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Mifepristone..."The Abortion Pill": The Facts

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Biology 103
2000 First Web Report
On Serendip

Mifepristone..."The Abortion Pill": The Facts

Sujatha Sebastian

On September 28, 2000 the Food and Drug Administration after several years of research approved Mifepristone, better known as the "abortion pill", for distribution in the United States. The FDA's decision will have a definite impact on women's health care in the United States. There will be social and medical repercussions. The drug has caused controversy not only in antiabortion groups, but in Pro-Choice groups as well. Critics are worried that an abortion available in pill form will be "too easy". They are worried that use of the pill will be abused. What many people do not realize is that while Mifepristone will be beneficial to women's health care, it is not without side effects. In light of all the recent coverage that the "abortion pill" has been given in the media, and all the misinformation surrounding it, I decided researching that Mifepristone would be interesting and helpful. The purpose of my paper is to discover how Mifepristone works, how it is administered, and to look at its side effects. I want to demonstrate the benefit Mifepristone will be to women's health care, while showing that it is not an "easy" solution to abortion.

"Mifepristone, formerly known as RU-486, is a medical alternative to aspiration abortion."(1) It works by blocking progesterone from being absorbed into the uterus. When this happens the uterus sheds the endometrium (lining in the uterus, therefore inducing menstruation. (2 When Mifepristone is used as a method for abortion is it administered as part of a three step process. The first step is that 200 mg of Mifepristone is given orally in a doctor's office. Then within 24 to 48 hours the patient is given 400 mg a drug called Misoprostol either orally or in a suppository form. Misoprostol, which is a synthetic hormone, is used to get the cervix to soften and dilate as well as getting the uterus to relax. The embryo is then expelled.(2) This is supposed to happen approximately fours hours after the administration of the drug. The final step is an examination by a medical professional to make sure the abortion is complete. (2)

There are restrictions as to who can use this medical method of abortion. It is only intended for women to use up to nine weeks after their last menstruation period. Women who are under 18 or over 35, epileptic, diabetics, or suffering from heart, lung, kidney, liver, stomach or intestinal disorders are ineligible. As are women who have taken steroids within the past 12 months, or deemed overweight or a heavy smoker. Women who have used an IUD or hormonal contraceptive within three months prior to conception are not allowed to take Mifepristone as well.(2)

Like any drug or medical method there are side effects to using Mifepristone and Misoprostol. It is the number of side effects and degree of each that critics argue about. The FDA has determined that taking Mifepristone does cause various degrees of pain. Short term physical effects can be pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue.(2) There are psychological side effects as well. In some cases products of the conception are visualized. (3)

The use of Mifepristone will have a definite impact on reproductive freedom in this country and the world. (3) It is seen as less invasive procedure which gives the woman more freedom and privacy. In the United States it has been reported by the Alan Guttmacher Institute that eighty-nine percent of the abortions occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Mifepristone will allow women another option to terminate a pregnancy in its early stages. (2) Twenty-four percent of the world's population lives in places where abortion is not legal. (3) As a result a significant population of women perform their own abortions or receive illegal abortions which kills them. The medical method of abortion would allow women in these areas of the world to receive a safe method of abortion.

A major issue that critics of Mifepristone have is that they feel that the drug will allow abortions to become "too easy". But the drug is only administered in a medical office and requires at least three visits. The last visit is an examination to see that the abortion is complete and that the mother is in good health. Before the patient is given Mifeprex tablets (Mifepristone) she must sign an agreement in which she acknowledges that there are side effects, that there is a three step process, and that 5 to 8 women out of every hundred do not have successful medical abortions and need surgical abortions . (5) Critics worry that the drug will cause an increase in the number of women who have abortions. Supporters of the drug cite the fact that in France, where the drug is manufactured and was first administered, there has not been an increase in the abortion rate. (2)

Mifepristone will change the way that abortions are administered. This method gives a woman more autonomy and does not require her to go through surgical procedure. It can also prevent pregnancy by taken as soon as a day after she has had intercourse. This new method will allow more women to have access to safe abortions. Mifepristone opens the door to a new area of medicine in which previously surgical procedures are now approached in a medical manner. Whether in support of or against Mifepristone one has to recognize the new technology the drug represents.

One of the problems I had when researching information was finding unbiased information. Both pro and anti Mifepristone groups used "research" and statistics to their benefit. Distinguishing the difference between opinion and fact was difficult. This is especially true because there is not a lot of accurate information about Mifepristone published by reliable sources. This is due to the fact that Mifepristone has just recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Mifepristone that will be beneficial to women's health care and medicine. But one must realize that it is not without side effects and cannot be seen as an "easy" solution to abortion.

 

WWW Sources

1)www.plannedparenthood.org/mifepristone.html, Mifepristone

2)www.rascalnut.com/naral.ohio/RU486.html, The Facts about Mifepristone (RU 486)

3)www.mja.com.au/public/issues/sep15/henshaw/henshaw.html, Mifepristone

4)http://jinx.sis.unsw.edu.au/~greenlft/1994/137/137p28htm, "Abortion Pill": A Woman's Right to Choose by, Kath Gelber

5)www.popcouncil.orgrhpdev/mifeprex/patient%5Fagreement.html,The Patient Agreement Mifeprex (Mifepristone) Tablets

6) www.pages.map.com/lroberge/ru486.htm, RU486: The Hidden Effects by Lawrence F. Roberge

6) www.nrlc.org/ru486/propsedFDAregs.html, RU486 *Please note that some of the sources read during my research were from biased sources (the National Right to Life Committee web site for example). Facts were not used from these sources in my paper. These sources were instead used to discover the arguments anti-Mifepristone groups had and to see the false information they were publishing about the drug.

