- Why You Might be Considering Abortion
- When to Have an Abortion
- Types of Abortion and Pregnancy Stages
- Common Post-Abortion Symptoms
- Cramping
- Bleeding
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Breast Tenderness
- How to Aid Your Recovery
- Seek Family Support
- Wear Comfortable Clothes
- Be Gentle with Yourself
- Signs Something’s Not Right
- Final Words
The journey to making the decision to have an abortion can be an emotionally turbulent and vulnerable time for a woman. We’re here to provide all of the information and to offer the support you need to make the right decision for you.
In this article, we will discuss how you can manage your pregnancy termination and then your recovery with the help of our expert care. We hope what we share is informative, encouraging, and that it gives you the confidence to move forward into post-pregnancy wellness.
Why You Might be Considering Abortion
Making the decision to have an abortion can be extremely difficult. There could be many reasons why you are considering terminating your pregnancy. And it may be that you feel too self-conscious or awkward to discuss your reasons with those closest to you. Your reasons could be:
Financial: you may feel that your financial circumstances make it impossible for you to support a child in the way they need. Finances are a concern for many parents-to-be and can be a big reason why women choose to terminate their pregnancy. In fact, in the UK, there have been record levels of abortions citing lack of finance as the primary reason for the decision.
Partners: you may be considering an abortion for partner-related reasons. Whether you’re not with anybody, you’re not in a stable relationship, or you have an unsupportive or abusive partner, it might be your partner status that is ultimately a factor in your decision to terminate your pregnancy.
Timing: it may be that the timing of your pregnancy isn’t right for you. While there is never a ‘right time’ to have a baby, some women considering abortion say they don’t feel emotionally ready to have a child, while other women might feel too old. The timing has to be right for you and if it’s not, you might consider terminating your pregnancy.
Responsibilities: you might feel like you have too many other responsibilities. Whether it be other children or multiple jobs, some women considering abortion do so because they already feel overextended in other areas of their life.
Mental Health: your mental health might not be in a good place. This is a common reason for pregnancy termination. Many women consider abortion because they do not feel emotionally prepared to have a baby. Mental stability and mental health is important for raising a little one, so it’s important to consider where you’re at and seek help if you need it.
Physical Health Concerns: some women have health-related reasons for pursuing abortion, including; concerns for their physical or emotional health, worries about the baby’s health, alcohol or drug use, side effects of medications, and more.
External Influences: unfortunately, some women feel pressure from family, friends, or their partner to have an abortion. Whether you’re too scared to tell your loved ones about your pregnancy or they’re urging you to get an abortion, there can be many external influences that may influence your decision.
Rest assured that our team of experts providing pregnancy termination services understand how delicate this time can be. We’re here to listen without judgement and provide advice that will expertly and sensitively guide you through this challenging time.
When to Have an Abortion
Once you’ve made the decision to have an abortion, it’s important to understand when you can safely terminate your pregnancy. There are different types of abortion carried out at different stages in a woman’s gestation (how far along she is in her pregnancy).
Before you have an abortion, you will be given an ultrasound. The ultrasound will confirm how many weeks pregnant you are and this will inform what kind of pregnancy termination procedure will be suitable for you.
Generally speaking, the earlier an abortion is carried out, the safer it is. That’s why it’s important to seek advice as early on in your pregnancy as possible.
Types of Abortion and Pregnancy Stages
There are two types of pregnancy termination; medical and surgical.
Medical Abortion: a medical abortion involves taking medication at home to trigger a miscarriage. Many women say it feels like more of a natural end to their pregnancy. However, a medical abortion is only suitable for women who are 10 weeks along in their pregnancy or less. If you are further along than 10 weeks pregnant, a medical abortion will not be suitable for you.
Surgical Abortion: a surgical abortion is a pregnancy termination procedure carried out in a hospital. It involves using suction aspiration or forceps to remove the pregnancy from your uterus. You will receive pain relief or be under local anaesthesia while the procedure occurs. A medical abortion procedure is suitable for women who are up to 24 weeks along in their pregnancy.
