Abortion Methods
Over
40 million unborn babies have been killed nationwide in the 26
years since abortion was legalized by the January 22, 1973 Roe
v. Wade Supreme Court decision. Contrary to what many believe,
today in this country an unborn child can be legally killed at
any time throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy - simply
because he or she may be unwanted, inconvenient, imperfect or
even the "wrong" sex. An estimated 1.2 million babies
are killed annually by abortion...one baby approximately every
24 seconds.
There are several
methods of abortion:
FIRST TRIMESTER
Suction Aspiration
This method - also called "vacuum aspiration" or
"vacuum curettage" - is used in 90% of all abortions
performed during the first trimester. A tube (often with a sharp
cutting edge) is inserted through the cervix into the uterus and
connected to a strong suction apparatus. The powerful vacuum
dismembers the tiny baby and placenta, tearing them to pieces
and sucking them into a collection bottle. Although the baby is
extremely small, body parts are often easily identified, and the
abortionist will typically do so to ensure all contents of the
uterus have been removed. This method sometimes follows a D
& C abortion. Infections, damage and pain in the cervix and
uterus can result.
Dilation and Curettage
(D & C)
These abortions are usually done before 12 weeks. The cervix is
dilated to permit the insertion of a loop-shaped knife which is
used to cut the baby into pieces and scrape him or her from the
uterine wall. Body parts are pulled out piece by piece through
the cervix. The scraping of the uterus typically involves more
bleeding than from a suction abortion and increases the risk of
uterine perforation and infection.
RU 486
This abortion regimen actually involves the use of two synthetic
hormones: the French-developed "abortion pill" called mifepristone
and a labor-inducing drug, or prostaglandin, usually the
generically named misoprostol. Used between the fifth and
ninth weeks of pregnancy, this procedure requires at least two
visits to the clinic or hospital. On the first visit women are
given a physical exam to rule out contraindications - smoking,
obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, anemia, allergies,
epilepsy, asthma or age restrictions (under 18 or over 35) -
which could make the drugs deadly. The RU 486 drug (mifepristone)
is taken to inhibit the production of progesterone, the hormone
which prepares the nutrient-rich lining of the uterus. As a
result the tiny developing baby literally starves to death as
the womb's lining sloughs off. At the second visit women are
given misoprostol to induce contractions and cause the dead baby
to be expelled from the uterus. While most women abort during
the waiting period at the clinic, many abort later - up to five
days later - at home, work, etc. A third office visit includes
an exam to determine whether the abortion is complete or a
surgical abortion will be necessary to complete the procedure.
RU 486 can cause severe disabilities in babies who survive the
abortion, can injure and possibly kill women and could harm a
woman's subsequent offspring. Preliminary findings in clinical
trials and other studies reveal serious under-reporting of the
abortion technique's adverse side effects. While now only
licensed for use in China and certain European nations, RU 486
is being tested in other countries with the objective of
extensive marketing over the next several years. Final FDA
approval for RU 486 is contingent upon finding and approving the
production process of the drug; at this point, however,
pro-abortion forces have encountered difficulties in securing a
U.S. manufacturer.
Methotrexate and
Misoprostol
Researchers have discovered
that the prescription drug methotrexate (often prescribed to
combat cancer), when used with misoprostol, can induce abortion
during the first trimester. Both drugs act on a woman's
reproductive system: methotrexate kills the rapidly growing
cells of the trophoblast, the tissue which develops into the
placenta, and misoprostol causes uterine contractions to expel
the baby. This regimen also involves multiple clinic or hospital
visits. After receiving an injection of methotrexate the woman
returns 3 to 7 days later to receive the misoprostol vaginally.
She returns home, where cramping and bleeding begin. The baby is
usually aborted within 24 hours. It is worth noting that
methotrexate is a highly toxic drug with side effects and
complications such as nausea, pain, diarrhea, bone marrow
depression, anemia, liver damage and lung disease occurring even
at low doses. Manufacturer warnings claim that deaths have been
reported with the use of methotrexate, and even some doctors who
support abortion are reluctant to prescribe it because of its
high toxicity and unpredictable side effects. Long-term effects
of the two drugs are unknown.
As with the RU 486 regimen,
women using this form of chemical abortion must participate more
directly in ending the life of their unborn children, having to
verify - often by themselves - that the "uterine
contents" have been passed and the procedure is complete.
Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, many RU 486 advocates fail
to see the negative psychological consequences of such an
experience.
SECOND AND THIRD
TRIMESTER
Dilation and
Evacuation (D & E)
Similar to a D & C abortion, this method also
necessitates the forced dilation of the cervix. Metal forceps
with a sharp cutting edge are used to grasp and pull the baby
from the womb. The entire body is removed piece by piece.
