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Mifepristone..."The Abortion Pill": The Facts
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, Mifepristone2)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.
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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
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.
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| This paper reflects the research and thoughts of a student at the time the paper was written for a course at Bryn Mawr College. Like other materials on Serendip, it is not intended to be "authoritative" but rather to help others further develop their own explorations. Web links were active as of the time the paper was posted but are not updated. |
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Comments
I feel your pain.
I am 23 and going to the clinic on Friday the 10th. I am terrified. I have never believed in abortion's, and swore to myself I would never get one. But my boyfriend, who is 44, has 6 kid's. 2 of which are not his. His ex wife, well both ex wive's, cheated on him repeatedly during thier whole marriage. He has known that one of his daughter's was not his for several year's, but just recently found out, about 2 year's ago, that his 10 year old doesn't belong to him either. What is sad is he has been married twice, and I am the only woman he has been with that has not cheated. Nor will I. He has custody of all his kid's, because that is the type of man he is. He has a huge heart. He told me no matter what decision I make he is going to support me 100%. At first I wanted to keep it, but I have to consider him too. He will be 45 next month. He doesn't need or want anymore kid's, and I already have one. He is three and had add and adhd. He is enough to handle. And not to mention I love his kid's too. I am perfectly fine with only one child. Not to get into my whole life story. LOL. But the point I am trying to make, is I feel your pain. I am so scared. I've read review's and it's basicly like going through child birth but delivering a blood clot. Not to mention I am currently 6 week's along. I planned my first child with my ex husband. This one, was a complete accident. The depression. I'm right along there with you. But I think it's the hormone's too. It suck's. But if you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm here and can send you my email. Good luck to you and have a blessed day.
I know this might be a really
I know this might be a really hard decision to carry your baby, but there are great families out there that want your baby and would love him/her dearly. There is no such thing as a life created without purpose. There's a great foundation called "The Zoe Foundation" they help match babies with great families and it's not corrupt or all about money. The family that started it adopted 3 little girls themselves. You can look up there website at and go to the contact section and write them an email asking who to contact or how the process works. I hope everything works out for you and the little life growing inside of you.
hey
dont take the pill. Babies dont ask to be created. Pro-life is how you should live.. I mean if you dont want to get pregnant wear a condom, or dont open your legs for every tom dick and harry.. youre killing a baby... thats like someone babysitting your son, then killing him because you dont know what to do. ya know.its a bad idea just dont do it
Hey. Why dont you not project
Hey. Why dont you not project your veiws on people and tell them what to do. getting preg. doesnt mean you open your legs all the time when i got preg. i used a condom and was a virgin. its not killing a baby when it doesnt have a heart beat. have you ever baby sat a child with no heart beat?
re: painful facts
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.
Pro-Choice
i've read the comments that reply to your post and i just wanted to let you know that i found out i was pregnant about a month ago and i fought with myself for what seemed like forever, about wether i should keep the baby or not. i already have a 3 year old little girl and shes everything to me, but my boyfriend and i are just like you. we make enough for us to get by and have other issues we're going through at the moment. i took the medications for an abortion the last two days and my experience was like giving birth when it comes to pain but its all gone away today and i have a light period and little or no cramping so far. yesterday was hard and extremely painful. i understand that there are other options but i wouldnt be able to give up a child that i bonded with for nine months and went through the delivery for. that would break my heart more than terminating an early pregnancy. you do whats right for you and what you feel is easier emotionally. there will always be someone that made the same decision. :) i dont know you and you dont know me but we were in a similar situation and thats the decision i made. i hope you can make a decision with 100% confidence and be relieved when you make it. i have no regrets and i know in my heart that i made the right choice for me.
hey i m thinking of abortion
hey dear...i m 23 just found out that i m 6-7 weeks pregnant, not ready for any kids and hate having one!!!...my bf and i both do not want any babies...he offers the adoption and he is very supportive of that...but i am so sure of abortion...however after reading this stories here i m very scared of the pain and the results people seem to get after..like one say she is still bleeding after a month and etc...anyway...ur story made me feel easier about my decision ...but still i m very scared...can u tell me more ...should i listen to this majority of these posts and forget about doing it or should i stick with my decision?
I feel the same way
I too am positive that I made the right choice. I also thought about adoption, but knowing myself and how affectionate I am, I knew that I could never have the baby and give it to someone else.