Understanding pregnancy termination and the timings surrounding the procedures can be tricky. That’s why our team of experts are here to help you. They will provide expert guidance and advice and will be happy to answer any questions you may have during your time with us.
Common Post-Abortion Symptoms
After your abortion, you will experience a range of different symptoms that may affect you emotionally and physically. It’s likely you will experience symptoms regardless of the type of abortion you have.
However, it’s important to note that symptoms tend to be more severe if a woman has an abortion in the third trimester.
The following symptoms are typically what women experience following a pregnancy termination procedure:
Cramping
It is common to experience cramping and bleeding after an abortion, whether surgical or medical. The cramps will be uncomfortable but should be easily managed with over-the-counter pain relief such as ibuprofen. A warm bath or a hot water bottle might ease some of the discomfort and, of course, resting as much as possible is also important.
Bleeding
It is likely that you will bleed for up to 4 weeks following your procedure. Of course, just like your period, the amount and severity of your bleeding will vary from other people. If you notice anything that’s not normal for you, seek medical advice straight away.
Important: if you are soaking through a sanitary towel every 30 minutes for an hour, you should seek medical advice as you might be experiencing haemorrhaging.
Nausea and Vomiting
Some women experience nausea and vomiting post-abortion. Thankfully, these symptoms typically only last a couple of days. In the meantime, it’s best to rest as much as possible, stay hydrated, and eat little but often to keep nausea at bay.
Breast Tenderness
Some women report breast tenderness after an abortion procedure. This symptom can last for up to 10 days following your procedure. To ease symptoms it can be helpful to wear a supportive bra and take over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen to help reduce discomfort.
Some women also report fluid leakage from their breasts. If you experience this, please know that it’s normal and your breasts should return to normal after 4 days or so.
How to Aid Your Recovery
Recovering from an abortion can take time because you’re not just healing physically, you’re healing emotionally, too. That’s why we recommend taking it slow and resting as much as possible. Here are a few tips to support you during your recovery:
Seek Family Support
Having an abortion is difficult for many women and it’s not uncommon to feel emotionally lost or grieving after your pregnancy termination. That’s why we recommend, where possible, to have a friend or family member available to take you home after your procedure. It is helpful having someone there who can provide the support and companionship you need during this time.
Wear Comfortable Clothes
While you’re in recovery, it’s best to wear clothes that are loose and comfortable. You may also feel colder than normal, particularly if you’ve had a medical abortion as the medication used can cause chills. So, be sure to have plenty of warm fluffy socks and blankets to hand.
Be Gentle with Yourself
Healing emotionally from an abortion can take time. And whatever your reasons for terminating your pregnancy, going through with the procedure can be an emotionally challenging experience.
Hormonal shifts are common and certainly during recovery you may feel like your emotions are all over the place. This is a normal part of your recovery.
It’s important to give yourself physical and emotional space to rest and heal. Whether you find it helpful to talk to a loved one, journal your thoughts, or meditate, choose a healthy outlet that works for you and make time for it. You’ll find that your recovery goes smoothly if you take care of yourself and make space to rest.
Signs Something’s Not Right
During your recovery, it’s important to note any signs or symptoms that aren’t right or normal for you. This can be difficult as your body may feel a little different to normal. However, if you’re concerned about anything at all it’s always best to err on the side of caution and give us or your doctor a call if you’re ever unsure.
Common signs and symptoms to be away of include:
- Heavy bleeding causing you to change your sanitary pad more than once every hour.
- Blood clots larger than golf balls
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
- Chest pain or feeling out of breath
- Pregnancy symptoms that continue for 2 weeks or longer
- Pain or swelling occurring in your leg
- Symptoms of infection such as pain in your stomach or lower back, foul smelling vaginal odour, discharge that has a puss-like appearance.
Final Words
We will provide you with the care and support you need during this time. You can find lots of information on our blog and our team of experienced doctors and nurses are available should you have any questions.
Having an abortion can be a challenging time for a woman. You are not alone in feeling apprehensive. Please know our team is here to help and we’ll do everything we can to make your experience a positive one.