 

 

Continuing conversation
(to contribute your own observations/thoughts, post a comment below)

08/06/2005, from a Reader on the Web

I took that pill and almost blead to death now i have have to say it's not as easy as it sounds it is very painful like child birth but more blooder atleast for me i now have endromitrious and may have to have my women parts removed i had nothing before i took those pills i'm 37 so i'm just saying better think it out before you take it because it's dangerious i have a son who is 18 it was easier for me to have him then go through childbirth than taking those pills becuse i'm still not well and it has been 7 months


10/10/2005, from a Reader on the Web

For what it's worth, I though I'd share my personal experience using Mifepristone almost a month ago.. After having made the difficult choice to abort, I learned of this pill as an alternative option to having the traditional surgical procedure. Of course, as anyone would, I opted to try the pill because it seemed -less- painful and was something I could do in the privacy of my own home. After having been given the first pill, Mifepristone, at the doctors office on a Friday afternoon, I finished out my day at work with minimal side-effects at that point. The Mifepristone made me slightly sick to my stomach, but compared to the ongoing morning sickness I'd been going through, it wasn't so bad. (ha ha) Misoprostol was the next step, given to me in the form of 4 tablets, to be inserted vaginally myself at home. I was also given a full bottle of Vicodin, as well as a bottle of 800mg Ibuprophen for the pain the doctor anticipated I would encounter (this worried me a little). Late Satuday afternoon, I'd say around 4:30pm, scared to death not knowing what to expect once everything started, and knowing I couldn't turn back now, I inserted the tablets and took 1 Vicodin as directed. About 30 minutes from the time I did this I began to have cramping comparable to what you would feel during a typical menstrual period.. but not for long. Within an hour I had severe cramping.. I'd been warned the pain could equal that of actual child-birth contractions, and this must have been it. (I've never had a child, so I can only imagine) I was to the point of feeling like I would pass out if the pain didn't let up when I passed the first, and largest, portion of what -was- the pregnancy.. Many people will tell you that all you'll see is blood and clots, and it's unlikely anything will look like actual tissue.. but mine sure did.. Large masses of gray tissue were expelled for the following numerous hours. Somewhere close to midnight that night I felt relief enough to know it was over.. or so I thought. 4 days after this, while I -should- have been feeling more or less back to normal, I began to experience increasing pain in my abdomen. I called and spoke with my doctor about this, but felt as though she didn't seem concerned at all. No more than 2 hours after hanging up the phone I developed a fever that shot through the roof out of nowhere, and my heart began beating unbelieveably TOO fast. The "increasing pain" in my abdomen now had me laying in bed, hardly able to move. I called my mother who left work and rushed to my home to get me. I couldn't even get out of bed to let her in when she arrived I hurt so bad. I ended up in the emergency room that afternoon with a heartbeat of 143 beats/min.. (Check your own and then you'll see just how high 143 is) and a 103 temperature I ended up fighting to keep away for the next 4 days. To make a long story short, that first afternoon I spent over 8 hours in a treatment room in the emergency area before they got my vitals under control and discovered the cause of everything.. The abortion pill I used began attacking my own body in a sense, and began a horrendous infection in my uterus. In the end I spent a week in the hospital on 3 of the most potent anti-biotics available, as well as some heavy-duty narcotic pain killers, while specialists from the surrounding hospitals kept watch over me constantly. It's now been almost a month since then, and I still have to have blood work done, as well as ultrasounds every now and then to keep monitoring my recovery. I have constant sharp pains in my abdomen and have been told the scar tissue left over from the infection may now keep me from becoming pregnant in the future.. It's all so much to deal with, and honestly, I don't think I've come to terms with everything yet. It still feels like a bad dream. Regardless of my experience with the pill and side effects it caused me, I can still step back and look at the broad picture of things.. The majority of women who use this method have no problems, and for them, this is a good way to go. I really do think it's a better choice for most, than to have the surgical abortion.. BUT - be warned.. It's not "easy" using the pill, and there's no way to know how you're body will react to it. I never knew I'd go through the things I did because of it. This is definitely not something to be looked at as the "new contraceptive" either, as some are saying. It's so risky, putting your body through something like this. It could take a toll on you that will effect the rest of your life. Like me.. Will I ever be able to have kids after everything that happened? Every woman out there should begin by being aware of how to avoid an unwanted pregnancy from the start. Such as life happens, and most protection only offers 99.9% effectiveness, we forget that's NOT 100%.. If you still become pregnant and choose to abort, do your homework.. read about all possibilities, and all side effects for each.. then decide what's best for you. I think the pill is a great option.. but be careful, it's certainly not without it's flaws.

 

Additional comments made prior to 2007
It has been almost 2 months since I had made the painful decision to get an abortion. I am only 18 years old so you could imagine hoe scary it was for me. After they examined me and told me how far I was they put me in this rome with a female doctor so I can take the oral pill that actually determines the pregnancy. When I took that pill, I felt fine until I had to get something in my stomach, I couldn't even eat my stomach was turning so bad. the doctor told me that I could insert the four pills vaginally anytime between then and 48 hours after the visit. I decided to insert them that night to get it over with and about an hour after it was literally hell. I was vomiting,bleeding perfusely, and experiencing pain more severe then I had ever felt before. To make a long story shorter, it has been about 2 months and I still haven't exactl stopped bleeding. I am young and afaid to go get checked because of it, and my life will never be the same. I had no choice my situation at the time wasn't what I wanted and now I will always regret it ... Reader on the web, 12 August 2007

 

 

I used the pill around february of '07. I was 6 1/2 weeks and I guess I didnt really know what I was getting myself into. I took the first pill which I had no side effects to. When I took the second one the next day, it was almost immediate cramping. Basically the worst cramps I had ever had. I was puking, had diarrea, and was in so much pain I was balled up on the couch crying. I guess I was a "lucky" one because my horrible cramps only lasted about an hour until I passed the birth tissue and then they subsided. Although I bled for a month after that (most of it not heavy), I completly regret it to this day. All I can ever think about is a perfectly beautiful child is now in a sewer somewhere. It's horrible, but thats how I think of it now. I wish I could go back and change things. I wish I never did it. All I hope is that it didnt hurt my chances of having a child in the future ... Reader on the web, 13 September 2007

Comments

sarah's picture

should i get an abortion or not?

hi , i m 23, 7 weeks pregnant now..i don't want a baby neither my boyfriend, we were NEVER planning on this..this was THE WORSE SHOCKING NEWS FOR US...he is supportive of me no matter what...but i cant make up my mind...one minute i want an abortion the next minute i dont....what should i do?plz help...oh and i hate babiesssssssss! but now that i know there is something in me sometimes i wonder what it would look like.......

deming's picture

its your choice in the end if

its your choice in the end if your not ready your not ready u are in control of your life.

