I’m not looking for the “should it, shouldn’t it” ideas or anything like that. And nothing too gorry as I may want to read this at school or work, but it plain english, what exactly happens when an abortion procedure is performed?
In the first trimester, an abortion will usually be performed using vacuum aspiration to remove the tissue from the uterus.
Anything after the first trimester is generally a D&E (Dilation and Evacuation) where the cervix is stretched and the uterus emptied via suction and “medical instruments”.
Past the really early point where an “abortion pill” might be effective most of the earlier trimester stuff is vacuum style procedures.
Second and third trimester “partial birth” type abortions are a bit more complicated
Step by step “how to” guide to a second trimester abortion procedure
Here’s 14 week old procedure- 4 panels
ok, thanks. Don’t know of they want to close this now. Being a sensitive topic and all. Or whatever. Up to the mods I suppose. The question has been answered as far as I’m concerned.
It should be noted that these four web sites are anti-abortion propaganda sites (National Right to Life Committee and an ultra-religious site abort73.com*), so the images and descriptions are designed to be shocking. It would be nice to see some non-biased and strictly medical descriptions.
*Abort73.com is run by Loxafamosity Ministries, Inc. (LMI), which “believes that “secular” arguments are invaluable and even sufficient to demonstrate that abortion is an injustice of historic proportions, one which systematically destroys the most innocent and helpless members of the human race.”
As a nursing student, Ive observed abortions in a clinic. Basically, the women is either given local anesthesia via a needle to the cervix or general anesthesia(which puts her out). Her vagina is opened with a speculum, clamps are placed in the cervix and a vacuum aspirator sucks all of the tissue out of the uterus. There is an ultrasound on during the procedure the entire procedure. Women who chose local anesthesia (cheaper option) complained of pain in the form of pressure on their abdomens.
After 12 or 15 weeks, I cant remember, this procedure is no longer possible. Pills are placed in the cervix which induce labor, and it is either a 1 or 2 day process depending upon how far along the pregnancy is. The legal limit for performing abortions is, I believe, 22 weeks. This process appeared to be extremely uncomfortable, because the uterus is contracting.
I cant quite remember all of the specifics of procedures, but this website explains it pretty well.
http://www.philadelphiawomenscenter.com/
Wha…? I’m generally pro choice within limits, and I looked around and those are among the least graphic illustrations of the procedures involved. To get to something less innocuous you’d have to be using stick figures. That the anti-abortion sites happen happen to have these pics does not make them in any way inaccuate. I mean, come on, the bottom line is that you’re dismembering and/or extracting a growing baby, politics aside. that’s what’s going on. Those little medical illustrations are cotton candy compared to the real thing being done.
The OP asked for specifics and I gave them a very detailed medical description of the procedure. (see pdf file) and accurate illustrations without the accompanying political screeds.
I think that’s already been delivered. If you can do better have at it.
I’ll note that except for the last one where I couldn’t just grab the liiustration.
As someone who had a spontaneous miscarriage at 18 weeks, let me confirm that, at least for me, it took approximately an eternity (really, only a day or so, but it seemed like an eternity), and was far, far more painful than either of my two live births. The doctor told me afterward that at that stage it would have been dangerous to do a D&C unless there was a life-threatening situation, because of the risk of uterine perforation, whereas just letting “nature” take its course was only agonizing. IMHO anyone who undergoes this procedure at that stage voluntarily must have a really, really good reason for it. Thus my outrage at those who chastise a woman in such an un-eviable situation.