There are a lot of Americans who mistakenly define a hero as one who risks his or her life and limb so that others might live; for example, the serviceman sweeping the roadside in Iraq or Afghanistan for IEDs. Planned Parenthood Federation of America president Cecile Richards is helping to redefine that limited definition of “hero” by lauding the effort of writer and editor Hayley MacMillen to live-tweet the insertion of her IUD.
ICYMI: @hlmacmillen is a hero and live tweeted her IUD insertion. #HayleysIUD
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) September 15, 2015
Hero? Well, the stunt does give Richards something to tweet about related to actual contraception and not the latest undercover video from the Center for Medical Progress showing the PR concerns of fetal organ harvesting. Speaking of Planned Parenthood, MacMillen’s procedure seems to have been performed at a private clinic, One Medical Group, and not Planned Parenthood — good choice.
We’re not going to reprint every tweet from this hero, but here’s a sample to give an idea of her bravery.
I decided my @yokoono @reprorights tee would be the right thing to wear today #hayleysIUD pic.twitter.com/rd7zmcjKvm
— Hayley MacMillen (@hlmacmillen) September 15, 2015
1) Get into "Pap position." 2) Insert speculum. 3) Clean with a little iodine. 4) Insert stabilizing tool that can cause cramping…
— Hayley MacMillen (@hlmacmillen) September 15, 2015
5) Insert sound to measure depth of uterus (first time something passes through the uterus). 6) Heavy menstrual-type cramping!…
— Hayley MacMillen (@hlmacmillen) September 15, 2015
7) Short break and then… 8) Insertion. 9) MUCH more cramping.
— Hayley MacMillen (@hlmacmillen) September 15, 2015
A gloved hand covered in gel: warm. The metal speculum that follows: cold #hayleysIUD
— Hayley MacMillen (@hlmacmillen) September 15, 2015
String is cut, stabilizing tool is released, and now my little T-shaped friend is in. What a LARC (sorry, had to) #hayleysIUD #teamIUD
— Hayley MacMillen (@hlmacmillen) September 15, 2015
That wasn't so bad. Still headed home to work from bed and hang out with a bottle of ibuprofen for the rest of the day #hayleysIUD #teamIUD
— Hayley MacMillen (@hlmacmillen) September 15, 2015
Only 7 days till I can have unprotected sex*
*with tested/monogamous partners #hayleysIUD #teamIUD
— Hayley MacMillen (@hlmacmillen) September 15, 2015
MacMillen thanked Richards for the kind words and the opportunity to spread the news about long-acting reversible contraception. Twitter turned out to be such a great educational tool that Richards should find someone to live-tweet the mammogram they received at a Planned Parenthood clinic.
Thank you for the kind words! I'm happy to spread the good news about LARC https://t.co/EStBNx58XL
— Hayley MacMillen (@hlmacmillen) September 15, 2015
If pastors are going to insist that the Smithsonian remove its bust of Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger from its “Struggle for Justice” exhibit, they could at least consider a bust of MacMillen in honor of her struggle for insertion.
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