What's so wrong with Abortion, anyway? Part 2 (with statistics)

Abortion Procedures continued…

Abortion Procedure #4: Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) 15-21 weeks

From The American Pregnancy Association website:

Dilation and evacuation is a surgical abortion procedure performed between 15 to 21 weeks gestation. In most cases, 24 hours prior to the actual procedure, your abortion provider will insert laminaria or a synthetic dilator inside your cervix. When the procedure begins the next day, your abortion provider will clamp a tenaculum to the cervix to keep the uterus in place and cone-shaped rods of increasing size are used to continue the dilation process.

The cannula is inserted to begin removing tissue away from the lining. Then using a curette, the lining is scraped to remove any residuals. If needed, forceps may be used to remove larger parts. The last step is usually a final suctioning to make sure the contents are completely removed.
The procedure normally takes about 30 minutes. Although some clinics may perform the procedure, it is usually performed in a hospital setting because of the greater risk for complications. The fetal remains are usually examined to ensure everything was removed and that the abortion was complete.
Source: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/unplannedpregnancy/surgicalabortions.html

Sounds fairly routine and benign. Here is the description from webMD:

 Give first dose of antibiotic to prevent infection. Position you on the exam table in the same position used for a pelvic exam, with your feet on stirrups while lying on your back. Insert a speculum into the vagina. Clean the vagina and cervix with an antiseptic solution. Give you a pain medicine injection in the cervical area (paracervical block) along with a sedative. If the procedure is done in an operating room, you could receive a spinal anesthesia injection into the fluid around the spinal cord, which numbs the area between your legs, or general anesthesia, which makes you unconscious. Grasp the cervix with an instrument to hold the uterus in place. Dilate the cervical canal with probes of increasing size. An abortion in the second 12 weeks will need the cervix to be dilated more than required for a vacuum aspiration. Pass a hollow tube (cannula) into the uterus. The cannula is attached by tubing to a bottle and a pump that provides a gentle vacuum to remove tissue in the uterus. Some cramping is felt during the rest of the procedure. Pass a grasping instrument (forceps) into the uterus to grasp larger pieces of tissue. This is more likely in pregnancies of 16 weeks or more and is done before the uterine lining is scraped with a curette. Use a curved instrument (curette) to gently scrape the lining of the uterus and remove tissue in the uterus. Use suction, which may be done as a final step to make sure the uterine contents are completely removed.

Source: http://women.webmd.com/dilation-and-evacuation-de-for-abortion 
 
I love how they say they are grabbing ‘larger pieces of tissue’ instead of arm or leg. The basic idea is that they go into the uterus with forceps or scissors, depending on how far along a woman is and how tough the baby’s skin is and literally pull the arms and legs off the baby and out of the uterus. Mercifully, at least on Planned Parenthood’s website, they say that they may need to give the woman a shot to bring about ‘fetal demise’ (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/abortion/in-clinic-abortion-procedures-4359.asp) . Go to the following link for an illustration of a ‘D&E’ (even though it says it is for a 23 week old fetus, it is an enlarge version of the procedure). http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/pba/DEabortiongraphic.html From www.nucleusinc.com

Picture above a 20 week old baby in utero, again from http://www.lennartnilsson.com/

Abortion Procedure #5: Dilation and Extraction (also known as D&X or Partial Birth Abortion)

  In this paper, http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/pba/Haskellinstructional.pdf, the doctor describes the procedure in full. Here is what the American Pregnancy Association says about it:The dilation and extraction procedure is used after 21 weeks gestation. The procedure is also known as D & X, Intact D & X, Intrauterine Cranial Decompression and Partial Birth Abortion. Two days before the procedure, laminaria is inserted vaginally to dilate the cervix. Your water should break on the third day and you should return to the clinic. The fetus is rotated and forceps are used to grasp and pull the legs, shoulders and arms through the birth canal. A small incision is made at the base of the skull to allow a suction catheter inside. The catheter removes the cerebral material until the skull collapses. Then the fetus is completely removed.
So in other words, they induce labor, deliver the baby breech, leaving the head in the vagina. The doctor punctures the baby’s skull and sucks out the brain. This causes the head to collapse and the baby is delivered, dead. Some other procedures have them injecting things like saline to kill and ‘soften’ the baby so that they can perform a D&E. Either way, the baby is close to delivery and then its life is taken.

