Abortion Methods: Summary

Dilation and Curettage (D & C)

The Cervix is dilated with a series of instruments to allow the insertion of a curette (a looped shaped steel knife). The unborn child is then cut into pieces and scraped from the uterine wall. Bleeding is usually profuse. A nurse will normally reassemble the body parts to be sure that all are removed; otherwise infection will set in.

Suction Curettage, or Vacuum Aspiration

The cervix is dilated as in a D & C, then a tube with a very sharp edge on the tip is inserted into the uterus and connected to a strong suction apparatus. The suction device, similar to a conventional vacuum cleaner but 29 times as powerful, tears the unborn child apart and sucks the pieces into a jar.

Menstrual Extraction

A very early suction abortion, often done before the pregnancy test is positive.

Dilation and Evacuation (D & E)

At 12 to 20 weeks. (By week 12, the baby's bones are hardening and can no longer be pulled apart with suction. Abortion is now achieved by dismemberment.) A seaweed-based substance, called "laminaria", is inserted into the cervix, causing dilation. The next day forceps with sharp metal teeth are inserted and parts of the baby's body are torn away with a twisting motion and removed piece by piece. At this age the head is usually too large to be removed whole, and must be crushed and drained before taken out. D & E's are preferred by abortion advocates because, unlike other second trimester methods, they insure the baby's death. The nurse then reassembles the body parts to be sure that all was removed.

Salt Poisoning, or Saline Injection

Used after 16 weeks (four months) when enough fluid has accumulated. A long needle injects a strong salt solution through the mother's abdomen into the baby's sac. The baby swallows this fluid and is poisoned by it. It also acts as a corrosive, burning off the outer layer of skin. It normally takes somewhat over an hour for the baby to die from this. Within 24 hours, labor will usually set in and the mother will give birth to a dead or dying baby. (Quite frequently these babies are born alive. They are usually left unattended to die. However, a few have survived and later been adopted.)

Hysterotomy, or Caesarean Section

Used mainly in the last three months of pregnancy, the womb is entered by surgery through the wall of the abdomen. The technique is similar to a Caesarean delivery, except that the umbilical cord is usually cut while the baby is still in the womb, thus cutting off his oxygen supply and causing him to suffocate. Sometimes the baby is removed alive and simply left in a corner to die of neglect or exposure.

Prostaglandin Chemical Abortion

This form of abortion uses chemicals developed by the Upjohn Pharmaceutical Co. which cause the uterus to contract intensely, pushing out the developing baby. The contractions are more violent than normal, natural contractions, so the unborn baby is frequently killed by them -- some have even been decapitated. Many, however, have also been born alive.

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