Abortion Facts, Post-Abortion Syndrome, and Abortion Alternatives

ABORTION STATISTICS

In Georgia, the number of abortions performed per year has increased from almost 12, 000 in 1973 to 27,642 during the year 2006. Over 1,028,729 abortions have occurred in Georgia from 1973 through 2006. At the end of 2006, 8,951 had been performed on Floyd County residents.
Nationally, there are more than 1.4 million abortions every year, which means every fourth pregnancy ends in abortion. As of January 2009, over 48 million babies had been killed by legal abortion. The majority of abortions are performed in the first two months of pregnancy. However, nearly 200,000 second and third trimester abortions are performed each year. SEVENTEEN THOUSAND of these occur after 5 months of pregnancy. Only about 1% of abortions are due to fetal abnormalities, rape, or incest.

TYPES OF ABORTIONS

PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION

Partial-birth abortions are performed from 20 weeks after last menstrual cycle to full-term. 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.

RU 486

RU 486, or mifepristone, is a chemical abortion that was approved in October 2000 for use in the United States. It is not a drug that can be purchased at the pharmacy. It must be prescribed by a doctor. It is not the same as the "morning after pill". RU 486 can be used for an abortion 30 to 49 days from a woman's last menstrual period. Once taken, the drug causes the lining of the uterus to break down. A few days later, the woman takes another drug, misoprostol, that causes the uterus to contract, expelling the embryo. Failure of the procedure or incomplete abortion, thus requiring a D&C, occurs in 5 to 10 per cent of the cases. The abortion process can take a week to complete.

MORNING AFTER PILL

The morning after pill (MAP) is the use of high doses of oral contraceptives for what is called "emergency contraception". The kit is dispensed with a urine pregnancy test, a patient information booklet and four (4) pills. The patient is instructed to take the pregnancy test first. If the test is positive, she is instructed not to take the pills. There are two doses. The first must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex and the second 12 hours later.

Side effects are nausea, vomiting, menstrual cycle disturbances, breast tenderness, headaches, abdominal pain, and dizziness; risks include developing blood clots, liver tumors, or heart attacks and strokes; and pills do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.

MAP works in one of three ways: it can prevent ovulation, it can prevent fertilization, or it can prevent implantation by changing the endometrium. In truth, this last action, makes the morning after pill an abortifacient since the life of each person begins at fertilization.

Dilation and Evacuation (D & E)

This surgical abortion is performed during the second trimester of pregnancy. 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.

Suction Curettage or Dilation and Curettage (D & C)

In this procedure, the most commonly performed abortion, the doctor opens the cervix with a dilator (a metal rod) or laminaria (thin sticks derived from plants and inserted 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. In a D & C the doctor may use a curette, a loop-shaped knife, to scrape the lining of the uterus.

POST ABORTION SYNDROME

     Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS) is defined as a condition that occurs when a woman represses the grief that results from the loss of an aborted child.  Reactions which she might experience include guilt, anger, fear, depression, grief, anxiety, sadness, shame, helplessness, hopelessness, sorrow, lowered self-esteem, distrust, hostility toward self and others, regret, insomnia, recurring dreams, nightmares, painful re-experiencing of the abortion, suicidal behavior, alcohol and/or chemical dependencies, sexual dysfunction, insecurity, numbness, relationship disruption, communication impairment, isolation, fetal fantasies, self-condemnation, flashbacks, uncontrollable weeping, eating disorders, preoccupation, distorted thinking, bitterness, and a sense of loss and emptiness.
     How a woman reacts to her abortion and her level of PAS are determined by three factors: biological (what actually happened in the abortion procedure), psychological (her set of moral values), and spiritual (moral and religious questions she must answer about her action).
     It is estimated that from 17 to 50 per cent of women may suffer from PAS. Using 2000 figures, this means that anywhere from 7 to 20 million women are suffering or are at risk of suffering PAS.
     The woman who suffers heavily from PAS becomes severely depressed and loses pleasure in almost everything in life. She is likely to experience poor appetite, sleep disturbances, agitation of behavior, loss of pleasure in usual activities, such as her sexual relationships, loss of energy, inappropriate guilt, a diminished ability to concentrate and recurrent thoughts of suicide.
     PAS encompasses mourning, guilt, pain and grief that have been denied. The longer a woman denies her abortion, the more intense her reactions to the abortion.
     The first step in the healing journey is peeling away the callus formed by months or years of denying and repressing the painful emotions connected with the abortion experience. Why is it necessary to dredge up that which the mind has worked so hard to forget? Because the grief, anger and guilt a woman felt about the events surrounding her abortion were never processed. They were hidden away since they were too painful to deal with; but they continue to fester like a smoldering infection, affecting current choices and behavior. The simplest way to access these old feelings is to find a safe, supportive environment in which the woman can tell about her abortion experience.

