Medically speaking, abortions are not performed after 20 weeks unless the fetus is dead or close to it. After about 21 weeks, if the mother’s life is in danger, or the baby’s is and there’s hope, they will induce labour and deliver the baby, using as much intervention as possible to save both lives.

An abortion is used to terminate a pregnancy when the fetus is incapable of life on its own. Do not use this term for terminated pregnancies otherwise necessary.