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Abortion Checklist
Issues to Consider Prior to an Abortion

1. Confirm your pregnancy.

First, be absolutely sure you are pregnant. It is possible that you are not. We provide a lab-quality, one-step, urine pregnancy test that will give you a positive or negative result with a 99% accuracy rate.

2. Know how far along you are in your pregnancy.

At conception: the moment your egg is fertilized by a sperm it contains the plans for every detail of the baby’s development; including the sex of the baby, hair and eye color, personality and body type.
3 weeks: The heart begins to beat.
4 weeks: The brain, spinal cord and nervous system develop.
5 weeks: Arms with hands, fingers, legs with feet, toes and eyes can be seen.
6 weeks: Brain waves can be detected.
7 weeks: Facial features are visible, including mouth and tongue. Eyelids are forming. The developing life is about 1 inch long.
8 weeks: Every organ is now present. Movement such as swimming in the amniotic sac is going on.
9 weeks: Hands bend, fingerprints and fingernails are forming, bones are hardening. Male and female organs appear.
10 weeks: The fetus is sensitive to touch, squints, swallows, frowns and sucks its thumb. Tiny teeth are forming in the gums. The fetus is now 2.5 inches in length. All that is left is for the fetus to grow bigger.

3. Find out what type of abortion will be performed.

There are different types of abortion depending on how far along you are in the pregnancy. Some methods involve physically removing the fetus with instruments; while others involve the use of chemicals.

One of the more commonly performed abortions, for anyone less than 15 weeks pregnant is a suction abortion, also called vacuum aspiration abortion. In this procedure, the cervical muscle is stretched with dilators (metal rods) until the opening is wide enough to allow the abortion tools to pass into the uterus. The doctor then turns on the suction machine, which pulls the placenta and fetus into parts small enough to pass out of your body through the suction tube.

4. Know what supporting services will be provided with the abortion.

As part of your overall care, you should be offered both PRE AND POST ABORTION COUNSELING. If the abortion provider does not offer these services, you may want to think twice about having your abortion performed there.

5. Abortion can carry health risks.

Since abortion is a surgical procedure, there is the potential for health complications or injury. Make sure you know what the possible risks are to your health. Listed below are some of the more common ones:

• heavy bleeding • infections • perforation of the uterus • scarring of the uterine lining • an incomplete abortion • effects on future pregnancies • increased potential for breast cancer • in rare cases, death

6. Abortion can carry emotional & mental risks.

Sad woman Initially, many women (and men) report feeling relief after having an abortion. However, as time goes on a number of women (and men) report that they start to experience some of the following:

feelings of sadness, regret, guilt, depression, anger
suicidal thoughts and self destructive actions
struggles with turning off feelings or memories related to the abortion
extreme distress when around babies or pregnant women
anniversary reactions on the baby's due date and/or abortion date
difficulty in maintaining meaningful relationships

7. Know the name of the doctor performing the abortion.

In case of complications or injuries, you need to know the name of the doctor who is responsible.

8. Know your legal rights.

Some abortion providers may have you sign a form, which states they are not liable for any damages that might occur because of the abortion. However, this document has virtually NO legal authority. If you are injured during the abortion, you retain your right to seek financial compensation in a court of law, regardless of what you signed.

9. You can change your mind at any time.

Since abortion is usually elective surgery, you can change your mind at any time. Even up until the abortion begins. You have every right to say, "I've changed my mind," while you are in the waiting room or on the examining table awaiting the abortion. Don't feel pressured into having the abortion if you've decided against it or just want time to reconsider. Saying, "Stop!" is your right.

10. Our commitment to you

The Shady Grove Pregnancy Center is committed to providing accurate information on abortion. Our goal is to help women and men find solutions to the circumstances that are causing them to think that abortion is their only choice. We offer pre and post abortion counseling, supportive care and life-affirming alternatives to abortion in order to aid women and men to continued physical and mental health.

It's your life, your decision, your call.
Call us today: 301-963-6223

Abortion Checklist Issues to Consider Prior to an Abortion