At Lifeline PCC we will give you the facts about one of the biggest decisions of your life.
To schedule an appointment call: 1-800-395-HELP or 208-466-4000.
Chemical Abortion Procedures
•Morning After Pill
•RU 486 (Abortion Pill)
Surgical Abortion Procedures
•Suction Curretage
•Dilation & Evacuation
•Dilation & Extraction
Post-Abortive Stress
Abortion Recovery
Chemical Abortion Procedures
Morning After Pill (MAP): Within 72 hours after sexual intercourse
Also known as “Emergency Contraception,” this procedure consists of a pregnancy test and two doses of pills. The woman first must take a pregnancy test and receive a negative test result before taking the pills. If a negative test result occurs from the pregnancy test, then the woman is instructed to take the first dose of the MAP. Note: a negative result indicates that the woman is probably not pregnant from intercourse during her previous monthly cycle, but it will not show whether or not she just became pregnant (from intercourse the “night before”). She is instructed to take this first dose as soon as possible, but not more than 72 hours after intercourse. The woman takes a second dose 12 hours after the first dose. If conception already occurred within the 72 hour time frame (that is the “night before”), the life is expelled. This is an early abortion.
Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and changes in menstrual bleeding.
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RU 486 Mifepristone: Within 4 to 7 weeks after last menstrual period
Also known as the Abortion Pill, this medical abortion is used for women who are within 28 to 49 days after their last menstrual period. This procedure usually requires three office visits. The RU 486 or mifepristone pills are given to the woman who returns two days later for a second medication called misoprostol. The combination of these medications causes the uterus to expel the fetus.
Side effects may include nausea/vomiting, headache, dizziness, weakness, abdominal/pelvic pain, and fainting. If you have heavy bleeding, such as soaking 2 or more maxi pads per hour for 2 hours in a row, or fever of 100.4 or higher, you need to call your doctor immediately.
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Surgical Abortion Procedures
Suction Curettage: Within 6 to 14 weeks after last menstrual period.
In this procedure, the doctor opens the cervix with a dilator (a metal rod) or laminaria (thin sticks derived from plants and inserted several hours before the procedure). The doctor inserts tubing into the uterus and connects the tubing to a suction machine. The suction pulls the fetus' body apart and out of the uterus. One variation of this procedure is called Dilation and Curettage (D&C). In this method, the doctor may use a curette, a loop-shaped knife, to scrape the fetal parts out of the uterus.
Possible physical side effects include abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting, heavy bleeding. Complications may include perforation (tearing) of the uterus, formation of scar tissue on the uterine lining (which could make it difficult to become pregnant in later years), infection, damage to internal organs, and in rare cases, death. The risk of complications is found in about 1 out of every 100 early abortions.
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Dilation and Evacuation (D&E): Within 13 to 24 weeks after last menstrual period.
This surgical abortion is done during the second trimester of pregnancy. Because the developing fetus doubles in size between the thirteenth and fourteenth weeks of pregnancy, the body of the fetus is too large to be broken up by suction and will not pass through the suction tubing. In this procedure, the cervix must be opened wider than in a first trimester abortion. This is done by inserting laminaria a day or two before the abortion. After opening the cervix, the doctor pulls out the fetal parts with forceps. The fetus' skull is crushed to ease removal.
Possible side effects include abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting and heavy bleeding. Complications may include perforation (tearing) of the uterus, formation of scar tissue on the uterine lining (which could make it difficult to become pregnant in later years), infection, damage to internal organs and in rare cases, death. The risk of complications is found in about 1 in every 50 of these later term abortions.
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Dilation and Extraction (D&X): From 20 weeks after last menstrual period to full-term.
Also known as Partial-birth Abortion, this procedure takes three days. During the first two days, the cervix is dilated and medication is given for cramping. On the third day, the woman receives medication to start labor. After labor begins, the abortion doctor uses ultrasound to locate the baby's legs. Grasping a leg with forceps, the doctor delivers the baby up to the baby's head. Next, scissors are inserted into the base of the skull to create an opening. A suction catheter is placed into the opening to remove the skull contents. The skull collapses and the baby is removed.
All of the possible side effects and complications described in the suction curettage and D & E abortions also apply to this late term abortion. Late term abortions carry a greater risk for long term emotional trauma than possibly any other type of abortion.
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Post-Abortive Stress
Some common reactions after an abortion are:
- Secrecy
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Isolation
- Nightmares
- Anger/Rage
- Sadness/Sorrow
- Feelings of Loss
- Regret/Guilt
- Emotional Pain
- Suicidal Impulses
- Self-Destructive Behavior
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Abortion Recovery
Lifeline Pregnancy Care Center offers Abortion Recovery. The Abortion Recovery program is designed to meet the needs of post-abortive women who experience the emotional pain as a result of their abortion experience.
Counseling involves support, individual counseling and education groups which educate women about why the scars of abortion penetrate so deeply. The Abortion Recovery program uses a Bible Study format to educate and point to healing for the pain and grief many experience as a result of an abortion.
The Forgiven and Set Free Bible study is designed to guide women through the grieving process of their abortion and bring them to the place where they can experience freedom, forgiveness, and hope.
If you are ready to deal with your abortion, a peer counselor or a qualified professional can help lead you through the steps to healing. These steps include the following:
- Breaking through denial.
- Working through guilt and experiencing forgiveness.
- Releasing anger and forgiveness toward yourself or anyone else who was involved in the abortion.
- Grieving the loss of your aborted child or children.
To schedule Post Abortion Counseling & Education, or to get more information, call: 1-800-395-HELP or 208-466-4000.
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