Abortion

What is Abortion?

Abortion is the termination of pregnancy before birth, by either natural (miscarriage) or artificial means, (an operation where abortion is induced).

When the ovum becomes fertilised by the sperm, an individual, genetically unique from anyone else comes into existence. The baby's fingerprints, sex, hair colour and eye colour are all decided when fertilisation occurs. The third week after conception, the baby's heart begins to beat regularly and the nervous system is now in order. By the seventh week of pregnancy, muscle reflexes are present, the skeleton is complete as are fingers toes and ears. Milk teeth are present within the gums and brain waves can be recorded. The eighth week after conception major organs such as the liver, stomach, kidney's, heart and brain, are all functioning. By the sixteenth week of the pregnancy vocal chords and sexual organs have formed, the baby at this point half it's birth length. After eighteen weeks the baby is able to move it's legs and arms. It somersaults and kicks in the womb is able to inhale and exhale amniotic fluid, and grasps with its hands. Twenty weeks into the pregnancy hair is appearing: eyebrows, eyelashes, etc. The baby can respond to stimuli that may occur from outside of the womb and weighs approximately 500 grams. All that's left for the baby to do now is grow to the point where it can survive independently (e.g. breath without a respirator).

There are many methods of abortion each one offering an element of risk to the mother.

One of these methods is called Vacuum Aspiration, more commonly known as suction abortion. Whilst the woman is under anaesthetic, the cervix is opened by dilators and a tube is inserted. Once the machine is switched on the premature foetus is sucked down the tube in pieces into a disposable jar. In some cases the head is too large to be aborted by normal means and is crushed before being removed. This method is most common in England and Wales as 85% of abortions are done in this manner. It is generally used up to about 13 weeks of pregnancy when the baby's heart has started beating regularly, its nervous system is in order, its skeleton and muscle reflexes are present and the baby's ears, fingers and toes are all complete. At this stage in the pregnancy the baby's brain waves can be recorded, milk teeth are present in the gums, all the major organs are functioning and vocal chords and sexual organs have formed. Although 13 weeks is a rather early period during pregnancy the unborn child still has almost everything he/she needs to survive, yet termination is still permitted.

Artificial dilation of the cervix can cause the wall of the womb to become pierced (perforated) and as a result of this, easily torn. Another risk carried by this abortion procedure is that, the now damaged cervix may not tighten enough to hold a 'subsequent pregnancy' meaning the likelihood of premature delivery or miscarriage is seriously high during the woman's next pregnancy.

Another method of abortion used is called prostaglandins (induced premature labour).

Prostaglandins are hormones, which are given as pills or injected to induce premature labour. This procedure takes place in the ward rather than in the operating theatre and labour can last from 8 to 22 hours. The contractions felt during labour are agonising, similar to the ones the mother might have experienced during actual childbirth, but in the end the baby is 'expelled from the womb'. This method can be used for women who are in their eighteenth week of pregnancy when the baby has all of the necessary assets it needs and can move it's arms, legs and somersault in the womb. In some cases the child may be living for a short spell after delivery, but will die soon after. If the cervix has failed to expand sufficiently enough for the foetus to be expelled, the baby's head can be crushed with forceps and the rest of the body will then be withdrawn from the mother. Occasionally the baby is poisoned in advance to ensure he/she is no longer living during delivery, it is common for late abortions to be performed in this way.
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RU486-Mifepristone: Chemical induced labour

This method of abortion does not require any surgical or anaesthetic intervention.

It is an early method of abortion that has been heralded 'safer' for women, and is used up to 9 weeks in pregnancy. Even though 9 weeks is a very early stage in pregnancy (during which most abortions take place) the foetus is continuously developing at an alarming rate. By the 9th week, all the baby's major organs are functioning, it's fingers and toes are present etc. The termination process takes place in 4 stages

The mother undergoes ...

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