Picture is of my own son during my 26 week ultrasound.  He spent quite a few minutes trying to get his fingers in his mouth.

Go to http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/pba/PBA_Images/PBA_Images_Heathers_Place.htm for an illustration and letters from medical professionals confirming the accuracy of the illustrations

 By the numbers:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6001a1.htm?s_cid=ss6001a1_w http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s0078.pdf )


*In 2007, 84% of all abortions were performed on unmarried women (CDC).
*Women between the ages of 20-24 obtained 33% of all abortions; women between 25-29 obtained 24% (CDC).
*50% of U.S. women obtaining abortions are younger than 25; women aged 20-24 obtain 33% of all U.S. abortions and teenagers obtain 17% (AGI).
*In 2007, adolescents under 15 years obtained .05% of all abortions, but had the highest abortion ratio, 768 abortions for every 1,000 live births (CDC).
*47% of women who have abortions had at least one previous abortion (AGI).
*Black women are more than 4.8 times more likely than non-Hispanic white women to have an abortion, and Hispanic women are 2.7 times as likely (AGI).
*37% of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and 28% identify themselves as Catholic (AGI).
*At current rates, nearly one-third of American women will have an abortion (AGI).
*88-92% of all abortions happen during the first trimester, prior to the 13th week of gestation (AGI/CDC).
*In 2007, 86% of abortions were performed by curettage (which includes dilatation and evacuation [D&E]). Most curettage abortions are suction procedures (CDC).
*Medical abortions made up approximately 12% of all abortions reported (CDC).
*Induced abortions usually result from unintended pregnancies, which often occur despite the use of contraception (CDC).
*54% of women having abortions used a contraceptive method during the month they became pregnant. Among those women, 76% of pill users and 49% of condom users reported using the methods inconsistently, while 13% of pill users and 14% of condom users reported correct use (AGI).
*8% of women having abortions have never used a method of birth control (AGI).
*9 in 10 women at risk of unintended pregnancy are using a contraceptive method (AGI).
*Given that there were 4,316,000 live births ( in 2007 and there were 1,209,640 abortions (http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/ab-unitedstates.html) - there were 5,516,000 pregnancies (minus fetal deaths by natural causes) in the US. That made the national abortion rate that year 22%. Abortion rates in larger metropolitan areas, like NYC and DC are up around 40% (in NYC, there were 737 abortions per 1000 live births in 2007)
　

What's so wrong with Abortion, anyway?

** I will warn you now that this blog entry is graphic.**

**Please keep this for adult eyes only **

Please refer to my previous blogs to see development that coincides with each method

Doesn’t it reduce ‘unwanted’ children? Children that would otherwise have a difficult upbringing financially, be abused, put in foster care? The term ‘unwanted’ is used by the parents and society at large, not something that will be tattooed on the child’s forehead or dictates their personality in any way. Abortion takes the life of a child, period. Don’t believe me? Think it’s better that they not live at all than face a life of ‘unwantedness’? I hope this entry will a least show you the realities of abortion.

I write this because I was once in the dark about abortion. I was under the impression that abortion doctors were somewhat passive when they performed the procedures. I had only heard of ‘saline abortions’ and thought that saline dissolved the developing baby and all that came out was unrecognizable, but I was very, very wrong. My first glimpse of abortion procedures was in Norma McCorvey’s book, ’Won By Love’ (http://www.roenomore.org/wonbylove/chapter11.htm) . After that, I started getting braver and braver and educating myself. What I found was a gruesome and horrifying practice of nothing less than infanticide. Abortion is something that is heavily in the news now and needs the support of like-minded people to end legal procedures or at the very least reduce the ‘need‘ for abortion through education. People who are in favor of abortion rights and its legality will argue that making abortion illegal or pulling funding from places like Planned Parenthood, take away a woman’s rights and freedom. I hope by reading this entry, you will see that abortion not only strips another human being of its rights and freedom, but it completely violates human rights as a whole and is a violent act against an innocent human being. I will start with the earliest possible abortion and progress to the latest. In some states, abortion is legal at all stages of gestation for the mothers’ health or in cases of rape and incest, so all of these particular procedures occur regularly. Where it is possible, I will provide links and original text for you to explore on your own.