Serendip Visitor's picture

Please consider adoption. You

Please consider adoption. You may be only 6-1/2 weeks but it is a child and it does have a heart beat. Think of the women in the world that cannot have children and would kill to have a baby to love. please consider this before you decided to get rid of the fetus! I know everyone has a choice but as a woman who cannot have children, i would think about the emotional as well as physical scarring that can happen .

sarah's picture

7WEEKS n 6days

I was 7 weeks and 6 days! That's what the nurse told me at the abortion office when she was checking me to make sure I m qualified for the pill...that was when I knew I wanted that baby and I DIDN'T WANT TO ABORT HIM... I HAD DREAMS ABOUT HIM BEFOREA I KNEW I WAS PREGNANT AND I ALSO HAD DREAMS OF KILLING HIM ...I guess my nightmare came true....he was so beautiful in my dreams ....and then I literally killed him! I m a murderer!

sarah's picture

I REGRET EVERYTHING! !

OMG...I JUST READ UR POST I WISHED I DID IT SOONER!
yes I did the abortion finally and I didn't wanna do it...I was not sure even the last second I took the piil from the doctor ...I KNEW I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS! I DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T STOP!
I JUST KILLED MY OWN BABY I TOOK THE FIRST ONE WEDNESDAY 22 OF SEPTEMBER 2010 AND RIGHT AFTER I REGRETTED MY DECISION! !!
I got in the car with my bf...I hated what I did....I started to cry and I wished I could go back...my bf said make urself threw up but it was too late.....I should go to prison for this...this is murder and I really killex someone! !! I feel horrible about it! I always had nothing against or for abortion ...but as of that moment I m COMPLETELY AGAINST IT AND I THINK THIS IS A MURDER AND IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL! !!
I toom someone ' s life who was %100 innocent and never done any harm to anyone! I took my own baby's life!!
I hate myself for what I did!!!

Serendip Visitor's picture

When I was younger i never

When I was younger i never thought abortion was wrong, I was all about pro choice and its a womans body to do with what she pleases. And to this day I still believe that there are special circumstances as to which an abortion is a legitimate option. I'm sorry Sarah that you are going through such a hard time dealing with your decision. I really do believe that in your heart you thought you were doing the right thing. You may feel like a murderer but can you honestly look at yourself in the mirror and say if I had n't gone through with the PIll could I have given that child the best quality of life?
I think you should seek councelling, it will help alot with the grieving and the guilt. I too wish you had seen my post earlier

Serendip Visitor's picture

Seriously- it was not that bad.

I took the pill a month ago and after reading some of these comments i wonder how many of them are actually real, and how many are from some jerk just trying to scare people into not taking the abortion pill.
I understand everybody has unique responses to stuff...but really? "it was as bad a labor?" I doubt that. Indeed, it was not comfortable... and why did some girl pick up the fetus and hold it in her hand???? Thats pretty sick. Of course that would be traumatizing!! It would be traumatizing to pick up ANYTHING that was dead and stare at it!!! Stop sharing stupid details.

My experience with the pill was not easy i admit. I laid in my bed ALONE for 4 hours cramping, sweating (i'm sure with a fever), and in a constant state of ABOUT TO vomit and/or have explosive diarrhea . However- instead of freaking out- i watched a movie in bed, and tried as hard as possible to NOT think about how bad i was hurting. (Dont get me wrong- it was NOT pleasant) But i knew that at some point the pain would subside and i might be able to fall asleep, which i guess is what eventually happened. The point is that instead of freakin out like a retard- i tried to stay calm.
I don't understand why some of the women on this page expected this to be an easy process. Your expelling a fetus from your body in a unnatural way!! Its gonna hurt! The fact is that you ended up getting what you paid for, so stop complaining!!!

WE ALL KNEW THE RISKS INVOLVED.

deming's picture

agree. although for me the

agree. although for me the pain was unbareable. totally terrible. but i do agree that some of these stories are a bit too much why would you hold a fetus in your hand wth?

Serendip Visitor's picture

Its wasnt horrible.

A lot of girls on here have horrible experiences with the abortion pill. Its been 3 days since taking the misoprostol. I took the mifeprex in the PP office on Wednesday. Thursday night I decided to take the misoprostol. After taking the pills I was scared to death of the side effects coming. 20 minutes after taking the misoprostol I started cramping. The cramps were mild at first and got worse within the hour. I had already taken the nausea medicine and tylenol 3 before taking the abortion pills which really helped. On a pain scale from 1 to 10 the cramps at worst were about a 7. I had bleeding like a heavy period with a few large clots. I didnt throw up or have diarrhea, no chills and no dizziness. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. My appointment for follow up ultrasound is Wednesday after next. I really hope that everything passed and I wont have to have a D & C when I go back. I'm still bleeding like a period with lots of small clots when I go to the restroom and Im hoping that this bleeding doesnt last for weeks. Dont let all of the horror stories freak you out before taking the pills. Everyones bodies are different and you might not have one of the awful experiences. Make sure you are prepared when taking them. You'll want to take the meds before the abortion pills, drink lots of water that day and a heating pad helps alot. Hope this helps some people deciding if the pills are the way they would like to go.

Serendip Visitor's picture

how long you stop bleeding

how long you stop bleeding

Serendip Visitor's picture

Its been 5 weeks and Im STILL

Its been 5 weeks and Im STILL spotting. When I went back 3 weeks ago for the check up the doc did the vaginal ultra sound and she said it looked like I had another week or so of bleeding but it hasnt stopped yet. Its light enough to wear panty liners but its still here. Im not sure if the continuous bleeding is from the birth control im on now or if its from the abortion pill but the doc did inform me it could take up to 6 weeks so hopefully not much longer.

