Posted on Sep 1, 2022
An all-trimester abortion clinic prepares to open in Maryland, one of few nationally
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https://www.npr.org/2022/09/01/ [login to see] /an-all-trimester-abortion-clinic-prepares-to-open-in-maryland-one-of-few-nationa
On a steamy morning in late July, a moving truck maneuvers up to a brick office complex in College Park, Md., outside Washington, D.C.
Shrink-wrapped inside the truck are the workings of a clinic that will offer abortions through all trimesters of pregnancy: an ultrasound machine, recovery room chairs, patient gowns, and boxes upon boxes of medical instruments and equipment.
"I'm looking at this and really glad we got the 26-foot truck, 'cause it's a ton of stuff!" says Dr. Diane Horvath, an obstetrician-gynecologist and co-owner of the upcoming clinic, Partners in Abortion Care.
When it opens sometime after Labor Day, Partners in Abortion Care will be one of only a handful of clinics in the United States that offer abortions into the third trimester — in this case, up to 34 weeks' gestation. A full-term pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks.
The clinic expects to treat an influx of patients coming north from states with abortion bans enacted after the Supreme Court decision in June that overturned Roe v. Wade.
All-trimester abortion care "is a really politicized topic," Horvath says, "and it shouldn't be. Every time we draw a line and we say 'no more abortions after this point,' someone's going to fall on the other side of that line, and they're going to be harmed."
On a steamy morning in late July, a moving truck maneuvers up to a brick office complex in College Park, Md., outside Washington, D.C.
Shrink-wrapped inside the truck are the workings of a clinic that will offer abortions through all trimesters of pregnancy: an ultrasound machine, recovery room chairs, patient gowns, and boxes upon boxes of medical instruments and equipment.
"I'm looking at this and really glad we got the 26-foot truck, 'cause it's a ton of stuff!" says Dr. Diane Horvath, an obstetrician-gynecologist and co-owner of the upcoming clinic, Partners in Abortion Care.
When it opens sometime after Labor Day, Partners in Abortion Care will be one of only a handful of clinics in the United States that offer abortions into the third trimester — in this case, up to 34 weeks' gestation. A full-term pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks.
The clinic expects to treat an influx of patients coming north from states with abortion bans enacted after the Supreme Court decision in June that overturned Roe v. Wade.
All-trimester abortion care "is a really politicized topic," Horvath says, "and it shouldn't be. Every time we draw a line and we say 'no more abortions after this point,' someone's going to fall on the other side of that line, and they're going to be harmed."
An all-trimester abortion clinic prepares to open in Maryland, one of few nationally
Posted from npr.org
Abortion
Medical
Health
Washington
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Meantime, they're hiring and training staff, including two nurses, Paige and Kayla, who asked that we use only their first names, out of security concerns.
Previously, they both worked on maternity wards in labor and delivery.
For Kayla, offering abortion through all trimesters means providing basic, essential health care.
"I know that it can be controversial to some people, but it is part of the scope of women's health. And I am very passionate about women's health, and I'm very passionate about safe abortion care," Kayla says.
For Paige, this summer's Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade was a turning point.
"This June, I walked out of my grandfather's funeral and turned my phone on to the decision, blasted all over my phone," Paige recalls.
"And it was kind of like the slap in the face I needed of like, why am I not doing this? How many people are lucky enough to have the education, have the skills, and have the passion to be able to do something about it in such a personal level?"
The clinic's owners say they feel called to do this work.
Nuzzo would like people to understand this:
"You know, we're not monsters," she says. "We're trying to help people. We're really, really, really trying to help people who are in absolutely unimaginable situations."
By talking about their work, Nuzzo says, maybe it will help dissolve the stigma around later abortion — and the people who seek it."
..."Meantime, they're hiring and training staff, including two nurses, Paige and Kayla, who asked that we use only their first names, out of security concerns.
Previously, they both worked on maternity wards in labor and delivery.
For Kayla, offering abortion through all trimesters means providing basic, essential health care.
"I know that it can be controversial to some people, but it is part of the scope of women's health. And I am very passionate about women's health, and I'm very passionate about safe abortion care," Kayla says.
For Paige, this summer's Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade was a turning point.
"This June, I walked out of my grandfather's funeral and turned my phone on to the decision, blasted all over my phone," Paige recalls.
"And it was kind of like the slap in the face I needed of like, why am I not doing this? How many people are lucky enough to have the education, have the skills, and have the passion to be able to do something about it in such a personal level?"
The clinic's owners say they feel called to do this work.
Nuzzo would like people to understand this:
"You know, we're not monsters," she says. "We're trying to help people. We're really, really, really trying to help people who are in absolutely unimaginable situations."
By talking about their work, Nuzzo says, maybe it will help dissolve the stigma around later abortion — and the people who seek it."
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Infanticide. I hope the majority of who they see are in the first trimester.
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