For the sake of argument:
Abortion is defined as: Also called voluntary abortion. the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus
 .
Abortifacient: a drug or device used to cause abortion: a biochemical abortifacient in pill form in order to end a pregnancy.

Fetus: the young of an animal in the womb or egg, especially in the later stages of development when the body structures are in the recognizable form of its kind, in humans after the end of the second month of gestation.
Source: www.dictionary.com

Abortion Procedure 1: Morning After Pill This pill contains the hormone progestin (also present in common birth control pills) which can do one of three things depending on when you take it (it must be taken within 120 hours of unprotected sex). 1. it prevents a woman from ovulating (not an abortive measure). 2. It increases cervical mucus, preventing sperm from getting into the vagina, preventing fertilization (again, not an abortive measure). 3. It thins the lining of the uterus, preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the lining of the uterus (this IS an abortive measure).
Sources: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/emergency-contraception-morning-after-pill-4363.asp (they claim it is not an abortifacient, but anything that causes the expulsion of an embryo, fetus or baby after conception is an abortifacient)
Source:

　

Abortion Procedure 2: The Abortion Pill (Medical Abortion)Used in women up to 9 weeks gestation
1. A pregnant woman is given antibiotics and progesterone - the hormone needed to maintain the lining of the uterus. [This cuts of the food, water and blood supply to the growing fetus, starving it to death.]
2. The woman is given misoprostol. It causes the uterus to empty and the woman will abort within a few hours or a few days.
Source:http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/abortion/abortion-pill-medication-abortion-4354.asp
Picture above: 7 week old baby in utero

 (http://www.lennartnilsson.com/child_is_born.html)


Abortion Procedure 3: Suction Aspiration (aka: suction curettage or vacuum aspiration)

Performed from 7 to 13 weeks
Here is how the website for the ‘American Pregnancy Association’ puts it:
Your abortion provider may give you pain medication and misoprostol in preparation of the procedure. You will lie on your back with your feet in stirrups and a speculum is inserted to open the vagina. A local anesthetic is administered to your cervix. Then a tenaculum is used to hold the cervix in place for the cervix to be dilated by cone shaped rods. When the cervix is wide enough, a cannula, which is a long plastic tube connected to a suction device, is inserted into the uterus to suction out the fetus and placenta. The procedure usually lasts 10-15 minutes, but recovery may require staying at the clinic for a few hours.
Source:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/unplannedpregnancy/surgicalabortions.html　

10 week old baby in utero

http://www.lennartnilsson.com/child_is_born.html

Another put it this way: A powerful suction tube with a sharp cutting edge is inserted into the womb through the dilated cervix. The suction dismembers the body of the developing baby and tears the placenta from the wall of the uterus, sucking blood, amniotic fluid, placental tissue, and fetal parts into a collection bottle.In other words, the cervix is dilated and a tube attached to a strong suction device is inserted into the vagina. The tube has a sharp end on it that punctures the amniotic sack and then, once it has entered the sack, the baby is pulled apart by the suction device. The head is too large to be suctioned out, so the doctor inserts a clamping device to crush the head and then remove it. Dr. Bernard Nathanson made a movie in the 1970s called ‘The Silent Scream’. In it, he documents an ultrasound-aided abortion of an 11 week old fetus. I encourage you to view it. You can find more information at: http://www.silentscream.org/.http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/abortion/abortion-pill-medication-abortion-4354.asp
　

To Be Continued...