Serendip Visitor's picture

Just used Mifeprex and Misoprostol

I was 8 weeks along and decided to have the medical abortion. I didnt want anything sucked out of me and thought it would be better to go through it at home. I took the first medication Mifepristone at the doctor on Thursday morning and did not feel sick at all. On Saturday morning I stuck the 4 Misoprostol pills inbetween my gums and my lips. Within 10 mintues I could start to feel cramping. It started to hurt very fast. The pain was so bad I thought I might scream. I felt hot and no matter what I tried I couldnt help the pain. I still had medicine in my mouth so I started tearing it out I was in so much pain and didnt want it to get worse. Within a half hour I passed the sac and had blood clots. I felt relief after but still had cramping for a few hours. I really do not recommend this choice. I read these stories and it scared me to death but I didnt think it would be that bad.

Sasha Myers's picture

This is my story...

I am 33 yrs. old with a 4 year old I soley raise on my own. I became involved with a married man a year ago. He is going through the divorce proceedings now ( I just want it to be know that I was not the cause of the demise of their marriage, it been over now for 2 years they just kept to themselves and stayed on opposite sides of the house and then I came into the picture where we have fallen deeply in love and still are) I found out last Friday I was pregnant and was devestated. This cannot happren, I do not want it to happen. My friend is 56 yrs. old and he would be 73 when the child would graduate from High-School so Ive decided that I was going to the take medication abortion with those pills. I took the 1st pill on Friday and I have just taken the other four. Im starting to cramp up and am I scared to see what will be happening to me in the next few hours. I have sent my son off for the night @ a friends for a sleepover. My boyfriend was just here and I just said go on and tend to the business, I will be fine but will I? I was only 4 weeks and I cant help to think that I have just killed a child that never had a future...He and I are both successful at what we do but this pregnancy really could not go forward. Am I going to live with these thoughts of what i have done for the rest of my life? Im so scared, alone and confused. I sit here crying right now thinking that I have made the wrong decision but in the same sense I did not. Im just scared and keep typing away my feeling because I just hope that there is someone out there that is feeling the same way that I am right now. When are the bad cramps going to be happening and what can I do to relieve them? Thank you to whoever you are that tool the time to read this...

Sandi's picture

Sasha, I just read your post

Sasha,
I just read your post and am wondering how it went and are you ok? I am considering this myself within the next few days and am scared. I would love to hear from you.
Sandi

sarah's picture

don't do it!plzzzzzzz

Plz don't get an abortion....I took the second pill today...it s not the matteof pain..it ll go away after a few hrs...I feel horrible! I feel that I am a murder and I neveh gave that innocent baby chance to live....u know we try to save a lost dog' life on the side of steet...this is a reall human being..this is a baby has a heart beat at 4 weeks...don't kill it...save him/her..I wish I did! I regretted it the second I put the first pill in my mouth! If I d go back I would have kept him....

Serendip Visitor's picture

i totally see where your

i totally see where your coming from i had it done over a year ago and regret it every day of my life, i think about my lost baby every day, i have a son who is almost 2 ( which is the reason i had the abortion in the first place he was only 8 weeks old and i didnt think i could do it so close together) since then i have been tryin to get pregnant again for 8 months and still nothing!! so hope its not an effect of the pills :(

Serendip Visitor's picture

The Abortion Pill Experience

First of all I want to say that I am 27 years old and am still in no way ready to be a mother. No one has the right to make you give birth or tell you what to do with your body, even your partner. I knew I was going to have an abortion the second i found out I was pregnant - I just wasn't sure which way I wanted to do it. A friend suggested the abortion pill. I thought this would be an excellent way to go since I have an almost phobia of the gynecologist and the least anyone had to go messing around up in there the better, right? I researched a bit online after I took the first pill at the doctor's office and i came across this site. THE POSTS ON THIS SITE SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME. Seriously. Some of these stories sounded so bad, but my doctor and counselor gave me no indication of this. I prepared myself for the worst, got all the meds, trash cans by the toilet, thermometer, water, etc. There was no possible way I could have prepared myself for this experience.
To anyone considering "the pill" - i would seriously consider all options first. If I had to do this again I would definately have the "traditional" surgical abortion. i am not sure why it was so painful for me, I do have really bad period cramps when I am not on the BCP - so that may be why. BUT, I will tell anyone considering this that yesterday (second part of the pills) was the single most painful experience of my life - I cried, sweated, vomited several times, had diarrhea, searing white hot pain that I thought I would die or pass out for almost 3 hours. It is so hard to describe how horrible it was. Afterwards, I shivered on the bathroom floor from the fever. No medications helped at all, I had to bear it all until I passed it. I pushed and pushed with no production for awhile and the only relief came when I finally passed the biggest clot.
Today, I am MUCH better. The nausea of the past few weeks is gone, the cramps are minimal, and I finally have an appetite again. But if i had known what awaited for me yesterday, I would NEVER have taken those pills. For some, it may not have been so bad, but I just wanted anyone to know who was considering this method that there is a possibility of it being a terrible regrettable most painful traumatic experience that you can't make better until you bear it and its over. Abortion should always be an option for any woman, but you should do your research and be aware of the possible side effects first. I hope this helps someone else in this situation.
Lauren

