The Truth about Abortion

As a former counselor at a crisis pregnancy center, I would like to share with you some truths about abortion. If you are considering abortion or know someone who is, please take the time to learn all that you can about the risks and complications of having an abortion.

The first point that I would tell my clients who were considering an abortion is to know the facts about fetal development, such as the heartbeats at day 21 and DNA is formed at conception. DNA determines characteristics like hair and eye color and the sex of the baby.  At just 4 weeks, heart and blood vessels as well as lungs, stomach and the liver start to develop.By the 8^th week, eyelids and ears are forming and the arms and legs are well developed.

I would recommend that if you are thinking about an abortion to have an ultrasound first. Having an ultrasound first can determine what developmental stage the fetus is in, and even if there is a viable pregnancy and not a tubal pregnancy. There have been reports of women who have had abortions performed that were not even pregnant.  It is important to be informed about the different types of abortion procedures. Each one has its own risks involved.

Abortions can be categorized into two main groups, medical and surgical. 

Medical abortions: involve taking a pill such as the morning after pill/Plan B or the RU-486. The Plan B pill is taken 72 hours after unprotected sex, and the RU-486 is a later medical abortion that requires you to take several pills over the course of a few days.

• Facts about the Plan B: it does not terminate pregnancy if you are already pregnant, it is not to be used routinely to prevent pregnancy, and it is commonly referred to as “emergency birth control,” and many medical communities support the idea that it is not an abortion pill. Plan B prevents fertilization, so it may not be an actual removal of fetal tissue, but it does prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall preventing fertilization from occurring.
• The RU-486 pill is a synthetic steroid for the termination (removal) of intrauterine (implanted) pregnancy through the first 49 days of pregnancy. The RU-486 is prescribed by a doctor, and is taken at home. All implantation in the uterus will be sloughed off by these pills. Women will experience heavy bleeding at home when this occurs, and because of this, many women experience pain for several days/weeks.

Surgical abortions: are more evasive, and have more risks involved. Surgical instruments and anesthesia are used. The most common surgical abortion is performed at the 1^st trimester and is commonly known as the vacuum aspiration procedure.

Risks involved for vacuum aspiration procedure: include cervical tearing, uterine perforation, incomplete abortion, pelvic inflammatory disease, and hemorrhaging.

There are several types of surgical procedures depending on the number of weeks pregnant:

• Manual vacuum aspiration (up to 7 weeks)
• Suction curettage (between 6-14 weeks)
• Dilation & Evacuation (between 13-24 weeks)
• Dilation & Extraction (Partial-birth abortion, done after 20 weeks).

Even after the abortion procedure has been completed, it is not quite over. Many women suffer from PAS (post-abortion syndrome). This can include: anxiety, depression, intense guilt, substance and alcohol abuse, insomnia, and nightmares. In addition, a majority of women have difficulty afterwards with their relationship with God and forgiving themselves. If you have had an abortion, there is healing and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16

If you have had an abortion, would you share your experiences with our readers? Your testimony could help save a life!

To find a local crisis pregnancy center in your area contact: Care Net