rdwornit@lhup.edu

70,000 women die from abortion each year.  A meeting, held in Cairo, was to evaluate the progress made, since 1994, to prevent maternal deaths from abortions.  The International Conference on Population and Development reported that very little has been done in prevention.

Asia is accounted for the most unsafe abortions, followed by Africa, and then Latin America.

Asia: 10.5 million in 2000

"We have figures that 40 women every minute undergo an unsafe abortion and 200 are dying every day. The real message is that these deaths and disabilities from unsafe abortion are preventable." -Elizabeth Maguire                                                               

• The first recorded formula for an abortion was recorded in 2600 BC. 

• St. Augustine states as Catholic law that an abortion may be performed up until a certain amount of days depending on the sex of the fetus (80 days for females and 40 days for males), in the 4th century AD.

• Pope Sixtus forbids all abortions in 1588.

• Great Britain makes abortions a misdemeanor in 1803.

• In 1860, all states make criminal abortion laws.

• Federal Comstock laws prohibit the distribution of any information on both birth control and abortion in 1873.

• Margaret Sanger, who led the movement for birth control in the US and is responsible for starting Planned Parenthood Federation of America, is born in 1879.

• In 1956, the birth control pill is born. 

• In 1970, Hawaii, Alaska, and New York allow abortion in the first trimester.

• In 1973, the Supreme Court rules, in Roe v Wade, that abortion is allowed in the first trimester by choice of the woman and the second trimester with limitations.  The third trimester is illegal except to save the life of the woman.

• Mifeprex, an abortion pill, is approved in the US .

Drug-induced Abortions: 

Milfeprex, taken in pill form, cause a miscarriage by blocking the production of progesterone, a hormone needed during pregnancy.  Can be taken 63 days LMP (last menstrual period).

Methotrexate, given in a shot, cuts the supply of developing cells.  It is only effective for up until 6 weeks of last LMP. 

Surgical Abortions: 

Vacuum Aspiration is the most commonly used abortion.  Performed during 7-15 weeks of pregnancy, the cervix is dilated and a inserted tube, attached to a vacuum, empties the uterus.  This procedure takes 4-8min.  Another similar procedure, less commonly used, manually empties the uterus with a syringe rather than a vacuum. 

D&E ( dilation and evacuation) is done during the second trimester of pregnancy, which 15-24 weeks LMP.  A fiber is inserted into the cervix expands over night, dilating the cervix.  Using small forceps and suction, the procedure is finished.

D&X (dilation and extraction) is usually carried out in the third trimester, when it is much needed for reasons such as, saving the life of the woman or other complications during the pregnancy.  The fetal head, made of cartilage, is collapsed and passed through the cervix.  In some cases, the physician will fill the head with a jelly-like substance afterward, so that the parents can hold their baby and say good-bye.

Health Risks: 

Women, whether it is legal or not, will continue to get abortions.  These abortions that are done  illegally can result in mental and physical harm and in many cases, death.  Also, women who are physically ill can receive an abortion to avoid any fatal complications caused by pregnancy.  Some women may also mentally be unprepared for pregnancy.

Rights:

Women, like every individual in this country have rights.  A woman should have the right to chose whether she is ready to be a mother or not, especially in rape and incest situations. 

Child Neglect:

Unwanted children tend to grow up knowing that they are unwanted.  Forcing a woman to carry a child may cause her to neglect that child.  A woman may also be unable to financially support her child.  This could lead to an increase in welfare needs and higher taxes.

• A fetus has a right to live.

• There is always adoption as a choice and there are many people who want to adopt.

• A baby is a gift from God and you should accept this gift.

• Abortion is not birth control.

• A fetus is more than just tissue, it is a person; therefore abortion is murder.

• The fetus does experience pain.  ( This is only after about twenty weeks of development).

Most unsafe abortions are carried out among poor women.  Why?  Some reasons are:

• Excluded from federal family-planning policies.

• Negative attitudes of health care professionals who decide who is allowed access to services.

• Medicaid payments are restricted and limited to...           

  In-hospital services while most early abortions are carried out in outpatient clinics and medically necessary treatment which is interpreted as therapeutic abortion (save the life of the mother or prevent the birth of a deformed child).

Three to Five Weeks:  The baby's heart starts beating and it's neural tube begins to develop which will eventually become a brain.  The baby is about the size of a raisin.
Seven Weeks: Baby begins to move.  Facial features are visible and the child has a blood type, separate from the mother's, produced by his/her own liver.
Eight Weeks: The baby swims around within the amniotic sac, protecting him/her.  Fingers and toes have developed, brain waves can be measured, and the baby is only about half an inch long.
Ten to Twelve Weeks: The heart and brain are almost completely developed.  The teeth and vocal cords are developed.  The baby can feel pain, cry silently, and occasionally sucks his/her thumb.

	Fourteen and Fifteen Weeks: Muscle develops further and the baby begins to kick.  The baby has also developed taste buds.
	Sixteen Weeks: The baby can now grasp with his/her hands.  He/She is about five and half inches tall and weighs about six ounces.  Eyebrows, eyelashes, and fine hair have grown.
	Twenty Weeks: Fingernails and fingerprints have developed and the child can recognize his/her mother's voice.  Sex organs appear and the baby's sex can be distinguished.  The baby could possibly survive if born at this point.

Twenty-four Weeks: The child is covered in fine downy hair, lanugos, and has a waxy protective substance covering his/her skin, vernix.  The baby inhales amniotic fluid into his/her lungs to practice breathing.
Thirty-two Weeks: The baby will sleep about 90 to 95 % of the day and sometimes even experiences REM sleep.  Therefore, the baby may be dreaming.
Forty Weeks: The baby will take his/her first breath of air, stopping the umbilical cord from working any further.  The baby is about seven pounds and ready for life outside the womb.

1.  Aries, Nancy.  2003.  American Journal of Public Health. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynocologists and the Evolution of Abortion 

    Policy, 1951-1973: The Politica of Science. Vol. 93, No.11.  p. 1810-1819.

2.  Feldt, Gloria.  (1989, March).  Nine Reasons Why Abortion Should be Legal.  Planned Parenthood Federation of America. 

     <http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ABORTION/9reasons.html> .  (2004, September 9).

3.  Freeman, Ellen W.  1976.  Social Work.  Abortion: Beyond Rhetoric to Access.  p. 483-487

4.  Hope Clinic for Women.  (2002, October 19).  Types of Abortions.  <http://www.hopeclinic.com/typesofab.htm> . (2004, September 9).

5.  Hope Clinic for Women.  (2002, October 19).  History of Abortion.  <http://www.hopeclinic.com/history.htm> .  (2004, September 9).

6.  Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life.  (doesn't say).  Fetal Pain: Unborn Babies Suffer Pain While They are Being Killed by Abortion.  <

      http://www.mccl.org/fp_news/fetal_pain.htm> .  (2004, September 9).

7.  Northup, Nancy.  (2000, March).  Safe Abortion: A Public Health Imperative.  Center for Reproductive Rights. 

    <http://www.reproductiverights.org/pub_fac_atksafe.html> .  (2004, September 8). 

8.  Reuters.  (2004, September 1).  Unsafe Abortions Kill 70,000 Women a Year.  MSNBC News.  <http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5886985/> . 

      (2004, September 8). 

9.  Steinmetz, Israel.  (2001, December 10).  Nine Reasons Why Abortion Should be Illegal.  <http://www.mrdata.net/books/9reasons.htm> . 

     (2004, September 9).

10.  Terwillger, M.  (2004, January 2).  Fetal Development.  <http://www.w-cpc.org/fetal1.html> .  (2004, September 20).