Serendip Visitor's picture

THIS IS SO INHUMANE AND

THIS IS SO INHUMANE AND BARBARRICK i took this pill and almost bled to death i passed my fetus in my bathroom and continued to bleed for hours very large clots i was also dilated 4 cm and having contractions for hours my boyfriend had to rush me to the hospital where they had to do an emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. I almost needed a blood transfusion so i paid $710 to go home to severe pain and have to pay thousands of dollars in medical bills to 2 different hospitals. I took the pill because I felt is was less invasive and i didnt want to get put to sleep when I had to get put to sleep anyways. I highly recommend if anyone chooses to have an abortion to do the surgical abortion not the medical YOU COULD POSSIBLY DIE IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG. The doctors told me that some of the stuff that was supposed to come out after the fetus did not therefore my body was shoveling blood out instead of the things that needed to come out thats why i almost bled to death and why i was in so much pain this will be something my bfriend and I will never forget

julie's picture

abortion pill

I have just taken the abortion pill 2 days ago .. I was so scared .. i had to take it for medical reasons and i know i couldnt keep the baby as i need an operation on my ovaries ... i was so so scared because i had read all the horror stories on here.. i have never been so scared in all my life i really was not a pleasant experience ... the painis bearable and it passes really really quickly after the abortion has happened .. it does feel like child birth and im not surprised that it scares so many people.. its now 2 days after and im feeling a little better each day but far from feeling ok ... it takes it out of you and i am so so tired atm .... i can reassure you that the pain is bearable and it does subside when everything has happened it took 6 hours for me i was terribly stressed which was scary never felt like that before ,, make sure you have someone with you to support you and make sure you have nothing planned in the few days after so you can rest ...

Shelby's picture

suggestions please??

i just got 2 positive pregnancy tests last night. i know my body and i know its true. im supposed to go to planned parenthood tonite. im 27 years old my boyfriend is 36. he says he doesnt want another child right now. we r not financially stable. i have a 3 year old son. and he has a 10 year old daughter we r fighting for custody of. i want this baby. sooooo bad. i work in early childhood education and love children and have always wanted a big house full of children. my boyfriend wants me to get the pill to get rid of the problem. he says if i keep the baby i will lose him. i am alone in the world except for my son and my boyfriend. i have always been a depressed kinda girl. i have been on anti-depressents before for years and i know if i abort in ANY way that this will kill me. i know this is a web site for people who have taken the pill. but i dont know who else to talk about this with but women who may have been in the same situation. i feel very immature that im 27 and cant take care of another child. i know i cant abort. i know it! any suggestions at all? i was so happy wen i found out i was pregnant but now am totally upset thinking i may have to abort. please any comments would help me right now. thank u so much. :(

Eva Simons's picture

I am in the same position. Im

I am in the same position.

Im 21 and I found out I was pregnant last thursday. But my "ex boyfriend" and i broke up the night before (wednesday). I was 5 days late and and I started to worry. So the next day on thursday, I took two pregnancy tests and both said pregnant. I was more in shock than in anything. And honestly I was really hoping I was pregnant before my ex and i broke up. Unfortunately we weren't together, and things ended pretty badly because he felt that we were always arguing and fighting. But i decided to tell him after I found out. Of course, he threw a fit because i told him while he was at work. The first thing he told me was "I DONT WANT IT. I DONT WANT A BABY. IM NOT READY. AND WE AREN"T TOGETHER SO WHY KEEP IT?!?!" so i was devastated. I didn't know what to do. He even blocked me from everything even my number. I had no way to contact him, i wanted his help and I wanted to keep it. so badly. and he wasn't talking to me. i thought maybe going to his house to tell his father would help straighten him out but my ex had already told him and my ex told his father not to get involved. I ended up going there anyways just to try to work things out with him. The only thing i want is for us to work out. I feel like he thinks im trying to keep it just so we will be tied together forever. And that is not the case. I don't believe in abortions at all. I believe if God gave you a blessing like this then you should accept it and do it. I went to talk to him and I officially told him I was going to keep it. But he was so upset. I could see how stressed he was from all of this. He is so stressed, i feel like he will get ill. he stressed about my pregnancy, work, and money.
So i decided to tell him I was going to think about getting the abortion-which is not true. I told him so he couldbe less stressed but i was also hoping things could get better between us but he is so cold with me. even though we spoke every day. but i asked him if things could ever work out again between us. he said "i just dont think we can work out. were always fighting and were miserable all the time-but we were perfect before a couple weeks ago). basically he made it seem like we will never get back together. I then told him i was getting the abortion to fully relieve his stress and things were starting to look up for both of us. now he started fighting bc he can't make up his mind if he wants me back. so i got upset and told him i wasn't going to go through the abortion. So he got extremely upset. But i then told him i "took the pill" on wednesday but that i wasn't going to take the other 4 pills till after we talked so i know we both can work things out with or without the baby. but i never took the pill or anything. I am still pregnant. So he told me we can talk on sunday even though we both agreed to talk today about us. But I am still planning on keep this baby. I just dont think its right for someone to tell you what to do with your body. And now I am realizing this. If he really loves you he will understand you choice and he would not ever tell you to get an abortion. He should be supportive. And i realize my ex isn't being supportive and I don't need him to raise this baby. But as of now anything can happen-meaning a miscarriage. So if i happen to have a miscarriage then i guess it because it wasn't meant for me to have a baby.

TnG5702's picture

Don't do it, no man is worth

Don't do it, no man is worth loosing such a precious child that you obviously want to keep. God has is reasons for EVERYTHING that he does & he obviously Blessed you with this child for a reason!! I am sure that you will find a way to support your family if this man does decide to leave your side. In the end regardless of anything it is HIS child also & hey if you must take him to court & handle things that way... well then so be it!! I just do not think that this pill will fix anything because it will not change the person that he is, so who's to say that something like this will not happen again if you do take this pill now. You cannot just turn to this pill whenever you find yourself in this situation, as you've read these stories (I suppose) they sound scary period!! I say you let your heart lead you in the direction that will make you happy. But if in the end you still feel you cannot keep this baby well that can also be solved & it does NOT have to be by abortion!! I am sure you can find a good adoption agency that I definitely suggest would be the best & humane way to go about resolving your problem. I myself am just going through a scare & also being 27yrs of age I am being realistic as to how my husband & I would struggle very much if I would happen to be pregnant. But I know abortion would NEVER be the way to go. I came across this page & was horrified at the thought of there being such a pill, & decided to read some of these stories. Yes life is difficult, especially financially but there are also soooo many programs out there to help us get by... I still have hope that things will get better. As terrified as I am to be pregnant I also know that God has his plan for us & only he knows when we will be ready if he chooses to Bless us with the most precious gift of life!!! Good luck to you & remember that everything has a solution in life, do not let anyone else control your heart & mind!!!

