FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is abortion?
2. How is abortion performed?
3. Is abortion a safe operation?
4. What are the options?
5. Identifying Information

What is Abortion?
The term 'abortion' refers to the ending of a pregnancy and involves the death of an unborn child. 'Spontaneous abortion' or 'miscarriage' is very common and results from natural causes. 'Induced abortion' usually referred to as 'abortion', is the deliberate ending of the pregnancy and the life of the unborn child, either surgically or with drugs.

How is abortion performed?
Methods of abortion vary according to the stage of pregnancy and the size of the unborn child.

The most common method used in the first 12 weeks (first trimester) of pregnancy is suction aspiration (suction). In this procedure, the cervix is forced open by inserting rods (dilators) of increasing size. A hollow tube with a knife-edged tip called a cannula, which is attached to a very powerful vacuum, is then inserted into the womb and the unborn child is sucked down the tube in pieces. If the head is too large it may be crushed in order to be removed. It is also very important to remove the placenta which is attached to the lining of the womb.

Another method used in the first trimester is the dilation and curettage (D&C). The cervix is dilated in the same way and a curette or scraping instrument is used to scrape the unborn child (in pieces) from the womb. As with every abortion, it is essential that all of the unborn child and the placenta are removed as very serious infection can result.

The dilation and evacuation (D&E) method is used after the 12th week as the unborn child is now much larger and his bones are harder. Small forceps are now used to dismember the body and crush the unborn child's head before removal.

The dilation and extraction (D&X or Partial-Birth) method of abortion is currently being used in Brisbane on unborn babies over 20 weeks. This method is particularly disturbing as some of these babies are of the same age being nurtured and cared for in premature wards. The cervix is now very widely dilated and the abortionist inserts forceps into the womb. Grabbing hold of one of the baby's legs, he/she then draws the unborn child from the birth canal until only the head is undelivered, therefore now partially born. He/she then stabs a sharp instrument into the base of the skull, inserts a suction apparatus and the contents of the skull are then sucked out. The deceased and limp baby is then 'evacuated' from the womb.

All of the above procedures are performed under anaesthetic either local, local plus twilight or general anaesthetic and predominantly in private day clinics. Anaesthetic is not given to the unborn child.

Less common procedures include Prostaglandins. This is a drug which induces intense labour at any stage of pregnancy and the child is expelled from the womb. In some cases the child may be delivered alive, in which case it is usually left to die, or it may be poisoned before birth.

The 'French abortion pill' RU486 is usually used in combination with prostaglandins. RU486 must be used under strict medical supervision and involves three visits to the clinic before the abortion is completed. However in 5% - 10% of all cases, surgical abortion is necessary to complete the procedure. RU486 is used to chemically induce abortion in women, five to nine weeks pregnant. Trials of RU486 were completed in Sydney and Melbourne in 1996.

Long term effects of the drug have not been sufficiently studied but there are reasons to believe that RU486 may effect future pregnancies, potentially inducing miscarriages or causing severe malformations in later children as all ova are present in the woman's body when taking the chemical drug, RU486.

Another method, which is not commonly used as it involves the woman being admitted to hospital, is the saline method. It is used in the second trimester (3 to 6 months). Some of the amniotic fluid is removed and replaced with a highly concentrated salt solution. At this stage of development the unborn child is breathing and swallowing this fluid and now the salt will burn and poison his/her lungs, stomach and intestines. His/her delicate skin is also burned. He/she struggles, haemorrhages, goes into convulsions and dies within a few hours. The mother then goes into labour and delivers the dead or dying baby. Sometimes the baby survives.

The Hysterotomy is like a mini Caesarean section however the baby is usually too young to survive or is put aside to die.

Is abortion a safe operation?
The medical hazards of legally induced abortion are very significant. Maternal deaths still occur; immediate complications vary from 2.5% to 15%; Psychiatric sequelae (in both the pregnant woman and in the nursing staff confronted with abortions) are a reality. Reactions will vary from woman to woman.

The psychological effects can manifest themselves through three main stages.

Post Abortion Distress, Post Abortion Syndrome, and Post Abortion Psychosis.

There are many physical dangers relating to an abortion procedure. Some of the more serious are: uterine perforation, pelvic sepsis (infection), cervical incompetence, infertility, breast cancer and, in some cases, brain damage or even death.

The delayed complications include:

haemorrhage due to retained placental fragments, infection, pulmonary embolism, continued pregnancy due to failure of the procedure, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility.

The long term effects have included: menstrual abnormalities, cervical damage, infertility, spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) or prematurity in later pregnancies, and low birth weight.

There are other contributing factors which will determine the severity of these complications. The dangers have been brought into sharp focus by two recent local tragedies. In December 1994 a young girl from Boggabilla in Northern New South Wales died after the initial stages of an abortion procedure in Brisbane. Another young woman was rendered into a vegetative state after abortion procedures in Brisbane in January,1994. The tragedies of these two cases alone confirms that abortion is not a safe procedure for a woman.

What are the options?
Women faced with an unplanned pregnancy can experience overwhelming pressures and fears. A caring supportive environment is needed where a woman can reach out for support and be heard and only then can the positive options of what is best for both mother and child be fully explored over time.

Parenting
When information on pregnancy including the development of the child in utero is truthfully discussed as well as what support (financial and social) is available, women can develop confidence to take the positive step to nuture their child. One can experience life in caring for a Life which encompasses many facets of joy, love, sacrifice and even pain at times. Despite the difficulties and pressures from society, mothering can be an enriching experience. It is a unique journey for each of us.

Young parenting women can be strengthened in their life experience and take their rightful role as parents when they are affirmed and supported within society.

Counselling and support are available from many groups who are willing to be supportive in times of need and may be able to assist you.

Adoption
After obtaining much information on what is the best decision concerning the life of the child and the woman, some women do make the decision to place their baby for adoption. It usually has not been a quick or easy decision but one based on what is truly best for both mother and child - an act of mature love which is the product of much soul searching. The Department of Families, Youth and Community Care is the only legal adoption agency in Queensland to whom the woman gives written consent for the adoption of her child and from whom adopting parents are assessed before approval to adopt a child.

The earliest that an adoption consent can be signed is five full days after the day on which the baby is born. Once the consent is signed a period of 30 days, or until the adoption order has been made, whichever is the soonest, must elapse before the adoption is final.

You are required by law to register the baby's birth, (therefore naming your child) within 60 days but you should complete and lodge this before signing the adoption consent.

Prior to signing the consent, you have full parental rights. You are entitled to see, hold, photograph, care for and feed your baby.

You are able to receive non-identifying information about your baby's adoptive parents. This information may include their ages, occupations, religion, interests, etc.

The adoptive parents will be given birth details about your baby and non-identifying background information about you and the baby's father. This information can be shared with the child as he or she is growing up. You may also write a letter to the adoptive parents signed with your first name only.

Identifying Information
If your baby was adopted before 1st June, 1991, identifying information will be available on request to adult adopted persons and their birth parents after the adopted person turns 18 years.

A VETO on identifying information to adoptees and birth parents is available.

This needs to be lodged by the time the adoptee is 17 years and 6 months.

The VETO may be revoked at any time by the person who has requested it.

A late VETO is possible to be lodged on objection to contact even if identifying information has been released and contact has been made.

If your baby was adopted after 1st June, 1991, identifying information will be released automatically on application after the adopted person turns 18 years.

All adoptions in Queensland since the 1st June, 1991 carry NO RIGHT OF VETO on information or on contact once the adopted person turns 18 years of age. Identifying information is available to both adopted person and birth mother on application.