WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER AN ABORTION

The decision to have an abortion is one of the most important decisions about a person’s reproductive health they may have to make. Regardless of your reason for choosing to have an abortion, it is not a process you should rush. There is a wealth of resources online to guide you on the options available to you, including clinics where you can get the procedure done and available support, that you may choose the most convenient safe method. You can access such information and ask any questions by visiting safe2choose.org or emailing one of their trained female counselors at info@safe2choose.org; alternatively, you can use the live chat option found on their website.

I understand how anxious you may feel about this, but as long as you have essential information on how and where to have a safe procedure, you do not have to worry.

Abortion is not a gruesome, near-death process it is often painted as to scare off those who are contemplating it. Abortion is, in fact, a common procedure; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that thousands of abortions are performed in the United States every year, and according to Marie Stopes International, approximately 56 million abortions are done every year.

Abortion is not a gruesome, near-death process it is often painted as to scare off those who are contemplating it. Abortion is, in fact, a common procedure; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that thousands of abortions are performed in the United States every year, and according to Marie Stopes International, approximately 56 million abortions are done every year.

Although having an abortion is a very personal decision and it seems you are alone on this, there are millions of women and girls like you spread across different parts of the world who have had successful abortions and shared their stories to help you stay hopeful in a time like this. Many of these stories are available here. Safe2Choose.org will surely love to read and share your story too; do not hesitate to send it here.

Just like any other medical procedure, having an abortion requires taking time to recuperate and deliberateness about healing. Information on what to expect after the procedure and appropriate things to do can fast track recuperation.

Although there are different types of abortion methods, some of the side effects that ensue the procedures are similar. Knowing what to look out for and do about them can aid your preparation for the procedure and prompt you to reach out for help if they get severe.

No worries, as long as you do a safe procedure, these side effects are mild and will be gone in a few weeks.

You just had an abortion and can’t wait for your body to be back in its without-pregnancy form? Here are some of the things to expect:

• You may feel fatigued or unwell after the procedure, make sure you have adequate rest and sleep.
• Bleeding or spotting for up to 2 weeks, although some women do not bleed at all, but pass only small to medium-sized blood clots. To avoid getting stained, use sanitary pads, not tampons. If you experience prolonged or heavy bleeding that soaks more than two sanitary pads in one hour, please contact your healthcare provider.
• Small blood clots which may appear red or dark purple.
• Light cramps similar to or a bit more intense than that of a menstrual period may continue for a few days. Put a heating pad or hot water bottle wrapped in a towel on your lower abdomen to alleviate the pain. If the cramps become unbearable and persist after doing this, get in touch with your healthcare provider.
• Pregnancy symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and puking should stop in three days. Your breasts might still be tender for the next four days. For comfort, wear a supportive bra and put ice packs on your breasts.
• Your menstrual period should return in 4–8 weeks, although the flow may be slightly different at first. If you do not have your period within the stipulated time, take a pregnancy test and contact your healthcare provider if it is positive.

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF AFTER AN ABORTION

Adequate self-care is essential after having an abortion, in order for you to recover and resume your normal activities. Because bodies differ, recuperation after abortion varies for every individual.

Here are helpful tips that can aid and speed up your healing:

• If your doctor prescribed medications for you, ensure you complete the dose. Some of the medications likely to be prescribed are antibiotics that will prevent infections and pain relief for cramps. Inform your doctor if you are allergic to any of the medications. In case you had an out-of-clinic abortion, ask your healthcare provider if you can use over the counter drugs for any symptom you might be feeling.
• Eat well, rest and avoid any strenuous activity for a week.
• Drink a considerable amount of water daily to stay hydrated.
• Stay off penetrative sex or inserting anything (including tampons) into your vagina for a week. It is possible to get pregnant almost immediately after an abortion. To prevent having an unwanted pregnancy (again), I recommend that you use contraceptives, especially condoms, in order to protect you from infections; which you are susceptible to at the moment. You can find information on different kinds of contraceptives at findmymethod.org and choose the one you find most suitable.
• Avoid using swimming pools, to prevent infection.
• Ensure you attend your follow-up appointments, discuss how you feel with your healthcare provider, and take their recommendations.
• Stay in touch with your support system.

Safe2choose.org provides an online post-abortion counselling service, you can reach them at info@safe2choose.org or on their website.

SOURCES https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322533#what-to-expect-after-an-abortion https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/data_stats/abortion.htm https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=av2707 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322533#aftercare https://www.healthline.com/health/after-abortion#recovery-tips

Originally published at http://nimisire.wordpress.com on August 28, 2020.