Serendip Visitor's picture

Dear Shelby, You do not have

Dear Shelby,
You do not have to feel alone, and you do not have to abort your child. Please take time to make a decision you can live with for the rest of your life. There is help for you. Contact Catholic Charities in your area. You can also get information about Catholic Charities from any Catholic Church. Your situation is difficult, but even though you experience depression, God has allowed you to know in your heart the beautiful gift of the child within you. Catholic Charities can help you. They have many organizations to help you through every stage of your pregnancy, and after your baby is born. I want you to know that you, and your baby, are especially in my prayers. God bless you, Shelby! Sharon

Serendip Visitor's picture

Don't do it.....he's not

Don't do it.....he's not worth keeping around if he is going to make u do something he knows will kill you he doesn't really love you......there is a man out there who will accept u and ur children....I know ur scared I was 23 when I had my second child I was alone too working at wal mart I have a better job now but I worked there until my second daughter was 16 months old.....I recently had protected sex but didn't trust that the man kept the condom on....I took the morning after pill and it still haunts me what if I was pregnant....or would have been pregnant being that the morning after pill prevents a fertilized egg from implanting....that thought haunts me and I wish I never took the pill.....and just had a third child if I was pregnant....don't do something that's going to haunt u for the rest of ur life worry about making u happy and everything else will fall into place....open adoption is always an option too

Serendip Visitor's picture

IF YOU CHOOSE ABORTION PLEASE

IF YOU CHOOSE ABORTION PLEASE DO NOT DO THE MEDICAL ABORTION ( THE PILLS) I DID THE PILLS YESTERDAY AND JUST GOT HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL TODAY I ALMOST BLED TO DEATH IN MY HOUSE AND PASSED MY FETUS IN MY OWN HANDS. I ENDED UP HAVING TO BE PUT TO SLEEP ANYWAYS FOR THEM TO DO A D & C TO CLEAN ME OUT. IT WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER AND IT WILL BE SOMETHING I WILL NEVER FORGET THE PAIN WAS SO OUTRAGEOUS I PASSED OUT NOT TO MENTION THE BLOOD LOST. IF YOU CHOOSE ABORTION DO THE SURGICAL ONE!

Serendip Visitor's picture

If you are indeed excited

If you are indeed excited about this baby then your decision should not be based on what your boyfriend feels about it whatsover.
Nature has made it that you are the only person who gets to decide and not him.
Not fair for him but we didn't make the rules.
I had an abortion back in February and it was because I didn't want to deal with the father and I regret it.
Like you, I was very excited about being pregnant
I regret it because my decision was based on him and because of that taking the pill was horrific for me, I think because I went against my inner true voice.
You're prone to depression and yes an abortion may make you more depressed but there's also post-partum depression.
I think you should look into taking extra care of your body right now.
Eat foods that are high in omega 3 fats. take fish oil supplements that are safe for pregnant women, look into Carlson laboratories fish oil supplement.
also eat lots of wild blueberries, trader Joe's sells them in the frozen section.
say goodbye to junk food, try taking a yoga class for pregnant women, i think you're good in a regular yoga class the first 3 months, just tell the teacher you're pregnant.
Drink lots of water, go for long walks, sleep 8 hours a day and be thankful for your blessings each day, try to have a positive attitude, ultimately it's your decision and from my own experience, it should not be based on him.
If he didn't want a baby, he should have not had sex or worn a condom, now it's your decision.
Best of luck!

Serendip Visitor's picture

failed medical abortion!!

I would just like to share my story! I found I was pregnant the day my period was due, I just "knew" I was, I'd been off birth control for 1 month due to ovarian cysts and had unprotected sex once, needless to say I ended up pregnant. I went to the office on a Wednesday, I was 4 weeks 5 days pregnant and was given an ultra sound to confirm this. I took 200mg of mifeprex and was sent home with antibiotics, 800 mg ibuprofen, tylenol with codeine and 4 Misoprostol pills. 24 hours later I took 1 ibuprofen and 2 tylenol with codeines. I waited and hour and at exactly the 24 hour mark I inserted the 4 pills buccally (in between cheek and gums). after 30 minutes I swalled them. about an hour later I had some cramping and brown spotting. Then nothing 5 hours later more cramping and brown spotting. I went to bed and woke up with just more brown spotting. I called the office back and told them and they said the bleeding would come and give it time. It never did, I went back 2 weeks and 2 days later, only to find a viable pregnancy. the babies heart was beating and still measuring right on track. I was told to come back in tomorrow and they would do a D&C, It was hard enough to go in and take the pills but now I have to go back and I really don't want to. I thought maybe this was gods way of telling me I was meant to have the baby, but after reading online and calling 5 drs nobody can tell me the chance of having a healthy baby. All I get told is its in my best intrest to have a d&c because of the risks of birth defects. But nobody knows those risks!! I never believed in abortion and out of a moment of panic and despare I decided to do it and now, I either have to do it twice or risk birth defects!! Make sure you think everything out before taking these horrible pills!!!

erin's picture

I found my self in the same

I found my self in the same boat. Hoping to find out the chances of birth defects. I have 3 kids. The man I. Love does not have a job and he drinks I love him. Even he seemed un shure do I still have a optioln

i m scared's picture

plz help!!

I'm about to turn 18 dis month..i indulged in sex with my boyfriend last month.he had his condom on.but i have a feeling that it broke.i was supposed to get my periods on 5th of this month.but i still havent got it..i'm afraid i'm pregnant..is it safe for me to take abortion pills?i'm goin to use pregcolour test next week..i hope it shows negative..

Lydia's picture

Small Punishment?

I was 6 weeks pregnant and changed my mind at the doctor's office from the surgical option to the pill. It was more difficult than I anticipated and much more painful than the literature had prepared me for. I took the first pill and really had no discomfort. Six hours later I took 4 more pills that the doctor had given me. I drank tons of water and Gatorade because I was told that hydration can ease the symptoms.

