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Post-Abortion

Abortion

You think you are pregnant. You may have feelings of fear and confusion. You are about to make a life-changing decision. By law you are entitled to be fully informed of the risks and procedures of choices that are available to you. There are other options besides having an abortion, and there are people who care about you and the new baby inside of you that would like to help you through this important crisis in your life.

Normal States of Fetal Development (22)

Day 1:

Fertilization occurs.

7 Weeks from Conception

Day 5-9:

Embryo implants in uterus.

Day 21:

Human heartbeat starts.

Day 30:

Human anatomy develop.

Day 40:

Brain waves can be detected.

6 Weeks:

Brain begins to control muscles.

8 Weeks:

Every organ system is present. Feels pain and responds to touch.
Sucks thumb. Grasps an instrument placed in his/her palm.
Swims with a natural swimmer's stroke. (23)

12 Weeks:

Baby has sleep/wake cycle, digests food, has vocal chords and cries.

Should I worry about having an abortion?

Abortion is not just a simple medical procedure. It is not a "magic cure" for the crisis you are facing. Having an abortion has significant physical, emotional and spiritual consequences. Often, women who have had abortions wish that they had been told about all of the facts of abortion.


It doesn't feel like I have another option.

There are many reasons why you may feel trapped into making the decision to have an abortion, but please remember that this is YOUR decision. If you are feeling pressured, then do some more research into the short and long term effects of an abortion. Talk with women who have had abortions and women who chose not to.

We care about you and the life of your baby. Please call, stop by or if you would like someone to talk to.


When are abortions performed?

Under the Supreme Court's decisions in Roe vs. Wade, Doe vs. Bolton and Planned Parenthood vs. Casey, abortions may be performed for any reason up until about 24 weeks (6 months) of pregnancy, and for any reason relating to the mother's physical or phsycological health thereafter.


What are the risks of abortion?

There are some possible side effects of abortion, such as cramping and abdominal pain, nausea and vomitting and diarrhea. Usually, no serious complications occur. However, they may happen in as many as 1 out of every 100 early abortions and in about 1 in every 50 later abortions.

Complications include the following: (17)
• is a widely used term for emotional problems, which is proposed as a subset of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A woman often experiences feelings of fear and pain after having an abortion. She is torn between trying to put the event behind her and expressing her true feelings.
• Heavy bleeding if the uterine artery is torn
• Infection if bacteria gets into the uterus from an incomplete abortion
• Incomplete abortion if some fetal parts are not removed
• Allergic reaction to drugs (the anesthesia used during the abortion surgery)
• Tearing of the cervix from abortion instruments
• Scarring of the uterine lining from abortion instruments
• Perforation or tearing of the uterus from abortion instruments
• Damage to Internal Organs from abortion instruments
• Death in extreme cases of the above complications. This is very rare and occurs in less than 20 cases per year.


What types of abortions are performed?

Read more about each type of abortion below:

Manual Vacuum Aspiration

• Within 7 weeks after woman's Last Menstrual Period


The cervical muscle is stretched with dilators (metal rods) until the opening is wide enough to allow the abortion instruments to pass into the uterus. A tube (cannula) is then inserted into the uterus and the fetus is suctioned out. (17)

Suction Curettage

• Within 6-14 weeks after the woman's Last Menstrual Period


For this procedure, the cervix is opened with a dilator (a metal rod), then a tube is inserted into the uterus and is connected to a suction machine. The suction pulls the fetus' body apart and out of the uterus. (17)

Dilation and Evacuation

• Within 13-24 weeks after the woman's Last Menstrual Period


This surgical procedure is done after the twelfth week of pregnancy, when the fetus is too large to be broken up by suction. The cervix must be opened wider than on a first trimester abortion, and it is done by inserting laminaria (thin sticks derived from plants) a day or two before the abortion. The fetal parts are then pulled out with forceps. The fetus' skull is crushed to ease removal. (17)

Dilation and Extraction

• From 20 weeks after the womans's Last Menstrual Period to Full-Term


This procedure takes three days. During the first two days, the cervix is dilated. On the third day, the woman is given medication to induce labor. Using ultrasound, the doctor grasps the baby's leg and delivers the baby up until his/her head. Next, scissors are inserted into the base of the skull to create an opening. A suction catheter is placed into the opening to remove the skull contents. The skill collapses and the baby is removed. (17)

RU486, Mifepristone

• Within 4-7 weeks after the woman's Last Menstrual Period


This medical abortion is used for women who are within 30-49 days of their last menstrual period. It generall requires three office visits. The combination of the RU 486 (mifepristone) pills and a second medication called misprostol are what causes the uterus to expel the fetus. (17)

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