Dilation & Evacuation (D&E) Second or Third Trimester (roughly thirteen weeks of pregnancy and onward) [4]

Pre-Procedure

The abortion doctor starts by entering the cervix. The cervix must be opened wider than in a first trimester abortion at this point in the pregnancy. Dilators will be used by the abortionist to accomplish this. Dilation can take several hours or overnight for pregnancies that are early in the second trimester; dilation can take one to two days for pregnancies that are further along in the second trimester. Dilation of the cervix can be done in a variety of ways, and whatever procedure is utilized depends on a number of parameters.

D&E Procedure

After withdrawing the dilators, the abortion physician may utilize an ultrasound to identify the fetus and pregnancy debris. Suction aspiration may be sufficient to remove the pregnancy without the use of forceps if it occurs early in the second trimester. This procedure is analogous to a vacuum aspiration abortion.

Forceps are frequently required to complete the surgery after sixteen weeks of pregnancy. The abortion doctor inserts forceps into the uterus, opens them, and uses a rotating motion to pull the fetus apart and out. After the fetus and the contents of the uterus have been removed, the provider will inspect the inside of the uterus to ensure that nothing has been perforated and that the fetus and pregnancy matter have been eliminated.

Fetal Demise

The abortion provider may choose to inject the fetus with drugs if the fetus has reached the age when he or she may live independently of the mother. The medicine is injected into the amniotic sac, the fetus's heart, or the umbilical cord, depending on the substance. The needle may be guided by ultrasound while it is inserted by the abortion provider. The provider may do a D&E operation after the fetus has died to confirm that nothing is left inside the uterus.

Intact D&E

The greater the number of passes the forceps must make into the uterus, the greater the risk of injury. It is preferable to remove the fetus from the uterus intact after the cervix has been pushed open wide enough. Dilators (typically laminaria) will be inserted two days prior to the abortion. The fetus's skull is frequently too large to pass through the cervical canal and must be crushed in order to be removed. This can be done with forceps or by forming a hole in the base of the skull through which the contents can be suctioned out. If problems develop, the abortion doctor may use a sharp instrument to pierce the skull and collapse it with forceps or suction. The abortion doctor can then remove the fetus from the uterus, which is otherwise unharmed.

Often women opt for a late-term abortion because their fetus has been diagnosed with a defect. If this is the case, there is assistance, hope, and solutions available to you. Please contact us so that we can discuss all of your options with you.

You are not alone if you are considering abortion. There are a lot of alternatives to abortion that you can consider. As with any medical operation, it's critical to know what an abortion includes, as well as the potential side effects, dangers, problems, and alternatives. If you're ready to speak to someone about your circumstance, give us a call and we'll be happy to help you in confidence.