Research shows that most women want to be informed of risks and treatment alternatives, prior to making their decision.
In the medical community, choice is referred to as patient autonomy which means you have the right to say “NO” to any medical or surgical procedure. If you feel abortion is your only option, you have no freedom of choice.
Up to 10 Weeks
Fetal Development (Weeks 4-8)
- Nerves, brain, and spinal cord begin to develop
- Heart begins to beat
- Eyes, arms, lets, lungs, and stomach begin to form
- Genitals form
- All organs are present by week 8
Abortion Pill (Chemical/Medical Abortion)
The FDA approved regimen is a two-appointment process using two different drugs:
• Mifeprex is taken by mouth (200 mg). It blocks progesterone, interrupting pregnancy development and prompting detachment of the implanted embryo.
• Misoprostol is taken inside the cheek or vaginally (800 mcg) 24-48 hours later. This drug will cause contractions to empty the uterus. This takes place at home and may occur within a few hours or up to two weeks after taking the misoprostol.
Note: A medical abortion occurs in private, as such, it may be possible to view a discernible formed baby including head and limbs.
Risks and Side Effects
• Unsuccessful up to 5% of the time.
• Cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heavy bleeding, infection, and in rare cases, death.
• Not advised for women who have anemia, bleeding disorders, liver
or kidney disease, seizure disorder, acute inflammatory bowel disease, use an IUD, or are unable to return for a follow-up visit.
A physical exam should be given
7-14 days later to ensure the abortion is complete and that there are no immediate complications.
ABORTION PILL REVERSAL
There is a 64%-68% chance of continuing a healthy pregnancy if therapy is started within 72 hours of taking Mifeprex.4
Call 877-558-0333 or visit abortionpillreversal.com
5-13 Weeks
Fetal Development (Weeks 9-16)
- Organs begin functioning
- Skin and fingerprints begin to form
- Baby moves, kicks, and begins sucking thumb
Surgical Abortion (Suction/Vacuum Aspiration, D&C)
• Patient will lie on her back with feet in stirrups and a speculum is inserted to open the vagina.
• A numbing medication may be administered to the cervix. Then, a tenaculum is used to hold the cervix in place so that it can be dilated by cone-shaped rods.
• When the cervix is wide enough, a cannula is inserted into the uterus to suction out the fetus and placenta.
• The procedure usually takes 10-15 minutes with a recovery period of up to 5 hours.
• Dilation and Curettage (D&C) may also be required, particularly in the second trimester: the provider will use a long loop-shaped knife called a curette to scrape the lining, placenta and extract the fetus from the uterus.
Risks and Side Effects
• Abdominal pain, nausea, sweating, and feeling faint.
• Less frequent side effects include possible heavy or prolonged bleeding, blood clots, damage to the cervix and perforation of the uterus.
• Infection due to retained remains of the baby and related tissues, an STD, or bacteria being introduced to the uterus can cause fever, pain, abdominal tenderness, scarring, infertility and in rare cases, death.
14-24 Weeks
Fetal Development (Weeks 17-24)
- The five senses develop
- Facial features become distinct
- Mother feels movement more strongly
- It is possible that the fetus can feel pain
Dilation and Evacuation
• In most cases, 24 hours prior to the actual procedure, the abortion provider will insert laminaria or a synthetic dilator inside the cervix.
• At the time of the procedure, cone-shaped rods of increasing size are used to continue the dilation process.
• Depending upon gestational age, some providers may administer a lethal injection of digoxin through the patient’s abdomen into the fetus/baby before the procedure begins.
• A cannula is inserted to begin removing the fetus/baby from the lining, and the lining is scraped with a curette to remove any residual parts.
• For larger babies, forceps may be used to remove larger parts and some providers prefer to crush the skull for easier extraction.
• The procedure normally takes about 30 minutes, with extended recovery time.
Risks and Side Effects
• Abdominal pain, bleeding, and nausea may occur for two weeks following the procedure.
• Infection due to retained fetal tissue, an STD, or bacteria can cause fever, pain, abdominal tenderness, scarring and in some cases, death.
• Although rare, additional risks related to D&E are damage to the uterine lining or cervix, perforation of the uterus, infertility, infection and blood clots.
Late-term abortion procedures become increasingly complex and carry more significant risks as the size of the baby increases.
Protect
Your Health
Future Pregnancy Complications
Abortion is associated with an increased risk of low birth weight and preterm birth. The risk increases with each additional abortion. There is also an increase in infertility rates among women who have had previous abortions.
Breast Cancer
Studies show that abortion may increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer. A recent analysis revealed a 44% increased risk of breast cancer among females who had at least one induced abortion. The risk increased significantly for those who had two or more abortions.
STDs and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
There is a high prevalence rate of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea among women presenting for abortion. Women with an untreated chlamydial infection at the time of abortion have up to a 72% risk of developing PID.
Mental Health
Women who had an abortion experienced an 81% increased risk of mental health problems, and nearly 10% of the incidence of mental health problems was shown to be attributable to abortion.
