Late Term Abortion Care at CARE Reproductive Health

At CARE Reproductive Health, we understand that seeking a late-term abortion (beyond 24 weeks) can be a deeply personal and often medically complex decision. We see and honor your strength during this deeply personal journey. Your reasons are valid, your experience matters, and your story deserves to be met with compassion and respect. We are here to support individuals and families with compassionate, expert care in a safe, respectful environment.

Understanding the Terminology

Regarding the language often used in public discourse, “late-term abortion” is actually a completely made-up phrase that has no basis in medicine. It’s pure anti-abortion propaganda, intended to confuse people about when abortion happens. A pregnancy is “full term” from 39-40 weeks, and “late term” at 41 weeks. Those are medical terms used by doctors. Anti-abortion rights activists use “late-term abortion” to describe abortions that happen at 15 or 20 weeks, or even earlier—deliberately equating an abortion halfway through pregnancy with a pregnancy ready for delivery.

Why Patients Seek Abortion Care Later in Pregnancy

We provide late-term abortion services up to 35 weeks at our Maryland location for patients facing severe fetal anomalies, maternal health concerns, or other personal circumstances that require abortion care later in pregnancy. Why patients seek late-term abortion care includes:

• New or worsening maternal health conditions
• Severe fetal anomalies diagnosed later in pregnancy
• Delays in accessing care due to legal, logistical, or financial barriers
• Personal circumstances impacting the ability to continue the pregnancy

In addition to these reasons, abortion bans make people travel out of state to get care and cause a backlog of patients at health centers, forcing people to delay their abortions. Restrictions like waiting periods, mandatory ultrasounds, and laws prohibiting health insurance from covering care create even more barriers that lead to later abortions.

What to Expect During the Procedure

Late-term abortion procedures typically take 2–3 days, depending on gestational age, medical history, and individual health needs. Our experienced team will guide you through each step with personalized support:

• Ultrasound and medical assessment to confirm gestational age and determine the best plan for your care.
• Administration of medication to ensure a safe and respectful process, in alignment with medical and legal guidelines.
• Medications to soften and open the cervix to prepare for the procedure.
• Procedure using gentle suction and medical instruments to safely empty the uterus.
• Moderate IV sedation and additional comfort measures provided throughout your care.
• Rest and monitoring in our private recovery area with attentive nursing care before discharge.

Our Compassionate Approach and Support

At CARE, we believe everyone deserves access to compassionate, high-quality abortion care, no matter their circumstances or the stage of their pregnancy. CARE provides all patients with care based on our belief that every patient should be treated with kindness, courtesy, justice, love and respect. Our multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and clinical staff is highly experienced in providing late-term abortion care with sensitivity, skill, and respect. We honor your privacy and dignity, offering:

• Memorial services and keepsake options (footprint cards, remembrance certificates, memory boxes)
• Tissue collection for genetic testing
• Referrals for emotional support if desired

Clinic Services and Accessibility

Patients travel to CARE Reproductive Health from across the United States and internationally for late-term abortion care. You do not need to be a Maryland resident to receive care at our clinic. We can assist with logistics, including financial assistance resources and travel and lodging support connections.

Key Clinic Features

• Appointment Availability: CARE can get you in for your appointment within the week; our usual wait for an appointment is less than 3 days.
• Physician Access: CARE provides 24/7/365 direct access to your physician for your questions, concerns and treatment of any problems.
• Comprehensive Care: CARE provides all medicines you need, including pain medication, at no extra cost.
• Medical Excellence: CARE was one of the eleven sites in the United States selected to perform the research that lead to the FDA approved version of the French abortion pill (RU-486).

Your story is yours alone, and your choice is an act of love and courage. We are here to walk beside you with care, without judgment, and with the dignity you deserve.