Ordinary Miracle

‘…no one who studies development can fail to be filled with a sense of wonder and delight.’ Lewis Wolpert, author of The Triumph of the Embryo
 My son is two. This stage in his development is great fun. He is learning new words at an increasing rate each day, showing interests, dislikes and parts of his personality that we have not seen up to this point. Every part of his development has been a thing of joy to me , from his conception until now. The subject of abortion is so significant to me because I find human development in the first nine months the most fascinating. It’s a miracle that we take for granted. Of course, if you have tried and waited for a long time for a baby, you probably have grasped the miraculous nature of having a baby, but do many of really know or think about the period of time before the missed period? Most women feel their babies move around 16 to 20 weeks. This is referred to as ‘quickening’. Up to that point, we rely on other things, like nausea or hunger or a missed period, to tell us that a tiny, little human being really is living inside our bodies. By the time we feel that little bundle of joy move, however, most of the significant development has finished and the baby is starting to fine tune all of its systems and grow. By that time, the baby’s senses are mostly in place and he or she is experiencing the environment in and out of it’s uterine crib. At birth, they are able to see, hear and recognize often heard voices and sounds and are familiar with smells and tastes he or she experienced in the womb. I have discussed in previous posts the development of a baby starting in the first month, but I want to go back a little further to show the really miraculous part of the whole process. The most fascinating part in my opinion. I did my research before writing this so I could be accurate and have accountability. The book I chose was, ‘Beginning Life’ by Geraldine Lux Flanagan (fantastic book for all ages, by the way!)
In the beginning… If you have taken a biology course at any time, you have probably studied some embryology and know at least the basics of conception. This is a refresher course and a fresh look. If you haven’t studied it, be prepared to be amazed. It all starts with an egg, the largest cell in the human body though it is no larger than the period at the end of this sentence.. Although it did not come first, it is the female’s contribution to a brand new human being. It contains half of the mother’s DNA, nutrients and has a protective, yet soft outer shell. The DNA inside the egg is half of the mother’s own genetic material. DNA is the blueprint for each individual. It makes each person generally human and distinctly a part of that person’s family. However, each egg contains a different variation on the mother’s DNA. No two are exactly alike. 23 Chromosomes with innumerable genes located on them are waiting inside the egg to be matched with 23 chromosomes from the father, in the sperm. Now, the sperm is the smallest cell in the body. It has nothing much to it but genetic material, enzymes to forge its way through the egg, should it make the journey and a tail to propel it to its destination. Once the egg is available, it alerts the sperm with chemical signals that excite the sperm into action. Think of a dog greeting its owner after a long day apart. The sperm are visibly excited and rush to the egg. They shed their outer coating exposing an enzyme that will dissolve a hole in the egg if they are in just the right spot. The sperm attach to the egg and go to work. Once one is in, the egg closes off to all others and the magic begins. It really is a magical, miraculous occurrence. In Psalm 139, David understands how amazing this process is when he says, ‘For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.’ We are skillfully and wonderfully made. At the moment of conception, the egg goes from dormant to active. The metabolism and oxygen intake increase and it gets to work. I mentioned DNA earlier. The DNA from both parents are joined in conception and it would seem that each child should be close to the same, but it’s not the case. We all have 46 chromosomes - 23 pairs, one each from our parents. One pair of chromosomes is responsible for our sex and all that goes with it and the rest are the blueprints for the rest of what makes us who we are. Quick genetics lesson - there are one of four possibilities of expression for each pair of genes from the parents. 4 expressions by 92 chromosomes (DNA separates differently in each egg and sperm cell, so each chromosome from each parent must be counted) gives the minimal possibility of around 400 different individuals from a single couple. There is not, however, one characteristic per chromosome pair. There are hundred of thousands of different genes among the 23 pairs. My point is this, each individual is unique, never to be repeated. Each human conceived is not like anyone who has ever been or like anyone who will ever be.

