Abortion

How Abortions are Done

If you are pregnant you currently have the legal option of abortion. It is important for you to understand how abortions are performed and the risk abortion may pose to your health.

Surgical Abortion Methods

Suction Aspiration: The cervix is the donut shaped organ at the entrance of the uterus that holds the baby inside during pregnancy. The doctor will force open the cervix (dilation), and then insert a hollow plastic tube with a knife-like edge into the uterus. The abortionist then scrapes the uterus with this tube, and the unborn child is sucked out by a machine attached to the other end of the tube. Great care must be taken to prevent the uterus from being perforated or torn during this abortion procedure.

Dilation and Curettage or D & C: This abortion is similar to the suction aspiration method except that a curette (loop-shaped steel knife) is used instead of a plastic tube. The unborn child is scraped out instead of sucked out.

Dilation and Evacuation or D & E: This abortion is the same as a dilation and curettage but done after 12 weeks. The unborn child is torn apart, and the pieces are pulled out using a forceps. The fetal head must be crushed in order to pass through the cervix.

The final step of the above abortion methods is for the nurse to reassemble the parts of the fetus on a table to make sure that all of the products of conception have been removed. If any body parts or fragments of the placenta are left inside the woman, she is likely to develop a serious infection.

Medical Abortion Methods

Mifepristone (formerly RU-486) sometimes called The Abortion Pill: First a steroid drug is taken orally which either destroys the placenta or prevents it from being formed. Then a prostaglandin drug is taken to induce the uterus to contract and vaginally deliver the unborn child, who is too young and too small to survive. This combination is called the Abortion Pill.

Prostaglandin: These are drugs which produce labor and delivery at whatever stage of pregnancy they are administered. The mother gives birth to a baby who is so premature he or she cannot survive. Occasionally when this method is used a baby is aborted alive.

Late Abortion Methods

Partial Birth Abortion (D & X): The mother is given drugs to induce labor. The abortionist turns the unborn child so that it comes down the birth canal feet first. When all but the head is delivered, the abortionist plunges a scissors or similar instrument into the back of the neck at the base of the skull, inserts a tube, then sucks out the child's brain to collapse the skull, all with no anesthesia, then completes the delivery of the deceased baby.

Salt Poisoning or Saline Abortion: A concentrated salt solution is injected into the amniotic fluid through the mother's abdominal wall. It takes about an hour for the unborn child to die after his skin has been chemically burned and after swallowing and breathing the salt solution. The mother delivers a dead or dying child about 24 hours later. This method is dangerous and is rarely performed any more.

Hysterotomy: This is a late term procedure. The mother's abdomen is surgically opened as in a Caesarian section. The unborn child is lifted out and left to die. These are rarely performed any longer.

What About A Safe Abortion?

Is there any such thing as a safe abortion? An abortion is an unnatural procedure that invades a woman's body by forcing open the cervix long before it is ready. This can be very painful. Sometimes the cervix is permanently damaged, making it difficult or impossible for the woman to carry a future baby to term. The sharp instruments that are used for abortion can puncture a hole in the uterus resulting in hemorrhaging, infection, scarring, damage to surrounding organs, and infertility. Some women have aborted the only baby they will ever be able to bear. Abortion increases the risk of breast cancer, especially when a first pregnancy is aborted.

Not all abortion clinics adhere to the highest standards of patient care. If an emergency occurs during an abortion, a woman may be taken to the hospital in a private car without the first aid equipment of an ambulance because the clinic does not want the negative publicity of an ambulance at its back door. The hospital personnel are not required to list abortion as the cause of the woman's injuries, so there may be cover up, denial and secrecy surrounding what goes on. Even in women who have no apparent physical damage from abortion there is a high incidence of depression, low self-worth, self doubt, guilt, nightmares, trouble in relationships, and even suicidal thoughts.

If circumstances are making your pregnancy difficult, call Birth Choice and let us relieve and support you. You are not alone. There are many people who care about you and your baby who are willing to stand with you and help you find the courage and resources to give your baby life. Unlike Planned Parenthood clinics, all our services are free.

Here are some of the many ways we can help:

• Pregnancy tests
• Counseling with trained, lay counselors
• Assistance in applying for prenatal care through Medi-Cal or AIM
• Maternity and baby clothes formula and diapers
• Support groups
• Host homes for clients needing housing
• Adoption referrals and counseling
• Medical, financial and legal referrals

After the Abortion

The memory of an abortion never goes away. You live with it for the rest of your life. But there is hope. If you are dealing with the pain of a past abortion, Birth Choice highly recommends two outstanding post-abortion recovery programs in the San Diego area:

• Rachel's Hope, 858-581-3022. Rachel's Hope is especially designed for Catholic women. Visit their website at rachelshope.org.
  
  
• Silent Voices 619-422-0757. Silent Voices has a general Christian approach. Visit their website, silentvoices.org.