At its root, to abort simply means “to stop,” but the word abortion has come to be commonly associated with induced abortion. Induced Abortion is the separation of mother and child prior to birth in order to end the life of the baby. Therapeutic Abortion is the separation of mother and child prior to birth in order to save the life of the mother. Spontaneous Abortion, commonly called miscarriage, is a naturally occurring loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation. After 20 weeks, loss of a pregnancy is considered pre-term delivery.

According to Planned Parenthood’s national average a first-trimester abortion costs $300-950.1 Second trimester abortions cost $1200-$2100 or more. The specific cost of an abortion depends on the type of procedure and the size of the baby, which are based on gestational age. The price rises as pregnancy progresses. Price also varies by provider; clinics and private practice abortionists typically offer lower costs than hospitals. Typical cost of an abortion in Louisiana: Medication Abortion / Abortion Pill (within 7 weeks gestation): $360-$500 Suction Aspiration / Vacuum Abortion (6-12 weeks gestation): $650-$700 Dilation and Curettage (13-21 weeks gestation): Can exceed $1000 Dilation and Evacuation (17-21 weeks gestation): Can exceed $1000 Find out what your costs could be. To find out how far along you are and what the cost of an abortion could be for you, schedule a free pre-termination evaluation with Care Pregnancy Clinic today. ________________________________________________________________ Planned Parenthood (2014). Abortion. Retrieved from http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-info/abortion/the-abortion-pill and http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-info/abortion/in-clinic-abortion-procedures.

RU-486 (Mifepristone (Mifeprex) and Misoprostol) Quick Facts Gestational Age: Up to 7 weeks Typical Cost: $400-$650 Procedure The FDA approved regimen1 for RU-486 is a three-visit process using two different drugs: Mifepristone is given orally during the first office visit (600 mg). Mifepristone blocks progesterone from sustaining the pregnancy, thereby ending the life of the baby. Misoprostol tablets are given orally (400 mcg) during the second office visit which occurs 36-48 hours later. The patient will then return home where the misoprostol will cause contractions to expel the baby’s remains. This may occur within a few hours or up to two weeks after taking misoprostol. A physical exam is given two weeks later to ensure the abortion is complete and that there are no immediate complications. WARNINGS The FDA has approved mifepristone for use only up to 49 days (7 weeks) from last menstrual period. Be aware that many providers offer the drug beyond the FDA approved limit, prescribe other doses, fail to provide both drugs, or skip one or more of the three visits. Deviations from the approved regimen increase your risk of unnecessary or harmful complications. The procedure is unsuccessful approximately 8-10% of the time, thus requiring an additional surgical abortion procedure to complete the termination. Medical abortion is not advised for women who have anemia, bleeding disorders, liver or kidney disease, seizure disorder, acute inflammatory bowel disease, or use an intrauterine device (IUD). Risks and Side Effects Cramping Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Heavy bleeding Infection Sepsis and Septic Shock Death Fetal Development Weeks 5-9 The following describes some of the developmental steps of the baby during the time frame when a woman is eligible for a medication abortion. Development of brain and spinal cord Heart begins to beat Hands and feet are forming Every essential organ has begun to form Bones begin to form, muscles can contract Abortion Pill Reversal It is possible to reverse the effects of the abortion pill within 72 hours of taking the first dose. See Abortion Pill Reversal. __________________________________________________________________ U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2009). “Mifeprex Medication Guide.” U.S. Department of Health. Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM088643.pdf