1. Have you given yourself time to think about this decision?
2. Do you really want to have the abortion, or is someone forcing you into it?  If you are feeling rushed or confused, perhaps your conscience is warning you not to proceed with the abortion.  If your conscience is bothering you now, it will be worse after the abortion. 
3. Have you considered all your options?  For example:  family/friend support, adoption, etc.
4. Did you know there are many pregnancy care centers all around the U.S. that will help you get the things you need for your baby?
5. Will the doctor perform an ultrasound and allow you to view the screen?
6. Has the doctor fully explained all the possible short and long-term complications, including medical as well as psychological?
7. Will the doctor be available to treat you if there are complications and does he/she have hospital priviledges?

 The Caring House advises against abortion.  We lovingly support the life of the unborn child as well as the woman carrying the child.  This center does not offer abortion services or referrals.  We offer option counseling and information about abortion procedures & risks.

Procedures:

• Medical (RU 486) (Abortion Pill)   -  Usually requires three office visits.  Pills are given to cause the death of the fetus.  Follow-up pills are given to cause cramping to expel the fetus.
• Manual Vacuum Aspiration  -  A long thin tube is inserted into the uterus.  A large syring is attached to the tube and the fetus is suctioned out.
• Suction Curettage (Most Common) -  The cervix is stretched open using metal rods.  A hard plastic suction tube is placed into the uterus.  The device pulls the fetus body apart and out of the uterus.  A loop-shaped knife may be used to scrape the fetal parts out of the uterus.
• Dilation & Evacuation -  This is a complex surgical procedure preformed in the second trimester.  The fetus is too large to be broken up by suction alone.  Numerous rods are inserted into the cervix to stretch it open.  Forceps are used to pull out the fetal parts, the skull is crushed to ease removal.  A sharp tool scrapes out the contents of the uterus.
• Dilation & Extraction (Partial Birth Abortion)  -  This procecure takes three days and is considered a partial birth abortion.  For two days the cervix is stretched open using rods made of seaweed, and medication is needed for the pain.  The legs of the fetus are grasped with forceps and delivered up to the head.  Scissors are then inserted into the skull allowing the suction catheter to remove the brain.  The skull collapses and the baby is removed.

 Risks:

• Hemorrhage
• Infection
• Perforation of the uterus
• Damage to the cervix
• Scarring of the uterine lining
• Effects on later pregnancy
• Continued pregnancy
• Breast cancer
• Death 

Some men & women have an overwhelming feeling of relief immediately after the abortion, but many people have other feelings later that they find hard to cope with.  They are difficult to talk about and are labeled as Post Abortion Stress Syndrome.

Many women find themselves unable to:  1) process the fear, anger, sadness and guilt surrounding her abortion experience, 2) grieve the loss of her baby, and 3) come to peace with God, herself and others involved in the abortion decision.

Defense Mechanisms   Many women go into a defense mode after the abortion and knowing she cannot go back and 'undo' the abortion.  These mechanisms help her to protect her from uncomfortable feelings and thoughts.

• Rationalization of the abortion.  Finding logical reasons, explanations, and excuses for having had the abortion.
• Repression.  A way of preventing unconscious information from reaching the conscious mind - blocking out memories of the painful emotions surrounding the abortion.
• Compensation.  Making up for the abortion by doing 'good things', or working very hard to prove that the abortion was really necessary.
• Reaction formation.  The pushing down of frightening feelings and thoughts connected with a past abortion  by vehemently professing the exact opposite of those feelings - as if by expressing the contrary thought enough times, one can begin to believe it.

Symptoms of PASS    The defense mechanisms may work for a while, but if enough stress enters her life, she may find it difficult to cope with current stresses and continue repressing "forgotten" memories.  These symptoms may not all appear at once, and some of these may occur immediately after the abortion while others may not show up for years after the abortion.  If you have 3 or more of these listed, you may very well be going through PASS.