“In-Clinic Abortion” is a term used when a woman is 10 weeks along or more and a surgical procedure is recommended by a doctor to carry out an abortion. There are three types: vacuum aspiration, dilation and evacuation, and dilation and extraction.

Vacuum aspiration occurs when you are 10-16 weeks along. You lie on your back with your feet in stirrups, and a speculum is inserted to open the vagina. A local anesthetic is administered to your cervix to numb it. Then a tenaculum  is used to hold your cervix in place to be dilated by absorbent rods that vary in size. The rods may also be put in a few days prior to the procedure. When your cervix is wide enough, a suction device is inserted into the uterus to suction out your fetus and placenta. The fetus’ heartbeat is often still beating up to time of being suctioned.

Dilation and evacuation(D&E)  is a procedure performed after 12 weeks. 24 hours prior to the procedure, a synthetic dilator will be inserted inside the cervix.  When the procedure begins, cone shaped rods are used to dilate your cervix. Numbing medication may be given as well as a shot to make sure your baby’s heartbeat has stopped. A tube will then suction out the fetus and placenta and then if needed, forceps are used to remove anything to big to scoop out.  Your uterus is finally suctioned out to make sure everything has been removed.

Lastly, there is a procedure called dilation and extraction(D&X), or “partial-birth abortion” which is performed after 22 weeks, when a fetus is deemed viable to survive outside the womb.  Although procedures are different from state to state, the first part of the procedure follows along with the steps of a D&E. In some cases, the baby is so far along, they have to induce labor, and then make a small incision in the baby’s head to stop breathing and suction out the brain.