Fetal Development: Trimester 3

Methods of Abortion Introduction

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Only in extreme circumstances is abortion performed in the third trimester (see When Women Have Abortions graph on Stages of Pregnancy and Fetal Development Introduction page), and as a result there is little information on the procedure itself. Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) (see Surgical Methods: Trimester 2) is the primary procedure used, but it is a more complicated procedure than in the second trimester. Because the fetus at this stage can be viable, law prohibits extraction of a live fetus. Therefore, fetal life must be terminated before the fetus is extracted from the uterus.(4) Also, as the gestational age increases so does the risk for uterine perforation, infection, bleeding, amniotic fluid embolism, and anesthetic reactions.