South Dakota is the twelfth state to require that woman seeking an abortion be offered the chance to view an ultra-sound image of her child inside. Kyle Holt, Legislative Director of South Dakota Right to Life says passage wasn’t easy.

"It was definitely a battle; a lot harder fought than we would like to see for something we feel is so common sense here in South Dakota."

Mary Spaulding Balch of National Right to Life says the effect of a mother seeing a picture of the child she is carrying, is being tracked in Idaho and Minnesota.

“The evidence is that once they see that living human being, that it’s hard for them to choose abortion.”

The technology has advanced to where the image can be three-dimensional. Julaine Appling of Wisconsin Family Council says it changes many a woman’s mind just before her baby is killed.  

“The likes of Planned Parenthood they actually freak when they think about this idea of ultra sound.” 

And so they should.  With ministries like Option Ultrasound actively providing machines to pregnancy resource centers from Focus on the Family, the rush toward abortion is slowing.

“The use of ultra sound in abortion facilities, and in our crisis pregnancy centers, is probably the key was that we have now to reduce abortions.” 

Because abortion has a lasting effect, the mother should have all the facts.