How Abortions are Done

Abortions can have many negative effects on a woman's life and health. Read Olivia's Story about the negative after effects of abortion.

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.

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:

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:

Abortion Clinics

If you are considering visiting an abortion clinic, we want you to know what this choice could mean to your future. You don't need to make this decision right away. Slow down and allow time to think. Don't let anyone tell you that you have to have an abortion. Pregnancy care centers exist to offer you choices and information. There are risks to most abortion procedures. Be sure that you understand these risks because many abortion clinics are not required to inform you of this before performing an abortion

Here are some things to consider before you visit abortion clinics:

Know the possible Abortion Risks.


From the thousands of women now working in the pregnancy care world who have had abortions, we know that abortion has physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological risks.


Get a blood or urine pregnancy test to confirm you are really pregnant.

It could be that you are not actually pregnant. We can refer you to a local pregnancy care center that provides a laboratory quality urine test free of charge as a service to women. A trained pregnancy center advocate can provide additional information relevant to your situation. All of these services are free and confidential.

Confirm your pregnancy with a doctor who doesn't do abortions.

It is possible that the abortion clinic may provide you with incorrect information in order to obtain your abortion fee. Carol Everett is a woman who used to provide abortion services in Texas. She testified in Congress that she sold abortions to women who were not pregnant but feared they were. For the best medical input on abortion we recommend you speak with a medical professional that has nothing to gain in your abortion decision. Your local pregnancy care center can provide you with that referral.

Get a free ultrasound.

You may receive a free ultrasound from your local pregnancy care center or a referral organization. This non-diagnostic ultrasound can tell you how many weeks you are into the pregnancy or whether or not your pregnancy is viable. In other words, it could be that you are going to miscarry the baby and won’t need the services of an abortion clinic. This service, provided by a certified sonographer, may aid you in making this important decision.

Ask for the doctor's name that is performing the abortion

Abortion is legal in the United States but bad medical care is not. Women have died as a result of their "safe and legal" abortions. Some have had their bodies hurt to the point that they can no longer have children. If you don't know the doctor's name at the abortion clinic that is doing your abortion, you may not find out. The abortion doctor could be counting on you not holding him accountable for hurting you because many women are afraid to let anyone know about this choice afterwards. Ask for his name and write it down.

Don't sign anything that releases the doctor or the abortion clinic from being responsible for hurting you during your abortion.

Many women have said that they were so upset by the emotion of the day that they signed anything put in front of them in order to "get out and have it done with." If the abortion clinic asks you to sign anything, take your time to read it over. If you don't understand something, ask questions. If you don't understand their answers, push them further. Don't be in a rush because anything you sign could affect you in the future. You can always reschedule your appointment for a later date.

Understand you have rights in an abortion.

It is against the law for anyone to force you to have an abortion. Not even a husband or parent can require you to undergo an abortion against your will, even if you are a minor (under 18 years old). Your local pregnancy care center exists to help you in any circumstance. They can help you discuss this choice with those closest to you that are influencing your decision. The law in many states also requires abortion providers to give you information on:
1) possible complications,
2) the development of the baby, and
3) organizations that provide alternatives to abortion.

Verify that the abortion clinic is clean and sanitary.

Many women report that the general area of the clinic where they had their abortions was unclean, dusty and even smelled bad. Infections can result from unsanitary conditions. If you find yourself in an abortion clinic be sure to question their sanitizing procedures and view the condition of each room to ensure that you are receiving excellent care. If they don't provide sufficient information to determine these conditions, give yourself permission to leave and demand a refund of your money. Infections that often result from unsanitary abortion clinics can lead to infertility and death.

Understand you can change your mind - even at the last minute.

Many women who have experienced abortion relay that they felt they had to go through with the procedure once they had entered the clinic. Others say that they waited on the abortion table to be "rescued" by their boyfriend at the last minute. Some clinics even told the women that they couldn't get their money back if they changed their mind.

Abortion clinics know that this is an agonizing decision and sometimes see women change their mind at the last minute because, as they say, "I simply can't do this!" Know your rights. Don't be pressured or intimidated. If the procedure is not performed, demand your money back.

Understand that the baby is not a "blob of tissue"

Some abortion clinics tell women that their babies are not human at all but simply a "blob of tissue" or a "dot". For many it is easier to have an abortion if they believe their child isn't yet human. Ultrasound photos show that at early stages of pregnancy the humanness of the embryo is clearly evident. When some women see these photos after their abortion they are overwhelmed and grieved that the information the abortion clinic provides was misleading. An ultrasound will reveal the true development of your children. Learn more about what a preborn child looks like

Know you are not alone.

Women who feel like they have no other choice often change their minds when visiting a pregnancy care center and understanding our support services. We exist to help you in your pregnancy. There is no obstacle too big that can't be overcome with friendship and support.

Helping a Friend

Are you visiting this site to help a friend who may be in a crisis or unplanned pregnancy?  If so, they are very fortunate to have someone like you in their life that cares enough to help with information and support.
Your friend is probably very scared about a possible pregnancy. It could be that she's experiencing panic and insisting that abortion is her only choice. The first thing you should do is to encourage her to confirm her pregnancy at our center. She doesn't need to make any decisions until she is sure that she is pregnant. Please consider coming with her for the visit. Our tests are complimentary and we won't tell anyone of your visit to our clinic. Many of our pregnancy advisors have been through a crisis pregnancy and some have chosen abortion. Our assistance is caring and compassionate. We don't judge, preach or condemn anyone seeking our help.

