According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, a late-term abortion is one that occurs after the point of viability. The term "viability" refers to the ability for the fetus to survive outside the uterus. The point of viability varies between pregnancies, but it almost always occurs by 27 weeks and rarely before 21 weeks. This is typically mid to late 2nd trimester of a pregnancy.

It is important to note that some groups describe late-term as anything after the first trimester, which ends at 14 weeks. Partial-birth abortion is one type of late-term procedure.
Source(s):
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/280/8/724

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I thought that images would best describe exactly what a late-term abortion is. However, after viewing the images that I found, I cannot post them here as I believe that they are much too graphic for this web site.

Without taking a position on the "medical" acts performed by Dr. Tiller, I will provide a link to the Google Images search for "late term abortion". Please be forewarned, the images are very graphic and could be shocking to those who are not familiar with exactly what a later term abortion entails.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=late+term+abortion&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=0&oq=late+term+

I do not condone the murder of Dr. Tiller, but in some ways I can see how his "medical practice" angered some people as it did.

May these children be blessed for eternity and find their rightful place in heaven. And may their Mothers find peace in their own lives.

http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs5/i/2004/333/8/d/Peaceful_Baby_Angel_by_SweetnShyKristyn.jpg
Source(s):
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=late+term+abortion&btnG=Sea...

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Late Term Abortion – The situation
I’m considering a late-term abortion. What should I understand before making this decision? My situation is hard and I’m trying to decide what to do.

The first thing you should consider when deciding about late term abortion is that you are carrying a life inside of you. This may be an unwanted pregnancy. Or maybe your baby has been diagnosed with a defect or even an illness that will be fatal outside the womb, but I ask you to treat this baby like the life he/she is.

Late Term Abortion – The procedures
There are three general procedures of late-term abortions and partial birth abortions. The first and most popular is called D&E (Dilation and evacuation). Once the cervix is dilated, the fetus is removed by inserting forceps into the uterus. The Fetus is then separated into pieces. These “pieces” of your baby will be removed one at a time. Vacuum aspiration is then used to ensure no tissue remains in the uterus.

The second procedure is early induction of labor. This is very painful and intense for the woman and is rarely used as an abortion procedure.

The third procedure is called Intact D&X surgery. This procedure includes a 2-3 day process to gradually dilate the cervix using sticks of seaweed which absorb fluid and swell. Once this process is finished, the doctor uses forceps and grasps the baby’s leg to turn it to breech position. The baby is then pulled out of the birth canal, leaving the head inside the canal. An incision is then made at the base of the baby’s skull and the brain tissue is removed, causing the skull to collapse. The entire baby is then removed.

http://www.allaboutlifechallenges.org/late-term-abortion.htm
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