Within 45 minutes the pain had started. There were terrible cramps. Then the diarrhea. Then the nausea and vomiting. There were moments where I was sitting on the toilet and had a bucket in front of me because I wasn't sure which was going to happen first. I felt woozy like I had just given blood, but this was before there was much bleeding at all. I just laid on the floor. I curled up into a ball. I cried. I bit down on a rag and screamed. Every time one of the cramps would subside for a moment I was simultaneously relieved and scared of when the next one would come. My boyfriend just rubbed my back while I laid on the bathroom floor. I got cold and then so hot and uncomfortable that I crawled through the house and just kept removing articles of clothing. The darvocet that the doctor gave me did nothing. I kept begging my boyfriend to let me take more.

It went on like this for hours and hours and I thought I would never get to sleep, but the pain and vomiting finally exhausted me to the point that I was in some half asleep state for hours. I would drift off for moments then wake up when the next cramp came. Eventually I must have fallen asleep. When I woke up it was over.

If I had it to do all over again, I'm not sure if I would choose the pill again. My concern was the potential damage to the uterus from the surgical option. Also, the pill seemed easier on a psychological level. However, I think on an even deeper level, lying on the floor in the bathroom writhing in pain, I figured that I must have deserved it. That I deserved to suffer some punishment for making the decision that I had. Like this thing wasn't going to leave my body without a fight.

Serendip Visitor's picture

Me Too

Same story - we did deserve it.

Mel Read's picture

BTW, condoms break and a good

BTW, condoms break and a good doctor will tell you, usually too late i may add, that they are only 74% effective. In fact, the pill is only slightly more effective whereas the IUD(coil) or the Injection is 99.3%.. but then everything isn't 100% effective at stopping a pregnancy or STD. U shudnt tell people what to do with their lives, even a well-educated person may make a mistake or have sex where the condom breaks' or someone who is financially broke or someone where there is no one to help her look after a baby finds that they need to have an abortion, even if they were pro-life - it is horrible but the best advice for anyone is to do what you have to.
and many people reading this will helpfully understand my post and be able to feel ok that they are just not ready at the time or they aren't able to have a kid, a life that if they kept it, would not get the full attention it deserves. And look at how many people in the world have children that they do not even treat nicely in all sorts of countries and situations - its only fair to a child's life to have one when you are ready or can provide love and decide you are able to raise it - although understandably, many people are not able to do so or are not ready for one when an accident happens.

Jazzy's picture

Pregnancy after the "pill"

Has anyone had a successful pregnancy after taking the abortion pill? I took the abortion pill 3 or 4 years ago and had a horrible experience. I am now married and my husband and I have decided to have a baby. It has only been 3 months since we have been trying but I'm afraid I now won't be able to conceive or carry a baby to term.

Serendip Visitor's picture

hi i used the abortion pill a

hi i used the abortion pill a year and a half ago, we have been trying to get pregnant for 8 months!!! im dreading going to the doctors in case the pills damaged me in some way.

Alexis's picture

My experience

I found out that I was pregnant very early (maybe around 2 week)because I know my body and the symptom! I went to the doctor on Thursday at 5:30pm!!! The doctor gave me some liquid called Methotrexate!!! He told me I should avoid food with folic acid for 4 days which I did!!! Tuesday at 10pm I inserted 4 tiny tablets of Misoprostol.I had mild cramping but nothing horrible!!! 24 hours later I had stomach pain! It felt as if I was about to have a baby out my mouth! I was instructed to eat light but instead I ate chinese food!! I had 4 fried shrimps, 1 piece of fried chicken, and about 3 table spoons of general tso chicken! At 10pm I took 3 tylenol with codine and inserted 4 more tablets of Misoprostol. I was expecting to awake at 4am after reading the reviews found on this site!!! Instead I had no bleeding, no spotting, just a little discharge!!! Now I am wondering does this method really work! Maybe it's just a slow process or maybe I was too early!!Now I am more stressed than I was when I first found out I was pregnant!!! I spent 395 on this abortion and it has not yet to work!!! What to do I don't know!!!I am so upset!!! Will update if anything change!!!

Alexis's picture

Update

I didn't start to bleed until 10 days after I inserted the 2nd set of pill!!! I cramped and bleed for only 4 days. It wasn't that bad. It just took a long time for it to work because I was so early! I went for my check up and everything was ok and back to normal. I must admit that it was a little nerve wrecking. But I got threw it and everything is fine.

Serendip Visitor's picture

I experience the same thing.

I experience the same thing. It because you are so early I was scared that it wasn't workin and I kept callin them and tellin them I was bleedin or wasint in that much pain and the nurse told me it was because I was so early that why I wasn't havin that much bleedin or pain I still didn believe it worked but wen I went to the checkup everythin was fine it workd

Alexis's picture

The only thing that scares me

The only thing that scares me is that because I was so early, is it really out. The ultrasound tech had to give me an ultrasound vaginally to determine how far along I was. When the doctor examined me he could barely feel it. I just hope it's not still in there and idk because the fetus can turn toxic and it can kill me.. Maybe I am just paranoid. Only time will tell. I really didn't see any clots... Just heavy bleeding but for only 4 days..

Serendip Visitor's picture

I have heard the methotrexate

I have heard the methotrexate is not as effective as mifepristone. It took two days after the pills before i really bled. Hope everything works out for you!

Alexis's picture

Thanks

Nothing happened yet... It's almost 4days after... Just thinking to myself that this was just a waste of time!!! Maybe I should have just let the doctor suck it out the old fashion way!!! I called the doctor and they said it's just delayed passage! It's normal! I hope something happen soon. All I have been having is discharge.

