Miscarriage vs Abortion
Abortions and Miscarriages are two very different events but both end the pregnancy. But government and the medical community are quickly changing the language that defines the differences.
This is an article from LifeNews.com goes into the differences in miscarriages and abortions.
Doctors Confirm Removing Baby’s Body After Miscarriage is Not an Abortion
Key Differences
Abortion
Abortion is intentional. It is the deliberate act of killing the fetus and then removing it from the mother's womb. Abortion is a choice.
Miscarriage
Miscarriage, on the other hand, is when the fetus dies for some reason, but it is not deliberate or mindful. A miscarriage is natural and unexpected. Either the baby dies or the mother's body cannot carry the baby to term. Miscarriage is not a choice.
Abortion
Abortion can be conducted at any time in the pregnancy. But done in the second trimester or later it will increase the risk to the mother.
Miscarriage
Miscarriages can occur at any time during the pregnancy but is often earlier in the pregnancy. If a miscarriage happens later in the pregnancy, it has more risk for the mother.
Abortion
Abortion can be conducted for many reasons, unplanned pregnancy, medical risk for mother or child, matters of convenience, etc.
Miscarriage
Miscarriages, on the other hand, occurs due to heath factors such as the woman may not be able to carry the child to term, or because of diseases, genetic factors or infections to the mother or child.
Abortion
In abortions, the abortionist removes the fetus from the mother’s body dead or alive, the process may include surgery.
Miscarriage
In most early miscarriages, the fetus is expelled naturally. Surgery might be needed if the fetus is not expelled, which is more likely to happen in miscarriages that occur later in the pregnancy.
Comparisons
Abortion
Description
Abortion is the intentional ending of pregnancy by the removal of a fetus or embryo from the womb dead or alive before viable outside the womb.
Types
The Abortion Pill (Medical abortion):
The term “abortion pill” is a catch-all phrase used to describe medications used to induce a medical (rather than surgical) abortion. The most commonly known and widely used abortion pill is a combination of two medications: mifepristone and misoprostol.
Mifepristone, commonly called RU-486 or the abortion pill, blocks the hormone progesterone, which starves the fetus.
Misoprostol is another medication usually taken 24-48 hours after mifepristone. It causes very strong contractions to deliver the dead baby.
According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms during a medical abortion may include:
Heavy uterine cramps
Heavy bleeding, blood clots and the dead fetus
Nausea and/or vomiting
Low-grade fever (under 101°)
Headache
Chills
Diarrhea
Sore breasts
Drowsiness
Surgical Abortion:
There are three different types of surgical abortions. Vacuum aspiration, Dilation and Curettage (D&C), and Dilation and Evacuation (D&E).
Vacuum aspiration
When using a machine vacuum, a thin tube (cannula) is attached by tubing to a bottle and a pump, which provides a vacuum. The cannula is passed into the uterus, the pump is turned on, and the fetus is pulverized and sucked from the uterus.
D&C abortion
During a D&C abortion, curette (used to suction or scrape the uterine lining, removing the baby from inside the uterus) instruments are used after vacuum aspiration to remove any fetal body parts remaining in your uterus.
D&E abortion
Dilating sticks called luminaria will be inserted into your cervix the day before a D&E abortion.
Day of, numbing medication is used, and your cervix will be stretched open further with dilating rods. This is done since the fetus is larger and needs room to pass. Abortionist then uses a combination of suction, curettes, and forceps to complete the abortion. The fetus must be dismembered to remove.
Abortion risks increase the further along you are in your pregnancy. Risks include:
Life-threatening infection
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Hemorrhage (excessive bleeding)
Incomplete abortion, requiring another procedure
Future infertility – inability to get pregnant or to carry a pregnancy to term successfully
Mental health challenges
Safety
The health risks increase depending on how the procedure is performed, stage of pregnancy and sanitary conditions. Those performed by unskilled individuals, with hazardous equipment may have greater risk for the mother. Laws of the state differ. Some do not require M.D.s to perform the procedure. This risk is not uncommon. Reasons
Personal reasons such as not wanting children, unable or unwilling to raise children, other matters of convenience, etc. Health reasons such as risk to the mother/child or rape/incest are rare, they make up less than 2% of abortions in the U.S. And with advances in medicine and technology babies are being saved as young as 21 weeks so both mother and baby are more likely to live. That -2% is probably lower by now.
Miscarriage
Description
A miscarriage is the natural death of an embryo or fetus in the womb. It usually takes place in the early stages of development before the fetus or embryo is able to survive on its own.
Signs and Symptoms
The most common symptom of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, which can vary from light spotting or brownish discharge to heavy bleeding and bright red blood. Other symptoms include severe cramps, abdominal pain, fever, weakness, back pain, etc.
Testing/Diagnosis
Miscarriage may be detected by an ultrasound or through HCG testing.
Causes
Miscarriage may occur for many reasons, not all of which can be identified.
Miscarriages are caused by a variety of factors, including:
Congenital heart disease
Death of the child
Diabetes that isn't controlled
Exposure to environmental hazards such as radiation or toxic agents
Genetic Abnormalities
Hormonal problems
Incompetent cervix (the cervix widens open too early without signs of pain or labor)
Immune system disorders, including lupus
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or using illegal drugs
Malnutrition
Medications, such as the acne drug Accutane
Radiation
Reproductive tract infections
Severe kidney disease
Thyroid disease
Tissue rejection
Uterine abnormalities
Risk
Women may be at increased risk for miscarriage as they age. There is no proof that stress, physical or sexual activity causes miscarriage. History of smoking and drinking increases the chances of a miscarriage.
Definitions
Abortion
The intentional termination of a pregnancy causing the death of the embryo or fetus:
such as induced expulsion of a human fetus.
The key word here is intentional. An abortion is the intentional ending of a human life.
Miscarriage
The unintentional expulsion of a human fetus when he/she dies or before he/she is viable.
The key word here is unintentional. A miscarriage is the tragic loss of a human life.