Failed Abortions

LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 13, 2006

*shrug* The vast majority of abortions (if not all) that are past the point of viability are because there are problems that are incompatible with life with the child or a major health issue with the mom.

Apart from the aborted child issue, there are many times though in the NICU where you might not agree with the parents' choices for treatment or non-treatment, but it's not your place to judge them as a nurse or hospital staff member. If something truly is "wrong", you could speak to the charge nurse or the social worker, but it's their child and they have medical power of attorney unless it has been taken away.

Pallative care definitely has its place in the NICU, from babies that are just too early, or those who have congenital issues. It's heartbreaking to think of, but that's just part of life in the NICU. People are starting to realize that putting the child through the pain of intensive treatment is not always in their best interests.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 13, 2006

What does happen to aborted fetuses, anyway?

I think the point is that if the fetus is viable and is delivered alive, it's not just a lump of tissue that can be discarded. Even if the parents choose not to provide life-sustaining measures, at the very least that baby should be held and comforted as it takes its last breaths.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Mar 13, 2006

Many years back, when they did abortions up to 24 weeks, we would get the occasional one that was born alive and the mom had a change of heart. Sad.

I have no idea what they do with them, and I don't want to know.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Mar 13, 2006

When I went to nursing school in MD, there was a policy at a major Baltimore hospital that said the live products of a therapeutic abortion must be placed in an unwarmed bassinet for 12 hrs. If still alive after 12 hrs, aggressive life saving measures could be performed. I actually read that policy from their manual.

In Texas, I have read the State Law that says that the live products of an abortion have to be treated w/ aggressive life saving techniques from the word, "Go", with or without parental consent. Why? Because at that point, the State considers the operative word to be 'parent' and no parent can refuse emergent life saving measures on a child. (Not only does the State presume the right for such care), it could be considered child abuse/neglect to refuse it.

If it's important to you, I can find the and cite the Texas Law.

~faith,

Timothy.

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2006

I've never heard of or seen such a thing.

babynurselsa, RN · Mar 13, 2006

I have seen it on viable age infants(>24 wks) and to say the least it is quite distressing. have also had the mother change her mind after the fact and want EVERYTHING done.

allnurses Guide · Mar 13, 2006

It has happened.

Really.

steph

Jolie, BSN · Mar 13, 2006

In my first job as a new grad 20 years ago, I worked in a hospital that did elective 2nd trimester abortions using the induction method. While not an everyday occurence, it was not uncommon for a fetus to be delivered alive, and brought to the NICU for comfort care. We provided warmth, moisture for the lips, a quiet environment, and sometimes held anc cuddled the dying baby. Thankfully, for my mental health, none of these infants were truly viable. They would have died even with aggressive care measures. I don't know what I would have done if I had been required to care for a viable fetus who was being denied treatment due to the parents' wishes to terminate a pregnancy.

I don't mean to start a debate here, but I do believe that the reason some people are such strong advocates of legalized partial birth abortion is that it eliminates the possibility of a live-born fetus, and the legal and ethical considerations thereof.

psalm, RN · Mar 13, 2006

...you may be referring to Gianna Jesson and Sarah Smith. For more check out the site below.

http://www.Vanderbilt.edu/SFL/born_alive.html

...I personally counseled a young lady who had an abortion at 6 months and her baby lived for about 22 hours. She travelled to Detroit for laminera (?)insertion, told to go home and wait 24 hours and come back. She went back home to Saginaw, cramped and contracted, kept calling the doctor and clinic and getting the run around. She finally went to what was then Saginaw General Hospital and delivered a little boy. The clinic refunded her $$.

psalm, RN · Mar 13, 2006

...you may be referring to Gianna Jesson and Sarah Smith. For more check out the site below.
http://www.Vanderbilt.edu/SFL/born_alive.html
...I personally counseled a young lady who had an abortion at 6 months and her baby lived for about 22 hours. She travelled to Detroit for laminera (?)insertion, told to go home and wait 24 hours and come back. She went back home to Saginaw, cramped and contracted, kept calling the doctor and clinic and getting the run around. She finally went to what was then Saginaw General Hospital and delivered a little boy. The clinic refunded her $$.

...hmmmm, I just tried to click on here and didn't go thru so just use the search engine for "gianna jesson" and "sarah smith" and you will find the site above.

fergus51 · Mar 14, 2006

I have never seen a "failed abortion". If a fetus is delivered, even if it is delivered alive, the abortion part worked. I have cared for many women undergoing second and third trimester "abortions" (often through induction) that were because of severe health issues. Several of those babies were born breathing and with a heart rate, but we provided comfort care only (wrapped the baby, held it, etc). These were all wanted children, not parents who just didn't get around to having the abortion earlier. They did not need NICU staff coming in and trying to save their baby and they have every right to refuse that treatment.

Timothy, I find that surprising. Texas is one of the few states that allows the termination of life support against a parent's wishes, but they insist on aggressive treatment for babies who have a terrible prognosis?