Serendip Visitor's picture

My experience at 5 weeks lmp

Friday I went to the dr to get the pills. Like many of you, I spent hours reading these posts, terrified. Alot of times I had to walk away from the computer, because it made me nauseous and dizzy, reading and thinking and worrying. I was very upset when the dr told me i would have to wait 48 hours to use the cytec, and that she wanted me to take it vaginally, which i had read carried a higher risk of infection. I was told when i made the appt that i could take them orally after 24 hours, so i had already made arrangements for my children to spend the night elsewhere that night in case things got ugly. But the dr told me i had to follow her regimen, period. After much debate and research, I decided to insert them at 24 hours anyways. I found several studies that said there was no difference in effectiveness between 24 and 48 hours. I had taken 800mg ibuprophen, and the first thing that happened to me is my temp rose. It was 80deg in the house, and i had sweats, a blanket, and comforter on. That lasted from 4pm sat into sunday morning. I had back cramps, and was generally uncomfortable, but mostly from freezing. The cramps came and went, nothing severe, just achy. I felt like my abs and all the muscles between my legs went to mush. I ate, watched tv, and my fiance rubbed my back when i needed it. Its funny, because i was totally prepared for the worst, bucket beside the bed to throw up in, towels, nausea meds..and in my mind i was expecting the worst. But nothing happened for 4 hours. And then it was only faint brown spotting. That went away, along with the crampy feeling, after about 6 hours. So we went to sleep, and I jolted awake about 4 in the morning with the most horrific pain. I thought at that point, things were going to start happening. But it only lasted a couple of minutes, and never came back. The next day I had very occasional mild cramps and brown spotting that disappeared later in the afternoon , and overall just felt like crap. I felt like I must be the 3-5% failure rate. I was so terribly frustrated. Monday morning comes, and I go in to my dr.s office to tell her i lied to her and took the cytotec early and it had been almost 48 hours and nothing had happened. She did an ultrasound, and growth had stopped, and the mass has gotten smaller and broken up. I had more brown discharge when she did the ultrasound as well. She gave me another dose of cytotec to take that night. But as soon as i left the office, i started to cramp again. I think the ultrasound really got the ball rolling, as i bled more and more all day, up to a normal periods worth. I felt there was no need to take the cytotec at that point. I hope that posting my experience can help others see that there is no textbook way things are going to progress.

geralyn frear's picture

the pills offline

so I took the pills like three weeks ago. The first one, which didn't do anything then 24 hours later I took the other four. I didn't go through an abortion clinic I just ordered the pills online. They work just the same. But anyways the day before the night I took the four, I dosed myself up on cheap asprins and sleep aid. It worked for a while but I work up in the middle of the night. I took the pills around 11 30 pm n work up around 3. I had cramps which I calmed down with a steamin hot wash rag. I fell back to sleep. I woke up in the morning with some mild waves of slite pain. I think the little bugger is still in there cause he sure didn't come out. But I feel no movement or nothing. Just waiting for 30 days to past to take a test to see what it says. Fun stuff. I would do it again if needed. Just be careful when you order online cause some pills are cheap rip offs. :). Happy abortions to you!

Serendip Visitor's picture

It's your choice, your life, unless your 3months pregnant

I personally don't believe in abortion after 3months!! When you are 3month pregnant your baby have a heart! That's the worse cause then u are actually killing the unborn but when you are weeks in it's just a blood clot!!! Everybody have they're own reason for abortions!!! My reason being is that it is just wrong for me to have this baby!!! I got pregnant by a girl that I grew up with babyfather!! Messing around with him was one thing but once I realized I was pregnant was when it really hit me! Or should I say it hit me when I was pregnant! If he ever find out he probably would kill me cause that's how bad he wants to be with me!!!I am very early in my stages so I decided to get the pill!!! It's best to terminate while you are early because once you become 6+ weeks is when it starts getting painful mind body and soul!!!

Serendip Visitor's picture

You are an idiot. A baby's

You are an idiot. A baby's heartbeat begins two weeks after conception, an average woman does not learn she is pregnant until 4 weeks or later. Call it a blob of tissue if it makes you feel better but facts are facts. Show me anything with a heart that is not alive!

Alexis's picture

"You are an idiot"

I found out I was pregnant when I was 2 weeks. And I too also was told the baby heart don't form until 3months. American idiot.....

Serendip Visitor's picture

Heartbeat..

I saw my baby's heart beat going strong at 6 weeks 6 days... 131 beats per min.. at 8 weeks pregnant exactly my hubby & i actually heard it.. It definitely is there & beating strong.. well & truly before the 3 month mark. I think maybe what you are referring to are the actual chambers of the heart, all 4 of them aren't fully formed until a little later on.. 10-12 weeks or so? But the heart is there & pumping away.

Serendip Visitor's picture

You're a bigger idiot.

Just because you have a running engine inside of a metal box it does not mean you have a car. As for what has a heart and is not alive, try a stillborn. Then again, that question is about a intelligent as asking to see a tree not made of wood. You're all manner of stupid.

lilly's picture

abortion pill

Hi Yall,
I'm 23 years old and I just had the abortion pill about four weeks ago. I just had ten seconds of protected sex with my boyfriend that ive been with for six years because I thought I was done bleeding and I had just been light spotting. After we had sex for ten seconds I started bleeding heavy. Does anyone know why I bleed so heavy for after having sex? Also how long are you suppose to bleed because its getting annoying not just because I can't have sex but because of how expensive of it is to keep buying feminine product.

Serendip Visitor's picture

hey

You might bleed for long as u were pregnate for. It could take up to 4 months till u stop bleeding. The same thing happened with me and my boyfriend. You'll stop bleeding eventually but u shouldn't have sex for a good month or so... That's what the doctors told me atleast

paula's picture

Soo confused!!

hello im 23, I'm 6 weeks pregnant and i am very confused and i feel miserable i dont know what to do! i already have a 5 year old and im a single mother ad its been hard on me! i just dont know what i would do with another kid! i can berly support myself and my child! i work full time starting school next week! iv taken the abortion pill in consideration but i just dont think i can do it! i feel horrible! im scared to death to take it.. and the father of the baby says if i keep it he wants nothing to do with baby and wants no part of it!! he says he'll pay for me to take the pill.. i really dont want to have a kid right now especially having to go through all this by myself!i feel like going thru a deep depression! i need some help some advice!