When our patients have a positive pregnancy test we take the time to provide them with detailed information about all their options - single parenting, marriage, adoption or abortion - and our extensive support services. Many women initially feel like they have no other choice but to abort their babies. With our physical and emotional support services many realize that they have the ability to single parent, get married or place their baby for adoption.

If your friend is pregnant please understand that her decision could affect you. If she wants an abortion encourage her to take the time to investigate all her options. There is no reason to rush or panic. Understand that many friends who accompanied women to abortion clinics discovered that they felt "responsible" and were even traumatized by the experience afterwards. Abortion isn't a safe and easy option for anyone involved. Many women who have had abortions share that they held deep anger against individuals who assisted with their abortions because "they didn't stop them" from making a choice that they would later regret. This could be a moment in time that you remember for the rest of your life. Be sure to allow those memories to be "comfortable" by providing her with the best support available through our center.

Help her to learn more about what a preborn child looks like on our site or better yet, have her come to our center for a no-cost, limited ultrasound exam.

Regardless of your feelings about abortion, it's best to offer your friend everything that can help her make an informed decision. If she determines to abort, you won't be any less of a friend if you don't accompany her to the clinic. Encourage her to visit our center and learn about all her options. In doing so you will be able to look back at this time and understand that you truly helped her in a time of need! If you are the father of the baby, visit our "Abortion section--For Men" page for more specific information.

For Men

Is your girlfriend pregnant and you don't know what to do? Perhaps you are wondering if she is even carrying your baby. Maybe friends and family are encouraging you to push her to have an abortion. Whatever your situation, you are not alone. Lots of couples experience a "surprise" pregnancy and immediately worry about how this will affect their future. Abortion seems like an easy and legal choice but it does have significant risks that you may not understand. Having a baby doesn't mean the end of your dreams.

It's hard to realize that women can choose abortion without the permission of the baby's father. Many women who have had abortions report that they were waiting for their boyfriends/husbands to stop them. Some even say that they sat on the abortion table hoping the father of their baby would "rush through the door to rescue me and take me away somewhere safe." She needs your friendship and love now more than ever. It's impossible to determine if you are the father of the baby until after the birth of the baby. If you've been with her sexually, assume that you are probably the father of her baby.

The world says that abortion is "a woman's choice" but the woman in a crisis pregnancy rarely wants to make that choice alone. She is looking to you for support because she can't confide in many people about this crisis situation. When women hear men say, "Don't look at me to tell you what to do," they automatically believe the man wants the abortion. Be careful that you don't say something that you could regret. Assure her that you will stand beside her in whatever way she needs through this crisis. Inform her immediately that she doesn't need to have an abortion to please you. Tell her you want to help her in making any choices that will affect your future.

Confirming the Pregnancy

The first thing you need to do is find out that she is really pregnant and learn about your options. We provide confidential and complimentary pregnancy tests along with many support services. Our center exists to help both of you come to an informed decision. To help her understand your support, come with her for the pregnancy test. She has more to lose in this pregnancy than you do because it will affect her physically. If she truly is pregnant then she is already being overwhelmed by hormone changes. Having your physical support will reassure her that you care.

You may not realize this but abortion has many risks to the woman--- emotional, psychological and physical. While you may not experience the abortion physically, abortion can affect you as well. If you care about this woman in your life, you will want to protect her from harm. You need to know the physical risks of abortion.

Our center can help you in a variety of ways should she actually be pregnant. Our support services include maternity and baby clothes, baby furniture, housing referrals, medical insurance referrals, prenatal care referrals, parenting classes, etc. You won't be alone in supporting her in this pregnancy. We can help you share this truth with both families and explore all your options. Learn more about what a preborn child looks like on our site.

Another interesting thing about abortion that we have learned from people that made this choice is that most couples break up soon afterwards. Abortion doesn't seem to be the glue that holds a relationship together. Feelings of betrayal and hurt, compounded with the grief over the loss that results from abortion, can separate two hearts forever. If you care about this woman, encourage her not to abort.

At the abortion clinic:

If you both determine to have an abortion and make it to the clinic, ask the clinic staff these questions:

After Abortion

If you choose abortion or already have participated in this decision, be prepared that both of you may experience what is called "Post-Abortion Syndrome" or "Post-Abortion Stress". According to many studies that have been done on this subject, you may experience one or many of the following problems:


And many other symptoms.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, understand that you are not alone and our center exists to help you. There is healing available after an abortion. Feel free to contact us at 951-699-9808 or email us at birthchoice@temvalley.com.

 

HAVE YOU BEEN HURT BY ABORTION OR WANT TO HEAR FROM OTHER'S WHO HAVE?

http://www.earnedmedia.org/maxg04231.htm  (AbortionChangesYou.com)

Listen to His Name is Nathan
Sandi Simon
Christian Vocalist and Minisry Leader
Hear her songs and find out more about His Daugeter Redeemed Ministries
SandiSimon.com