|
'08 Walk for Life * PICTURES FROM 2006 MARCH FOR LIFE * Pregnancy Centers          About Us Volunteer Donate Home |
Abortion MethodsMenstrual Extraction: A very early suction abortion, often done before the pregnancy test is positive. Dilation and Curettage (D & C): (6-16 weeks) The cervix is dilated with a series of instruments to allow the insertion of a curette (a looped shaped steel knife). The unborn child is then cut into pieces and scraped from the uterine wall. Bleeding is usually profuse. The nurse must reassemble the body parts to be sure that all are removed, otherwise infection will set in. Possible complications include infection, cervical laceration and uterine perforation. Suction Curettage (Vacuum Aspiration): (6-16 weeks) The cervix is dilated as in a D & C, then a tube with a knife-like edge on the tip is inserted into the uterus and connected to a strong suction apparatus. The suction device, similar to a conventional vacuum cleaner but 29 times as powerful, tears the baby apart and sucks the pieces into a jar. Possible complications include infection, cervical laceration and uterine perforation. Mifepristone: (5-9 weeks) Also known as RU-486 or the "Abortion Pill", this chemical causes an abortion by interfering with the function of the placenta, starving the unborn child to death. Prostaglandins (misoprostol, see below) are then administered to expel the fetus. This method of abortion takes place over the span of several days; the average woman using it bleeds heavily for more than nine days, but some women have bled for over four weeks. Because mifepristone is a newer method, long-term health risks are not yet known. Methotrexate: (5-9 weeks) Although not approved by the FDA for this use, a methotrexate injection kills the unborn child by interfering with the growth process (cell division). Several days later, the woman is treated with prostaglandin (misoprostol) suppositories to expel the fetus. The woman aborts at home. This requires three visits to a doctor to complete the process. Dilation and Evacuation (D & E): (12-20+ weeks) This abortion is achieved by dismemberment. The cervix is dilated, then forceps with sharp metal teeth are inserted and parts of the baby's body are torn away with a twisting motion and removed piece by piece. At this age the head is usually too large to be removed whole, and must be crushed and drained before taken out. Abortion advocates prefer D & E's because, unlike other second trimester methods, they ensure the baby's death. The nurse then reassembles the body parts to be sure that all were removed. Possible complications include infection, cervical laceration and uterine perforation. Prostaglandin: (16-38 weeks) Also called misoprostol, this chemical, which induces premature labor, is given as suppositories or an injection; live births are common. Hazards include convulsions, vomiting, and cardiac arrest. Digoxin Induction: (20-32 weeks) This abortion involves injecting a lethal chemical directly into the baby's heart followed by labor induction with prostaglandin. Saline Abortion: (16 to 32 weeks) A long needle is inserted into the woman's abdomen, and a salty solution is injected into the amniotic fluid. The salt poisons the child, burning its lungs and skin. A dead baby is then delivered within 24 hours. This method is rarely used any more due to the serious health risks to the woman. Hysterotomy: Like a C-section, an incision is made in the woman's abdomen. The baby is removed then allowed to die by neglect. This procedure carries the same health risks as a C-section. D&X: (20 to 32+ weeks) Also known as "partial-birth abortion", this dangerous method of late abortion, termed "bad medicine" by the American Medical Association, involves pulling the baby out feet first into the birth canal while the head remains in the uterus. The abortionist then makes a hole in the back of the skull to remove the brains with a suction catheter. The head collapses allowing the child to be removed in one piece. Sources: Westside Pregnancy Resource Center and Ohio Right to Life
Be a TLC Lifeguard
Before You Leave...
|