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This type of abortion, which is performed around 20 weeks gestation and beyond, occurs when the abortionist pulls the baby's feet, arms, and shoulders from the uterus, stopping within inches from a full delivery.  With only the baby's head left in the uterus, a pair of blunt, curved Metzenbaum scissors are forced into the base of the skull.  The scissors are then spread to enlarge the opening allowing a suction catheter to evacuate the skull contents.  The baby is then fully removed.

Information gathered from Carol Everett brochure "Partial Birth Aboriton".

Suction Aspiration

This form of abortion, also known as menstrual extraction, is used in 95% of all induced abortions and is done in the early stages of pregnancy.  This procedure involves the insertion of a powerful suction tube into the womb through the dilated cervix.  The body of the baby is dismembered and the placenta is torn from the uterus.  All of these parts are sucked into a container. 

Uterine hemorrhage and infection can easily result if any fetal or placental tissue is left in the uterus.

Dilatation and Currettage (D&C)

D&C involves the dilating the cervix allowing for the insertion of a loop shaped steel knife which is used to scrape the wall of the uterus.  This procedure cuts the baby's body into pieces and cuts the placenta from the uterine wall.  This form of abortion is usually performed anywhere from 7 - 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Dilatation and Evacuation (D&E)

This form of abortion may be performed up to 18 weeks of pregnancy.  This procedure is different from the D&C in that the a forceps is used to grasp part of the developing baby who already has calcified bones.  The parts are twisted and torn away and the placenta is sliced away.

Salt Poisoning

This procedure, which is also known as 'saline amniocentesis" or "salting out," is used after 16 weeks of pregnancy.  A needle is inserted into the amnionic fluid sac through the mother's abdomen.  A solution of concentrated salt is injected directly into it.  As the baby breaths and swallows the salt, it is poisoned.  The baby dies after about an hour and the mother will usually go into labor the next day, delivering a dead, burned and shriveled up baby.

Prostaglandins

The injection of prostaglandins, which are hormones that assist in the birthing process, into the amnionic sac induces violent labor and the premature birth of a child to young to survive.  Many times, salt or other toxins are injected first to assure the baby will be dead upon delivery.

Serious side effects and complications such as cardiac arrest, and the rupture of the uterus can be unpredictable and very severe.

Hysterotomy

This method of abortion is similar in nature to the Cesarean Section and is generally used if the salt poisoning or prostaglandin methods have already failed.  Sometimes, the baby is born alive during this procedure leaving questions of how and when the infant is actually killed and by whom.

This method is of the highest risk to the health of the mother.

Information gathered from National Right to Life brochure "Abortion: Some Medical Facts".