A woman suffering from PAS must also learn to release her guilt, anger and begin to forgive herself and accept forgiveness. Many women who believe in God have trouble accepting that He can forgive this transgression. In truth, they need to understand that God's forgiveness is already available to them: 1) knowing Who ultimately has paid the debt, 2) allowing intimacy with God to be restored and 3) understanding the difference between punishment and consequences. For more information on forgiveness go to www.cceminc.com.

Lastly, the PAS woman must allow herself to grieve the loss of her baby. When a woman becomes pregnant, she instinctively knows her life has changed forever. Awareness of the need to grieve the loss of an aborted child is almost nonexistent in our culture. It is thus very common for the post-abortive woman to approach this task with confusion. Learning how to think of the baby as a real individual, naming the baby, writing out her feelings for her child, and even having a quiet, private memorial service are ways to work through the grief.

A lot of women feel hopeless about ever resolving the pain connected with their abortion experience. But healing is possible. Thousands of women will seek and receive help this year; you can be one of them. Reach out to someone who understands. Contact us through this web site or look in your yellow pages under abortion alternatives.

ABORTION ALTERNATIVES

CHOICES AVAILABLE

      Once a woman has made the choice to give life to her baby, she has to consider what is best for her and her child.
       If she is single, she has the choice to raise the baby as a single mother. In considering this choice, the woman needs to consider her level of maturity and if she has ever had to handle responsibility. There are many agencies, individuals, and other organizations that are ready, willing and able to lend a hand to single moms.
      Another choice is to marry the baby's father. If both individuals consider themselves mature enough to live by the marriage vows, this may be a good choice.
     Yet another choice is adoption. Adoption is a very loving choice when a person is not ready to parent, regardless of the reason.
     The woman should write down the pros and cons of each option, and keep in mind that there are now two lives to consider. The best choice will be one that solves more problems that it creates.

ADOPTION/COUPLES WANTING TO ADOPT

     Adoption allows the mother to choose life for her baby, even though she is not able to be a parent to that child. Who adopts these babies? Loving couples do. Many couples are unable to conceive a child and look to adoption to create the families they desire. Adoption is the legal procedure which places a child with adoptive parents who raise the child as a member of their own family. The child legally becomes a permanent member of the adoptive family.
     There are many adoption agencies that offer services to women who are considering adoption. Agencies are able to offer help with pregnancy related expenses. They are able to help the woman find proper medical care and help with living arrangements, when needed. A good adoption agency will provide counseling for the woman who is considering adoption.
     Considering adoption means that the woman is concerned about being a good mother and is sensible enough to realize that raising a child can be difficult, even with the help of family and friends. It is not selfish to choose what is best for you and your baby. You have already given your child the ultimate gift - Life.
     For couples wanting to adopt, you have basically two approaches to consider as you make plans to build your family: independent adoption and adoption through an agency licensed to place children. Independent adoptions usually involve newborn infants located in your community or state. In independent adoptions, a private arrangement is made between the birth and prospective adoptive parents through the assistance of an intermediary such as an attorney. Generally, the state agency or its contracted agent must do a home study.
     The array of adoption agencies, procedures, and programs offer many options for the first-time prospective adoptive parent. Choosing the right agency and adoption program is a challenge. Begin by contacting all the agencies that place children in your area and ask them to send you information on their programs. Attend orientation meetings at all agencies in which you are interested. Adoption through an agency licensed to place children also requires a home study. Generally, a home study must be completed by a child-placing agency licensed in the state of your residence before the process of searching for a child can begin. The agency that conducts your home study may also be able to search for a child for you, but if you are interested in an international adoption, you may need a facilitator or second agency to perform the child search and to make sure the child is legally free for adoption and emigration and that the legal requirements governing international adoptions in both the child's country of birth and the U.S. are met.
     For more information on adoptions, call 706-235-6833.