A person familiar with the investigation says police are probing whether the woman drank an herbal concoction billed as an abortion-causing tea. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not made public.
Police say Yaribely Almonte was arrested Wednesday and released with an order to appear in court in January. It wasn't clear if she had a lawyer.
The self-abortion charge refers to a woman who forcibly causes a miscarriage when she is more than six months pregnant. In New York, abortion is legal after six months only if it is necessary to save the woman's life.