How to explain Abortion To A Child
What Is An Abortion?
Sharing buttons:
Hi, folks.
My name is Sam, and I'm your friendly guide
through some pretty big and complicated topics.
Today, I'm here to help us explore the topic of abortion.
There's a lot to say about abortion,
so I'm going to do my best to talk us
through some of the most important facts
to help make it clear and easy to understand.
First off, abortion is a very personal decision,
and only the person who's pregnant
can know what is best for them.
For anyone dealing with an unintended pregnancy,
talking with a trusted adult can help to figure it all out.
And I'm here to help too.
[CAT MEOWS]
So let's start with some of the basics.
When a person gets pregnant, they have three options.
They can carry the pregnancy to term and raise the baby,
they can carry the pregnancy to term
and place the baby for adoption, or they can end the pregnancy
by having an abortion.
You see, there are a lot of reasons
a person might have for making any one of these decisions.
If someone decides to get an abortion,
it might be because they don't want to have a baby,
or maybe they can't afford to raise a child.
Maybe they're in school, and they're
worried they won't graduate if they have a baby.
Sometimes people already have children,
and they don't want anymore.
And sometimes, there might be something wrong with the fetus.
Either it's not developing properly,
or has a serious incurable disease.
Whatever the reason, it's up to the person
who's pregnant to decide what's best for them.
An abortion is a very safe medical procedure.
There are two types, medication and surgical.
A surgical abortion is a short 10 to 15 minute
procedure that takes place at a clinic or hospital,
and is performed by a health care provider
using local anesthesia.
The vast majority of surgical abortions
are done during the first few months of pregnancy.
During this simple procedure, a health care provider
uses gentle suction to remove the fetus from the uterus
through the vagina.
Most people say the procedure feels
like strong menstrual cramps.
And contrary to its name, no surgery is actually involved.
A medication abortion is a procedure
that uses pills prescribed by a health care provider
to end a pregnancy.
It can be started either in a medical office or at home.
This approach is most effective during the first three
months of pregnancy.
Medication abortion consists of two medications
that first stop the pregnancy from growing,
and then caused cramping and bleeding to empty
the uterus through the vagina.
Most people say medication abortion
feels like a really heavy crampy period.
OK, so those are the basic facts about the physical side
of abortion.
Now, let's talk about the legal side,
and what you need to understand.
There are many laws pertaining to abortion,
and every state's laws are different.
In some states, young people need their parents' permission
to get an abortion.
In most of these states, young people
may instead seek a judicial bypass.
This is when a young person goes in front of a judge
to prove they're mature enough to make
a decision about their unwanted pregnancy
without permission from a parent.
Some states allow young people to decide on their own
if an abortion is right for them with no parental involvement.
Research your state's laws to better understand your rights.
Abortion can be controversial, and it's
something the United States has been debating for a long time.
In fact, some people feel so strongly about people
not having abortions that there are places called
crisis pregnancy centers.
They're fake clinics that exist only
to try to talk a person out of having an abortion.
They look and sound like real abortion clinics,
so make sure you ask if they provide the services you need
and want before you go to one of these fake clinics by mistake.
So, while some people don't believe in abortion,
others believe a pregnant person should
be able to have an abortion and not be judged by others.
After all, every person should be
able to decide what's best for themselves,
their family, and their future.
I know we've covered a lot of information.
Remember, if you feel confused or overwhelmed,
talk to a trusted adult. And if you
need to come back and watch this video again,
I'll be here waiting to help explain it from the beginning.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
