Due to pill failure (the first time) and then…pill failure after the abortion due to the doctor providing inaccurate information…I’ve now experienced both types of abortions…medical and surgical.
MEDICAL ABORTION
• I’m not going to lie–my experience kinda sucked. I do not recommend this method unless you really want to go through this at home. I say this because I can compare this to the surgical procedure (see below).
• I also recommend that you take the pain killers ASAP because I thought I was going to tough it out but I was wrong … it’s painful l.. .but any woman who has had cramps can deal with it.
• However, the painful part is not too long…just incredible cramping and bleeding…just make sure you are careful and have heating pads.
SURGICAL ABORTION
• This procedure is where you go into the doctor and they knock you out with a little sedative and you wake up and you are no longer pregnant.
• I was in and out of the office (the actual procedure) in 10 minutes.
• I am not 100% sure all doctors use sedative–I cannot speak for the people who do this procedure with a doctor who doesn’t knock them out.
• The reason why I prefer this procedure is because you do not have hours of cramping and going back and forth to the bathroom bleeding. My boyfriend drove me home, I took pain killers, took a nap and was feeling fine that evening.
MY ADVICE/OBSERVATIONS/CONCLUSIONS
• Do the surgical method unless you really want to have a “private” experience at home.
• Make sure you stay off your feet as much as possible for 2 weeks and do not lift anything over 10lbs. I know they tell you to do this in the post-procedure documentation. HOWEVER…if you start to feel better (which you will) you will be tempted to start doing normal activities. THIS CAUSES YOU TO BLEED A LOT…I am not lying when I say…take it easy. If you work at a desk job…stay at your desk as much as possible. You should only get up to pee, change your pad or walk to your car. When you get off of work, go home and lie down with your feet up. I learned the hard way on this one.
• If you use tampons during your period–expect some misery due to the necessary use of pads. You’re not allowed to stop the bleeding after an abortion with tampons…so you will need to buy granny panties (no thongs) and pads…this was very annoying and gross to me. I hate pads and wearing big underwear with thick pads for 1+ weeks was extremely annoying.
• Expect to take around 2 weeks to get back to “normal”. The reason why we decided to have an abortion was because we weren’t ready for children yet. We have been together for over 3 years, are working on our careers and I’m working on my masters. We have plans for children–just not now. That being said…the main reason to do this was to continue on a “normal” path and living our “normal” lives…it’s a little depressing in the weeks afterward when you’re dealing with bleeding, not going out, feeling fat and gross because you can’t workout…because you want to be “normal” again. In the long run 2 weeks is so short. However, when you make the decision to have an abortion to continue your current life and you’re unable to…it makes it difficult…but 2 weeks later, it’s all worth it again.
• MAKE SURE YOU USE CONDOMS WHILE YOU START THE PILL AGAIN. DUE TO MISINFORMATION FROM THE DOCTOR…I STARTED MY PILL PACK ON SUNDAY AFTER THE ABORTION #1. WE WAITED 2 WEEKS AS WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO DO…AND WE GOT PREGNANT AGAIN.
• YOU MUST USE CONDOMS UNTIL YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST PERIOD ON THE PILL.
• Don’t believe the websites claiming having an abortion will make you infertile. I asked both doctors (the second one was a very good one) and there are studies all over showing abortions are safe.
In any event…there are many reasons to have an abortion. We knew that right now is not the best time for us to have children. We look forward to the day when have been married, have our careers and finances in order…and we go off the pill and try to get pregnant. We will be crying and excited when the results are positive. At that point, we will be ready to be the amazing parents we want to be. I don’t look at my decision lightly. I haven’t told all of my friends…based on their views…it really isn’t a subject you can discuss openly. I think that’s the worst part about it–the stigma. I am very grateful I have this option–the choice. Because of this…I will be able to provide my future children the best possible future and situation.
I wish you luck and don’t let anyone judge your decision–as long as you are comfortable with your decision…it’s YOUR body, YOUR future, YOUR life.
