued as I had understood that Plan B was abortive. The video clearly makes the claim (2:10-2:25) that Plan B does not stop implantation and is therefore is not abortive.

I did a quick search to see what I could find. Within 5 minutes I had looked up Plan B's website and the FDA's and found the following information.

The third FAQ on Plan B's website is  "How does Plan B work?" Here is the response they give.

 "Plan B One-Step® is one pill that has a higher dose of levonorgestrel, a hormone found in many birth control pills that healthcare professionals have been prescribing for several decades. Plan B One-Step® works in a similar way to help prevent pregnancy from happening. It works mainly by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary. It is possible that Plan B One-Step® may also work by preventing fertilization of an egg (the uniting of the sperm with the egg) or by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb)."

Stop. Read that last sentence again.

"It is possible that Plan B One-Step® may also work by preventing fertilization of an egg (the uniting of the sperm with the egg) or by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb)."

"OR by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb)."

That last sentence there is key. Stopping implantation (which the video says it does not do) the makers says it can do. Folks, that's an abortion because it's preventing the fertilized egg (conceived human) from attaching to the uterus where it would continue to receive adequate nutrition that is necessary for life.

What does the FDA say?

Under question #4 "How does Plan B work?" they say essentially the same thing as the manufactures. The only difference is that they add that if implantation has already happened, Plan B will not end that pregnancy. That's great, but it still could end a pregnancy by stopping implantation if its hasn't yet occurred.

"Plan B works like a birth control pill to prevent pregnancy mainly by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary. It is possible that Plan B may also work by preventing fertilization of an egg (the uniting of sperm with the egg) or by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb), which usually occurs beginning 7 days after release of an egg from the ovary. Plan B will not do anything to a fertilized egg already attached to the uterus. The pregnancy will continue."

It appears to me that the makers of the video blatently lied. I really hate saying that because I certainly don't want to accuse anyone of intentional misinformation. If it's not lying than it is certainly poor and sloppy research. Like I said, it took my no more than 5 minutes to check those two websites (primary sources) and find information that directly contradicted the video's claim. Sloppy research isn't much better than lying, especially when lives are stake.

You can watch the video for yourself below.

I will say that I do find it interesting that the video claims that since Plan B does not prevent implantation, Plan B is not abortive. IF it was true that implantation could not be stopped after conception, then I would agree with them. What the video is admitting by that statement is that life begins at conception.

Chocolate Chip Scones

My first attempt at scones ... and other than me making them twice as big as I was supposed to, they turned out pretty well. =) You could make a glaze to put over them if you wanted them a little sweeter, but we opted for the "healthy" version, sans glaze. I found the recipe on the Incredible Edible Egg.

These are great for breakfast or a not-too-sweet dessert.

What you'll need:

3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter, cold, cut into pieces
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk OR half-and-half

What to do:

Heat oven to 425. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender (and the pastry blender works SO MUCH better if you have one. Otherwise, make do using two forks) until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add chocolate chips; toss to mix. (I forgot to add the chocolate chips until AFTER the ingredients were moistened, oops. Still turned out ok *grin*)

Beat eggs and milk in medium bowl until blended. Add to flour mixture; stir with a fork just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Knead dough a few strokes on lightly floured surface; pat to 3/4-inch thickness. Cut dough into rounds with lightly floured 3-inch cutter (I only had an almost 4-inch cutter, which is why mine turned out almost twice as large); place on greased baking sheet. Gather scraps and repeat to use all dough.

Bake in 425 oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes. (Mine didn't turn golden brown; I just kept an eye on the bottom of the scones and when the edges there started browning I took them out. It was about 10 minutes.) Cool on wire rack. (I made do with my dish drainer! I know, how can I not have wire racks ... but I don't. Figure out what works and use it. ;-) )

So, any ideas how to make the cream that usually accompanies scones? I didn't know how to do that, but really these don't need it.


PS - if you want a glaze, melt some margarine in the microwave and then add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. 

Egg Drop Soup

This is a really yummy perfect-for-a-cold-day super easy recipe. Its also easily doubled, tripled, quadrupled, etc.

For 2 servings:

What you'll need:
1 large can of chicken broth (49 oz)
2 eggs
pinch or two of marjoram
few shakes of garlic powder (cover the surface area of the pot)
few shakes of onion powder (cover the surface area of the pot)
about twice as much ginger powder
not quite twice as much white pepper
chives (optional)
starch or flour (optional)

What to do:
Empty can of broth into pot, add all seasonings except chives. Bring to a roiling boil. You can let this boil as long or as short a time as you want/need. The longer it boils, the more the flavors are incorporated. I had mine on medium heat for probably 10 minutes before I cranked it up to high to let it boil for about 20 minutes.

Mine achieved a richer color after boiling so long and a fantastic flavor. Make sure to stir a few times during boiling, just to make sure the seasonings didn't get pushed up the side of the pot.

Meanwhile, beat the two eggs very well. You want to try and make sure that when you lift up with a fork through the eggs that hardly any of the egg offers resistance.

I added chives in about 5 minutes before I added the eggs. I didn't add them at the beginning because I thought they might just disintegrate (Hubby was working late and I wasn't sure when to expect him when I put the pot on).

I always need a helper for this last step - only because I don't have three hands and it is MUCH easier to have a helper than rig up a contraption like I did the first time I made this! With practive you can probably eliminate the need for a helper, but it doesn't hurt.

When you are ready to add the eggs (this is LITERALLY the LAST step before the soup is ready to be served) cut the heat off the stove and remove your pot from the heat. Have your helper hold a fork a few inches above the pot. Then pour the eggs from the bowl they were beaten in into the pot WHILE you are stirring the soup. The egg cooks instantly.

If you have practive and have beat the eggs well enough you can likely pour the eggs into the pot slowly enough that only a tiny trickle comes out at a time. The fork serves to help the egg get into whisps, instead of their being glops of egg in the soup.

If you want to make your soup a little thicker you can add some starch or flour, but it isn't necessary.

Bon Appetit!