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Second Trimester Abortion Clinic Near Me | A Look At The Second Trimester Procedure.
Second Trimester Abortions for this blog will be defined as terminations of pregnancies at 13.1 to 27.9 weeks.
- Approximately 90 percent of abortions occur in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy.
- 4.5 percent of abortions occur after the 16th week of pregnancy
- 1.3% of abortions occur after 21 weeks of pregnancy.
Abortions that occur after the 13th week of pregnancy are most common among blacks, less educated, poor and low
income, and women who have had 3 or more life changing events in their lives. Examples of the latter would be loss of her job, partner or spouse.
Abortions that occur 16 weeks or further are more common in blacks, women who have a higher education, or women who have medical insurance.
Reasons for Second Trimester Abortions:
- Prenatal testing and pregnancy ultrasound that identifies significant fetal or congenital abnormalities
- States that have passed laws that restrict abortion access
- Women who did not know that they were pregnant
- Teenagers who are afraid to discuss their pregnancy matter with Family due to fear, guilt or shame
- Over 58% of women who obtain an abortion in the second trimester had not obtained a pregnancy test until after 13.1 weeks or further
Who Can Get A Second Trimester Abortion?
The US Supreme Court under Roe vs Wade ruled that women were able to terminate their pregnancies prior to viability. Viability is defined as the child being able to live outside of the womb.
There is no definitive age that a fetus reaches viability. The gestational age generally ranges from 22 to 28 weeks. Fetal viability must be determined on an individual basis.
On the same day of the Roe vs Wade ruling, the Supreme Court under Doe vs Bolton suggests after considering moral, ethical, age, family, religious, financial, medical and psychosocial factors, a woman has the right to terminate her pregnancy after the fetal obtains viability.
Second Trimester Abortions Have Decreased:
The abortion rate overall has decreased in the US for several reasons:
- The incidence of pregnancy has decreased
- The use of long acting contraceptive methods have increased
- There is an underreporting of pregnancy termination due to an increase in self induction with the abortion pill method.
- State legislatures passing laws that cause significant restrictions on abortions such as:
- 24 to 72 hour delay after signing consent
- Parental consent Requirement of Parental Consent for teenagers less than 18 years old
- Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC) required in many States for surgical abortions to be performed
Why Do Second Trimester Abortions Happen?
The reasons for terminating pregnancies in the second trimester are vast. Some include the following:
- The mother’s health or life is threatened
- There is a fetal physical or congenital defect that is incompatible with life.
Examples of fetal abnormalities and congenital defects incompatible with life are anencephaly, hydranencephaly, encephalocoele, absent bilateral kidneys (potter’s syndrome), trisomy 13, 16, 18 and skeletal Autosomal Dominant congenital abnormalities that are not detectable by Sonogram until the third trimester of pregnancy.
How To Find Second Trimester Abortion Clinics?
One can see that in searching for the keywords Second Trimester abortion, abortion pill for Second Trimester abortion, Second Trimester abortion clinic, Second Trimester abortion Doctor, Second Trimester abortion specialist, Second Trimester abortion clinic USA, Second Trimester abortion near me or Second Trimester abortion clinic near me are all terms utilized to find clinic, doctors or hospitals that specialize in terminating pregnancies from 13 to 24 weeks or further.
How Are Second Trimester Abortions Performed?
They can be performed surgically or medically (Abortion Pill).
Second Trimester Surgical Dilation and Evacuation:
The most important part of the procedure to ensure safety, is to ensure enough time for cervical preparation. Generally; the further the number of weeks of pregnancy, the longer it takes for the cervix to become soft and dilate (open) enough for the surgical instruments to be placed inside the uterus and the pregnancy tissue be removed gently by using ultrasound guidance.
The cervical preparation generally may take 1 to 3 days using a medication called Laminaria. It is sterile seaweed and is shaped in the form of a matchstick. When inserted inside the cervix, it absorbs water and swells up slowly like a sponge. It causes the softening and opening of the cervix.
Second Trimester Abortion Pill:
Numerous studies have been shown the safety and efficiency in performing second trimester medical abortion pill procedure from 3 to 24 weeks or further.
The abortion pill method is rapidly becoming the preferred method of terminating pregnancies around the world and the US.
The Second Trimester abortion pill method utilizes Cytotec (Misoprostol) alone, or the combination of Cytotec and Mifepristone (RU 486, Mifeprex, Mifegyne, French Pill).
The process is started and completed within 24 hours or less in 99% of patients with minimal side effects or complications.
Intra-amniotic or Intra-fetal Injection of Digoxin or Potassium Chloride (KCl)
The potential of a fetus being born alive that is viable during the Second Trimester, Late Term and Third Trimester Abortion procedures is low.
If for whatever reason there is a live birth (active heart beat, shallow breathing, palpable cord pulse), it is required that all heroic resuscitation efforts must take place.
Women who are undergoing elective or medical indications for termination of pregnancy further than 19 weeks of further, should be offered a intra-amniotic or intracardiac injection to stop the fetal heartbeat.
Intracardiac injection of Digoxin and KCL will stop the heart immediately. The majority of medically personnel do not have the experience or expertise to perform this procedure.
It is less demanding and simple to perform a intra-amniotic procedure. This entails cleaning the woman’s abdomen with an antiseptic and under ultrasound guidance gliding a spinal cavity through the uterine wall.
Once the tip of the needle is inside the amnion, Digoxin (1 to 2 mg) can be placed. Multiple studies show that the fetal heart stops 95 t0 100% of the time in 24 hours or less.
Second Trimester Abortion Complications:
It is 10 times safer to undergo a surgical or medical abortion procedure than to have a full term delivery.
Surgical Complications:
Complications are very rare and occur less than 0.5%. This is because of the time taken to assure adequate softening and opening of the cervix prior to surgical instruments being used to remove the pregnancy tissue.
Complications may include cervical tears, bowel and bladder damage, uterine perforation, retained pregnancy tissue, infection and heavy vaginal bleeding.
Abortion Pill Complications:
Medical abortion complications include failed abortion, incomplete abortion, heavy bleeding, infection, sepsis (bacteria in blood), chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, chills, shivering and headache.
The incidence of having to be admitted to the hospital is 0.1 to 0.3%.
Second Trimester Abortion Costs:
The price of a Second Trimester abortion can range in price from $500.00 to $35,000.
In Conclusion:
Second Trimester abortions can be performed surgically or the Abortion Pill method from 3 to 24 weeks or further.
It has become harder to find an Abortion Clinic or Doctor who can perform Second Trimester Abortions.
Searching on-line for a second trimester abortion clinic should be helpful in finding an abortion facility to help in the most difficult times in a woman’s life.
The Second Trimester Abortion Pill Procedure can be started and completed in 24 hours or less in 99% of patients.
Dr James S Pendergraft | Orlando Women’s Center | Abortion Clinic Orlando
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