If you are pregnant you currently have the legal option of abortion. You deserve to know how abortions are performed and the risks they pose to your health. As you can see in the live ultrasound below, this 11 week old baby is very much alive.
How Abortions are Done
Suction Aspiration: After dilating the cervix which is the donut shaped organ at the entrance of the uterus, a hollow plastic tube with a knife-like edge is inserted into the uterus. The abortionist then cuts and scrapes the uterus and the baby is removed by a suction machine attached to the plastic tube. Great care must be taken to prevent the uterus from being perforated or torn.
Dilation and curettage or D & C: This is similar to the suction aspiration method except that a curette (loop-shaped steel knife) is used instead of a plastic tube. The baby is scraped out instead of sucked out.
Dilation and evacuation or D & E: The same as a dilation and curettage but done after 12 weeks. Parts of the baby are dismembered and pulled out by a forceps. The baby’s head must be crushed in order to pass through the cervix.
The final step of the above methods just mentioned is for the nurse to reassemble the parts of the baby’s body on a table to make sure that all of the “products of conception” have been removed. If any baby body parts or fragments of the placenta are left inside the woman, she is likely to develop a serious infection.
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. And when an abortion produces a live baby, it is called a complication.
Mifepristone (formerly RU-486) sometimes called The Abortion Pill: First a steroid drug is taken orally which either destroys the baby’s placenta or prevents it from being formed. Then a prostaglandin drug is taken to induce the uterus to contract and vaginally deliver the baby, who is much too young to survive.
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 baby to die after his skin has been chemically burned and after swallowing and breathing the salt solution. The mother delivers a dead or dying baby about 24 hours later.
Hysterotomy: This is a late term procedure. The mother’s abdomen is surgically opened as in a Caesarian section. The baby is lifted out, placed in a surgical bucket and allowed to die.
What About A Safe Abortion?
Is there any such thing? Obviously it certainly isn’t safe for the baby, and it invades the mother’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 can perforate the uterus resulting in hemorrhaging, infection, scarring, damage to surrounding organs and sterility. 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. 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. All our services are free.
Here are some of the ways we can help:
- Pregnancy tests
- Counseling with trained, lay counselors
- Assistance in applying for 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 Temecula/Murrieta area:
- Rachel’s Vineyard, 951-325-7702. Visit their website at rachelsvineyard.org.
- BirthChoice of Temecula 951-699-9808.
- Post Abortion Healing-Peace Restored