Embryo at 4 weeks after last period

http://www.lennartnilsson.com/home.html

Lennart Nilsson 'A Child is Born'

So back to the fertilized egg. After conception, the DNA of the sperm and egg join and the egg divides into 2 cells. It continues to divide and be swept through the fallopian tube to the uterus. The cells are still contained within the shell of the egg, so the size doesn’t change as it moves to the place it will settle. Within 24 hours, the egg releases hcG (the hormone detected in a home pregnancy test) into the mother’s bloodstream suppressing the menstrual cycle and preparing the mother to be a mother. In 3 to 4 days, the egg reaches the uterus and floats around for 2 to 3 more days, increasing the number of cells (which at this point are identical in function), until it finds a perfect spot to nest - in close proximity to the mother’s blood vessels in the upper part of the uterus. As it prepares to attach to the uterus, the cells begin to differentiate and divide into two layers - one will become to the support system for the baby and one is the baby. The cells then burst out of the shell and attach to the lining of the uterus. This happens 7 days after fertilization, usually 21-24 days after the first day of a woman’s last period. It is important to note that this new being should be rejected and attacked by the mother’s immune system, but it is not. It is equipped with a chemical signal that allows it acceptance by the mother’s body. The mother’s body encapsulates the embryo, which forms villi or roots into the lining of the uterus to facilitate the exchange of nutrients, water and oxygen. Inside this protective lining during the second week after fertilization, the cells again differentiate into three layers. The outer will be the brain, the spinal cord, nerves and skin. The middle layer will be the digestive system, liver and pancreas and the inner will be the heart, blood vessels, muscles and skin. 2 weeks later, a little heart is pumping blood through tiny blood vessels and the brain shows specifically human specialization. By the end of the first month, the baby is 10,000 times larger than the original egg! By the earliest point that a woman finds out she is pregnant, the baby already has a heart, a brain and a spinal column.

It blows me away that in just 9 months a baby develops from a tiny pencil-dot sized cell into a newborn baby. The author of the book says this, ‘The wonder of it is that these myriad cells organized themselves into a human body with the beginnings of all its exquisitely specialized components, all in their right places and some already practicing their functions.’ It is estimated that in nine months, the two beginning cells become between 1 to 5 TRILLION by the time a baby is born. The wonder is that God created each of us in this miraculous process. Just like he created Adam to be unique and breathed life and His spirit into him, He does the same for us. Each person is a unique creation that has never and will never exist again.
　
　

　

What I have learned

I haven’t written an entry in a while and honestly it is mostly due to the fact that I feel that no one really is paying any attention, but things that I have read recently and the dialogue and actions that are going on around the country in regards to abortion are amazing and more than I have ever seen before and have encouraged me to get back to what I began.
In addition to all the media information on the abortion debate, I have been reading the Bible. Not a stretch for me if you know me, but I have decided to read the entire Bible this year. It’s something I haven’t done in probably about 10 years and I am learning so much more than I have. The major thing that seems relevant to me right now is the fallen civilizations. Every civilization that procured God’s judgment and subsequent destruction had one of three things in common - they turned away from God (or never acknowledged Him in the first place), practiced deviant sexual behavior and/or performed child sacrifice in honor of their ’gods’. These civilizations were destroyed based on the fact that they either took God out of their daily discussions, actions and social interactions, turned away from God’s plan for sex (one man with one woman in the bonds of marriage) and/or killed their infant sons and daughters (this they did by burning them alive). Sadly, our country has all three of those things going on all at the same time. We are taking God out of everything, sex has become a free-for-all and we are taking the lives of our infant children in the thousands every day. This is why I am writing this blog. It is vitally important that we stand up for those children, that we keep God in our daily conversations without apology and stand up for marriage. I am trying to do all three of those things as much as I can and though I have backed down on the abortion discussion, I am going to do what I can to educate others on what abortion is and does and hope that, even if this isn’t our ‘passion, you will stand with me and fight for our country and our people. In the next month, I will be detailing abortion procedures. I encourage you to prepare yourself and read these blog entries. Reading about these procedures is what changed my perspective on the whole issue and made me want to fight even harder to make sure everyone has an informed decision. Whether abortion is made illegal or stays legal, I would love to see that fact being irrelevant and have woman stand up and fight for their own children. One thing that will change things is the words we use. We always say ‘baby-to-be’, ‘mommy-to-be’, ‘I am going to have a baby’, ‘He’s going to be a big brother’ etc. That ‘to-be’ makes the developing child seem like it’s not a baby yet and therefore is expendable until birth. We no longer refer to a woman as 'with child'.  But they are. Woman become mothers at conception. We need to believe that for things to start to change.

