Benefits of Late Term Abortion

The practice of Late Term Abortion is subject to significant controversy. There has been a significant push in State Legislatures throughout the United States to end abortions greater than 20 weeks. However, there are a lot of benefits that can be achieved from undergoing this procedure when the mother's life or health is threatened by the pregnancy, or there is a significant fetal defect or abnormality. Despite this, many states have banned the procedure from being performed on an out-patient basis, and as religious hospitals merge with smaller and indigent hospitals, neither abortions nor tubal ligations are able to be permitted. Family planning services including birth control are not able to be administered. If a woman needs an abortion late in the second trimester or third trimester of pregnancy, the woman must be prepared to travel out of most States in order to have the termination procedure performed. What are the benefits of abortion, specifically third trimester abortions? How can they help mothers whose life is in danger due to the pregnancy?

Late Term Abortion as a Solution for Potentially Fatal Complications

Pregnancy in general, can produce serious health risks. That is why so much effort is placed on monitoring the mother's status of health, as well as the detection of symptoms of serious complications. However, some complications cannot be easy; and others may only develop late into pregnancy with little warning. Conditions like Preeclampsia and uterine cancer are serious threats to both the mother and the fetus. In cases like these, an induction of labor may be performed if the fetus is viable. In cases where this is not possible, the services of a Late Term Abortion clinic may be needed in order to spare the life of the mother.

Third Trimester Abortions for Fetal Defects That Were Not Detected Earlier

Modern prenatal screening techniques can detect fetal defects at an early stage of pregnancy. However, not everybody has access to such services. Even if a mother goes for prenatal checkups on a regular basis, there may be life altering defects that can only be recognized and confirmed when the fetus has reached a certain stage of development. In cases where these defects are very severe such as abnormalities of vital organs such as the fetus' kidneys, lungs, liver, heart or brain; carrying the fetus to term and birth can have a significant probability of fetal death. If the infant survives, he or she will be living a very difficult life full of suffering. Most mothers do not want this to happen, which is why they go to a Late Term Abortion clinic and terminate the pregnancy instead of subjecting their child to a potential life of pain and suffering.

If Late Term Abortions were to be completely banned, there are sure to be many women who will perish because of the complications of the pregnancy. There will also be many babies who will suffer a great deal of pain and disability throughout their life; some may not even live long enough. Women must be given a choice to preserve their health as it relates to pregnancy.