Although abortion may sound very complex, it is a common practice. In the USA, one in four women experiences abortion. Most of them occur in the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. But it is not an easy step to take. You are risking your health, emotions, and whatnot. So that is why it is crucial to prepare for what is coming next. The more you know about your state or condition better, the better you can react to it. That is why we have brought you what you should expect before, during, and after abortion, so you can handle those phases better. Knowing the things we will discuss in the article will help you to treat yourself quickly and also would make your time much less suffering. Let us begin with the phase before abortion and what you expect from it.
What To Expect Before An Abortion?
The first thing you will start to notice after pregnancy is the irregularity of periods. As time passes, you will start missing the periods. You will also start showing symptoms of pregnancy. Once you miss your periods, you should wait for a week to take a pregnancy test. But if you already do not have irregular periods, then wait for at least 2-3 weeks to take a pregnancy test.
The next part after pregnancy is experiencing its symptoms. Six out of ten women experience the early symptoms of pregnancy under one week after the missing period. And nine out of ten experience a month of missing the periods.
Here are some of the common pregnancy symptoms you will experience during early pregnancy:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Increased Urination
- Appetite changes
- Sore Breasts
The next part is choosing the type of abortion. You have two options, Medication Abortion and Surgical Abortion.
Medical Abortion:
This type involves the use of pills to carry out the process of abortion. You need to take the medication orally, or you can also put them into your cervix, through the vagina.
This type of abortion is carried out as soon as pregnancy begins, within 10-12 weeks of pregnancy. You will be required to take one pill at the clinic and the second at home (or at the clinic, depending upon your choice). After the second pill, you will experience bleeding, and cramps, which will occur for a few hours.
Medical abortion is considered a very safe process, and 95 out of 100 women do not require any other treatment after this. For the rest of the women, another pill is used that helps to carry out the abortion process safely.
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Surgical Abortion:
As the name suggests, this type of abortion is carried out in the clinic and involves surgery. It is used to remove the uterus’ contents. It is carried out in a hospital and should only be carried out by experts.
If you have missed the time for medical abortion, which is usually 10-12 weeks, then you should go for this option. The use of surgical abortion is available until the 16th week of pregnancy. But the time can differ from clinic to clinic.
Medication is used an hour or two before carrying out the abortion, and a type of anesthetic is also given in order to block the pain. The anesthetic helps you to fall asleep completely.
After that, the healthcare provider inserts an instrument into the vagina, to reach the uterus, through the cervix. Then the contents inside the uterus are suctioned out. It usually takes 5-10 minutes to carry out. And then you can head home after resting for 30-60 minutes in the clinic.
This type of procedure works 99 out of 100 times and is considered very safe.
What To Expect During an Abortion?
Everything starts with your abortion appointment. In the clinic, you will be asked to chat with a healthcare professional. All the questions you have, this is the time to ask them. You will also be asked about birth control options after an abortion, and it is completely your choice if you want to go that way or not. The main aim of the professional is to ensure it is completely your decision.
After that, the healthcare professional will ask you to take a physical exam and a few tests. Ultrasound will be done to know about pregnancy gestate and options for abortion. In the end, they will provide you with a list of medications and written instructions about them. They should let you know whom you should contact if you have any questions.
During an abortion, it is crucial you play your part well too. You would want to prepare for an abortion by keeping necessary things around, like, pads, a hot water bottle, a friend, etc. In the case of in-clinic abortion, you will need someone who can drive you home.
What Happens During a Medical Abortion?
The medical abortion involves taking two pills known as MTP Kit. The two pills are Mifepristone and Misoprostol. You will be asked to consume them at the clinic and at home. Some clinics can ask you to come back to the clinic for the second pill, as well.
Mifepristone is used to block the progesterone, which is crucial for the embryo to stay attached to the lining of the uterine and develop. The second medication, which is Misoprostol, makes your uterus cramp. It causes the inner lining and contents of your uterus to shed.
Usually, it is recommended that you take Mifepristone a day or two before taking Misoprostol. But your healthcare provider will provide you with the best instructions.
It is wise to have pain and an anti-nausea medication 30-60 minutes before consuming Misoprostol. Do not consume any medication that might increase the amount of bleeding, such as Aspirin.
What Happens During a Surgical Abortion?
A few clinics will get everything done in a single appointment. The rest will do some tests first and use some medication to open the cervix. They will ask you to come for the procedure after a few hours or a day later. They may provide you with some painkillers and antibiotics before the surgery. You will be asked if you want to be fully awake, sleepy, or fully asleep while having the surgical abortion.
Your abdomen will be examined by the healthcare professional during the procedure. To open your vagina slightly, a speculum will be inserted, so that reaching the cervix can be easier. Your provider will use some tools of various sizes in order to open up your cervix. In the end, a long tool will be inserted into the uterus, through the vagina. Then a hand-held suction device will be used for the inner lining of the uterus, and for the embryo.
Then you will rest for a while before heading home.
Also Read: Tips to Prepare for a Safe Pregnancy
What To Expect After An Abortion?
Your regular menstrual period will return in 4-8 weeks after having an abortion. But you are also likely to experience some bleeding initially.
You are likely to have strong emotions and changes in mood after abortion, which can be caused by hormonal changes. Your feelings are always there that can contribute to it.
Symptoms After an Abortion:
You can expect these symptoms after an abortion:
- Pain
- Cramping
- Swollen Breasts
- Light bleeding
How To Take Care Of Yourself Post-Abortion?
It is crucial to take care of yourself, physically and mentally, after having an abortion. You will be tired and drained after having an abortion, so it is the most crucial time you take care of your health.
Physical Care:
It is important you take a day or two off from work after having an abortion to get your body back. Plenty of rest is crucial and you need to avoid doing physical activities.
It takes some time for the cervix to close after the abortion, and without proper care of that, it can cause an infection. So make sure you use tampons, have penetrative sex, not put anything in the vagina, and avoid swimming pools in order to reduce the risk of infection.
Also, do proper passaging, use a heat pack, and take medications to counter pain, such as Advil or Tylenol.
Emotional Care:
It is always emotionally challenging to take such kinds of decisions. You will face some hormonal changes that can cause changes in mood, etc. Your progesterone and estrogen level will decrease which can cause low mood. But all things will be back to normal in 4-8 weeks when the menstrual cycle becomes normal.
Due to hormonal changes and emotional difficulties, you are likely to be more stressed, depressed, and likely to face sleep disorders and other mental conditions. So, make sure you are well prepared for that.
Although recovery time varies from person to person, it can typically take a few days to a few weeks. You can visit fullhousepill to make your recovery after abortion much quicker and better.
Summary:
It all begins with your appointment. You will be asked to communicate with a healthcare professional with whom you can ask any question you have. A few tests will be done after that. There are two ways to carry out an abortion, medical and surgical. Medical abortion involves using two pills, and surgical abortion involves surgery. The procedure of medical abortion involves two days, whereas the surgical abortion takes a few minutes to be done. It is crucial to take care of yourself after having an abortion physically and mentally. Due to the decreased level of hormones, you will experience mood changes, etc. Make sure you stay positive and it can take 4-8 weeks to get things back to the normal stage and your menstrual period.
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