New to my Site?

If you are new to this site, let me give you a little background... I am a a lover of God, a devoted wife and a stay at home mom, in that order.  God has given me a new passion to educate others about the issue of abortion. Bear with me, I know that this is a controversial subject and no one wants to talk about it.  My hope, however, is that, through this blog, I will at least encourage you to pray for those finding themselves in the dilemma of an unplanned pregnancy and the innocent children who need voices to speak for them.  Please stay tuned. I promise a life-changing experience for you.

Not just a clump of cells...

http://liveaction.org/blog/baby-body-parts-found-in-el-paso-abortion-clinic-parking-lot-police-investigating/

It's not just a clump of cells as many would like to believe. Just look at those tiny hands and feet! What are we doing (or not doing)?

A Womb with a View, Part 3

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3

Since March 8, there has been an event called 40 Days for Life (http://www.40daysforlife.com/) - a pro-life prayer vigil going on all over the world. Today marks the half-way point and they are reporting that 178 women have chosen life for their babies as a result of those individuals praying in the vicinity of abortion clinics around the world. When you look at the statistics, that 3,000 to 4,000 babies are aborted daily in our country, 178 seems a small percentage of the 80,000 babies that statistically are would have been aborted during these 20 days, but that’s 178 lives that were saved and THAT is a victory! We still need to fight for the other babies’ lives and praying for the mothers and fathers of these children and for those who are working in the abortion clinics.

This post, I will continue with my own pregnancy experience. The next ultrasound I experienced was the typical one that most women go through during the course of a normal pregnancy. It is the 20 week ultrasound. During this examination, the tech checks all the organs to make sure they are present and functioning, looks for proper brain development, measures the head circumference (for Down’s Syndrome) as well as many other vital functions for the baby. Parents are also able to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl. We had a great experience with ours. The tech we had didn’t actually work at this particular clinic, but was filling in for someone who was out. We were so blessed to have her! She was thorough and obviously loved her job. We were in our appointment for nearly an hour and a half.

The development of the baby continues to be miraculous. By 12 weeks, the baby is peeing, producing insulin and digestive fluids. The brain is fully developed (though still growing and specializing) and the pituitary gland is producing hormones. By 14 weeks, the baby is practicing breathing by drawing amniotic fluid into the lungs, the prostate gland is forming in males and ovaries are descending to the pelvis in girls. By 18 weeks, the baby can hear and sense touch, can swallow and in females, all of the reproductive organs are formed. At the time of the 20 week ultrasound, the baby is about 6 to 8 inches long and 9 to 12 ounces. He or she has hair and nails, is developing all five senses, and a heartbeat is detectable with instruments outside the mother’s body.

I had started feeling my son move at about 16 weeks. That’s earlier than usual, but it felt like little flutters. By the time I got to the ultrasound, I could really feel him move. He had quite the personality, apparently not enjoying the ultrasound. He kicked at the wand, giving us a great shot of his foot, hid his face, put his hands over his heart as the tech was trying to look at it and moved all over the place. We got to see him yawn, swallow and use his hands to feel around. At one point , we saw that he had his legs crossed at the ankle. He did that all through infancy and even does it sometimes now at nearly two years old. It was a really fun experience topped off with finding out that we were having a boy ( I convinced myself I was having a girl). We got a lot of pictures, so I will try to post as many as I can.
Here is my beautiful baby boy:

Truly Amazing!