about 1.4 million/year in the United States. About 140,000 second trimester (four to six months) abortions are performed yearly; representing about 9% of the total. About 2% of abortions are preformed in the third trimester (seven to eight months) of pregnancy, that’s 3,200. However, the fact, unavoidable on hard paper, is that out of the thousands of abortion centers, a single abortion center in New Jersey committed over three thousand 3rd trimester abortions per year (Rosenblatt, 1992). There is also a clinic in New York that commits more then a few thousand per year.Surgical AbortionsOne type of technique used during the first trimester is the suction curettage (vacuum aspiration) (Baker, 1995). This technique is used early in the 1st trimester. The cervix is dilated with a series of instruments. A tube is inserted Abortion 6into the uterus and connected to a strong vacuum. The embryo is removed by suction. Another type of technique, which is performed later in the 1st trimester, is dilation and curettage (D & C). It is the same technique used after miscarriages (Baker, 1995). The cervix is dilated. An instrument with a sharp loop at the end is inserted into the uterus. The inside wall of the uterus is scrapped; the lining and the embryo is removed by suction.The only technique used in 2nd trimester abortions is dilation and evacuation (D & E). A material made of seaweed (laminaria) is placed in the cervix in order to dilate it widely. Forceps are then used to remove the baby/fetus, in pieces.One type of technique performed in the 3rd trimester is saline or prostaglandin abortions. A needle is fed through the woman’s abdomen into the liquid that surrounds the baby/fetus. A saline solution, made of salt and water, is passed through the needle. The baby/fetus dies of salt poisoning. Labor follows, and a dead baby/fetus is delivered. The salt burns the skin of the baby/fetus.Another type of technique per...