Because the baby's skull has typically hardened to bone by this
time it must sometimes be compressed or crushed in order to be
removed from the uterus. As a result, women undergoing this
procedure have a higher risk of cervical laceration. Ironically,
even some abortionists find this procedure distasteful, as the
process of using forceps to twist and tear the baby's body from
the womb is undeniably traumatic.
Saline Injection
A saline - or salt poisoning - abortion procedure may be
used after sixteen weeks when enough fluid has accumulated in
the amniotic sac surrounding the baby. A long needle is inserted
through the mother's abdomen to remove and then replace some of
the amniotic fluid with a solution of concentrated salt. The
baby breathes in and swallows the solution and usually dies in
one to two hours - though sometimes death takes many hours -
from salt poisoning, dehydration, convulsions, hemorrhages of
the brain and failure of other organs. The baby is literally
burned inside and out by the strong salt solution. The baby's
thrashing, caused by the trauma of the saline, can be physically
painful to his mother and is often psychologically devastating
to her. The mother goes into labor and a dead baby is usually
delivered within 24 to 48 hours.
Prostaglandin
This drug causes a woman to go into labor at any stage of
pregnancy. It is generally used in middle to late pregnancy to
induce abortion. The potent, hormone-like drug is injected into
the amniotic sac to produce labor and premature birth. In some
cases the unborn baby is born alive and placed aside to die. In
order to avoid what some abortionists call "the dreaded
complication" of a live birth, it is now customary to kill
the child first before "evacuating" him or her from
the womb. Using ultrasound, the abortionist directs a needle
containing an injection of lethal potassium chloride into the
unborn baby's heart. Other abortionists use an injection of
digoxin to cause fetal cardiac arrest. Sometimes salt is
injected to kill the baby before birth and make the procedure
less stressful for the mother. Prostaglandins are accompanied by
serious problems of their own, including potentially lethal side
effects.
Dilation and
Extraction (D & X or Partial-birth)
Publicly unveiled in 1992, this method is used to kill babies
from 20 weeks through full term. Because the baby is
considerably larger and more well developed at this time, the
opening of the woman's cervix must be greatly enlarged in order
to perform this abortion. The entire process requires three
days. On the first and second visits the woman receives
laminaria, cylindrically shaped or tapered devices which are
inserted into the cervix and gradually increase in diameter as
they absorb water. When the cervix has been sufficiently dilated
the abortion is performed. The abortionist ruptures the amniotic
sac and drains the fluid. Using ultrasound, the abortionist
ascertains the baby's position within the uterus. Forceps are
used to turn the baby so that he or she is oriented feet first
(breech position) and face down. The abortionist then grasps one
of the baby's legs and pulls the entire body, with the exception
of the head, outside of the uterus. Because the head is usually
too large to deliver, the abortionist uses a sharp pair of
surgical scissors to stab the base of the living baby's skull,
spreading the scissors to enlarge the hole. The scissors are
removed and a suction tube is inserted into the skull opening to
"evacuate" the brain. This kills the baby and
collapses the head, allowing the abortionist to fully deliver
the child.
It is worth noting that most babies at this stage of development
weigh at least a pound, measure approximately 8 inches in length
and are fully formed, with feet roughly 1 inch to 11/2 inches in
length. Babies born at this point in pregnancy (19 or 20 weeks)
have survived.
Hysterotomy
A hysterotomy or Caesarean section abortion is used in the last
trimester. The womb is entered by surgery through the wall of
the abdomen. This abortion procedure parallels a Caesarean
section live delivery except that the baby is killed in the
uterus or allowed to die from neglect if he or she is not dead
upon removal. Because the "complication" of a live
birth is a significant risk with this method, many abortionist
prefer the more "effective" partial-birth abortion
procedure. As with any major surgery this abortion method has
inherent risks and a potentially painful recovery for the
mother.
Alcorn, Randy,
ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments, Multnomah Press,
Portland OR, 1994.
Center for Disease
Control and Prevention, MMWR, 05/95, p. 29, Table 3.
Guttmacher, Alan,
Family Planning Perspectives, May/June 1994, Vol. 26, p. 101.
National Right to
Life Committee, Choose Life, "Pro-Life Leaders Protest New
Abortion Drug Duo," September-October, 1995. Seachrist,
Lisa.
The Supreme Court,
Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, (1973).
Willke, J.C., M.D.
and Mrs., Abortion Questions and Answers, Hayes Publishing Co.,
Cincinnati, OH, 1990.
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