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Abortion


In the past, women would drink toxic potions that would bring on nausea and diarrhea, in an attempt to cause an abortion. Women would also endure physical abortion attempts, such as having someone stomp on their abdomen to induce abortion (Ross 62).
             Currently abortions are performed in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. When a pregnancy progresses into the second trimester, the abortion is done by inducing premature labor and causes the women to deliver the fetus and placenta; this procedure is called medical induction or instillation. During the instillation, a chemical such as saline solution is injected into a woman's womb, causing her to go into premature labor. This labor can last for hours, even days, and is often a very stressful and excruciating process. One of the most distressing drawbacks of performing an instillation is the possibility of having the fetus born alive. When a fetus is born alive, all measures are taken to save its life. The Supreme Court has ruled that a state may legally require another physician, typically a pediatrician, to be present during late abortions in case of a live birth (Terkel 52, 53). About 80 percent of late abortions are performed by inducing premature labor ("Abortion" 14). Another method after the second trimester is done by having the fetus and placenta surgically removed.
             Instrumental evacuation is used for more than 90% of abortions. Instrumental evacuation is known as vacuum aspiration, a procedure that was developed in recent decades. These procedures start out by having the cervix numbered, and then gently stretched or dilated, using dilators, special rods that are formed from seaweed. After the cervix has been dilated, a small tube with an opening is placed into the uterus. The vacuum machine creates suction to empty the uterus and complete the abortion. Some women experience intense pain and cramping (Terkel 50, 51). Dilation and evacuation (D&E) is similar to vacuum aspiration.


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