Second Trimester Surgical Abortion - D&E

After administering anesthesia, the abortionist uses a weighted speculum. This allows the vagina to be opened wider which allows for an older baby to pass through. A baby this old is usually 7 inches long.

A second trimester abortion  requires the cervix be prepared 24-48 hours in advance with laminaria. Laminaria is a type of sterilized seaweed that absorbs water over 8-12 hours and swells to several times its original diameter. Once removed, medical dilators can be used to further open the cervix. Once the cervix has been stretched open, the suction tube is placed inside.  A baby at 20 weeks gestation is the size of an adult male’s hand from head to rump, not counting the legs. The suction machine is used to suck out the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby. The baby itself is too big to fit through a regular 14 inch suction catheter that is used in a 1st trimester abortion.

The baby’s bones and body are too strong to be suctioned out. Instead, abortionists use a sopher clamp. It is made of stainless steel and is about 13 inches long. The sharp end is 2.5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide with sharp teeth. 

The abortionist inserts the sopher clamp into the uterus and grabs hold of the baby’s body parts- arms, legs etc. Once he has a firm hold, the abortionist pulls hard, ripping the limbs off the baby. One by one, the rest of the limbs are removed, along with the intestines, the spine, the heart and lungs. 

Usually the most difficult part of the procedure occurs in trying to remove the head from the uterus. The abortionist uses the speculum to crush the head. He or she knows they have done so when they see a white substance come out of the cervix. This is the baby’s brain. The abortionist removes the skull pieces, the placenta and any remaining pieces with the curette. 

The abortionist then reassembles the baby to ensure that all the parts have been removed from the uterus. Once he has determine that all the body parts are present, the abortion is over.