1. What can you do if you are pregnant?
Pregnancy Options
What can you do if you are pregnant?

2. Abortion Abortion – The termination of a pregnancy
Roe vs. Wade – Case that provided women with abortion rights
The decision is always the woman’s final choice !!!

3. Abortion You can have an abortion at any age
What are the requirements for an abortion in NJ?
You can have an abortion at any age
No parent permission or notification required
No waiting period required

4. Statistics
Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and 4 in 10 of these are abortions
52% of American women obtaining abortions are younger than 25: Women obtain 33% and teenagers obtain 19%.
At least 80% of all abortions are performed on unmarried women

6. Abortion Options Medical Abortion – up to 9 weeks Surgical Abortion -
Abortion Pill
Surgical Abortion -
Manual or machine vacuum aspiration – up to 12 weeks
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) – 2nd trimester- up to 24 weeks
Non-Surgical Abortion
Induction Abortion – 3rd trimester
Partial Birth Abortion – 3rd trimester

7. Abortion Pill Abortion Pill - medicine used to end the pregnancy
Available at planned parenthood
Costs $350-$650
Can be taken up until 9 weeks

8. Abortion Pill How does the abortion pill work exactly?
Pill #1 - Mifepristone - Blocks progesterone (will cause the lining of the uterus to break down & pregnancy cannot continue)
Inducing Menstruation
Pill #2 - Misprostol - Causes uterus to empty.
The embryo is expelled

9. Surgical Abortions
Manual or Machine Vacuum Aspiration – a tube is inserted into the dilated vagina with an manual or electric pump that draws tissue out of the uterus
1st trimester (Up to 12 weeks)
Cervix is numbed and stretched
Insertion of forceps into the uterus
Fetus is removed using a manual or electric pump
Curette is used to scape the uterine lining

10. Surgical Abortions
Dilation and Evacuation – Cervix is dilated, tube is inserted, forceps are used, curette is used to scrape uterine lining, and vacuum aspiration is used to draw tissue out of the uterus
2nd trimester (Up to 24 weeks)
Cervix is dilated
Forceps inserted into the uterus
Vacuum aspiration draws out tissue
Curette scrapes the uterine lining

11. Dilation and Evacuation

12. Non Surgical Abortion Induction Abortion - 3rd trimester
Medication is given to induce labor:
Lethal does of heart medication (Digoxin) is injected into the heart of the fetus or..
“Salt-Poisoning” abortion – needle inserted through the amniotic sac
Cervix is dilated
Labor is induced with oxytocin
Woman goes through stages of labor and delivery with pain medicine provided to deliver dead fetus
Can be done b/c of a medical problem or illness present in the pregnant woman or fetus

13. Partial Birth Abortion
3rd trimester
Cervix dilated
Baby is pulled through the birth canal feet first, leaving only the head inside.
The base of the skull is punctured using surgical scissors
A tube is inserted and brain tissue is sucked out causing the skull to collapse

14. Partial Birth Abortion

15. Adoption
Adoption – Some women may choose to have the baby and then give it someone else to raise
Open adoption – The adopting parents can choose the family they want. They also meet and know each other the family. Full identification is provided. Depending on the agency, future contact may be available.
Closed adoption – Records of the adoption are kept sealed. Birth parents are not involved.

16. Safe Haven Law
Law created that allows the mother or father of a newborn, 7 days old or less to leave the baby at a safe haven facility
Totally anonymous
No questions asked
Prevents baby abandonment

17. Adoption Pros
If you don’t believe in abortion, but parenting is also not a good or realistic option
Can help people who wish to have a baby, but cannot conceive one
Possibly can provide the child with a better life

18. Adoption Cons
Going through the pregnancy for 9 months and then having to give the baby up (attachment)
Do not always know if the people adopting the baby are going to be good parents
Can have emotional effects