I can't imagine the situation
I can't imagine the situation that you are in right now! I'm sure it seems so crazy to have to think about having another baby and having to do everything on your own, but there are definitely some options out there that won't end up in the emotional pain that abortion can cause. There are so many people out there who would be eternally grateful to you for bringing a child into the world for them to raise as adoptive parents. This has it's own difficulties emotionally, but nothing like taking the life of a child into your own hands by going through with an abortion (look at the message above yours about a girl who will forever regret her choice). No matter your religion or political stance, I don't think there is a person out there who can have an abortion and never think about it again as if it never happened...as if the "tissue" inside of them was not a person. I have no agenda to judge others and their decisions, I just truly want to help one person make a choice I can guarantee you will never regret...to give someone life! Never ONCE have I heard someone say, "I wish I had aborted that baby!" But, on the reverse side, I have heard so many regrets from those who have gone through with an abortion. I am so glad that I ran across your message, and I hope that my message touches you in some way. You are going to be in my thoughts and prayers as you make this difficult decision. No matter what you choose, know that there is always forgiveness from God...but forgiving yourself will be the toughest part. Please check out this website: http://www.theunchoice.com/healing.htm. I am in no way affiliated with the website; I just found it as I was doing an internet search for a place for you to go for some other help and advice. I am truly praying for you by name, Paula, and God knows your name and your circumstance, too! It may sound corny or trite, but God really does love you right where you're at...run to Him and He'll give you answers!! I'd love to hear back from you regardless of your decision, so I can know how to pray for you!
My Experience.
I found out I was pregnant at two weeks with my second child. I had had a dream it was a little girl. I soon realized that I wasn't ready for yet another child at my young age! So, I decided to abort my baby. By the time I got to the clinic I was five weeks and four days pregnant. I was faced with the decision of the pill or the surgical abortion. I took the path of the pill. You take one at the office then four at the same time at home. Took it at three in the afternoon and then went to sleep woke up at five stood up and then I began to cramp. The first two pushes weren't that bad and that was basically all of it. It went pretty smoothly. I started to have horrible back pains around 11 at night and it didn't stop until around 1 or 2 at night. All in all, it wasn't that bad. It was bearable. It was easy. I thought it was too easy! Five weeks later I was still bleeding. A series of Heavey, fast flow bleeding to heavy spotting. By the third week I almost passed out from the blood loss but still kept going. I guess it's really what your body can take and how your mind is set at the time. If you're going to be negative about it then you will have a negative experience. I am fine now, though I do wonder if the bleeding will ever stop. I'm still at my fifth week so I guess we'll just wait and see.
What happened to me
I am extremely in touch with my body and found out at 4 weeks I was pregnant. I went to the doctor and decided to think about my options for another 2 weeks. At 6 weeks I took the abortion pill. I took the one pill and then 3 days later the cytotec. Literally 15 minutes after taking it I began to vomit and have diarrhoea and fever. I had real, childbirth contractions occuring at regular intervals. I was in so much pain, all I could do was lie on my bed and bite my arms and rock backwards and forwards and scream. Then I got into the shower and sat on the floor because I thought I would faint from the pain. The vomiting continued and then after about an hour the pregnancy was expelled. People always told me it would be just blood clots but I could see a whole lot more. I saw a greyish yellow sac attatched to the bloody lining. It was the most horrific thing I have ever gone through and I could never never ever go through it again. I think about it all the time and feel almost traumatised from the pain I felt that day. I have never in my life, felt pain like that, not even when I broke my coccyx (tail of your spine). I feel angry that i had to go through that, my boyfriend is very supportive, but he doesn't understand how bad it was. It makes me sad a lot these days
I'm 42, pregnant with my
I'm 42, pregnant with my boyfriend of 2 years. I have two beautiful girls who are 7 and 9. I get no child support from my ex. and told my boyfriend I am having the baby (I am supposed to go Wed. for the abortion pill but decided not to yesterday). I am ok financially on my own. I told my boyfriend who is an Officer in the Navy that I want nothing from him at all....I did not do this to trap him in any way...it happened. He is 38 and young and selfish - I love my baby already. I just told him to walk away and I will be fine without him. I do not want him with me because he HAS to be. I do not have maternity insurance and am a little scared of the expenses..that is my huge problem...I have 2 weeks to know exactly what to do. I am not sure I can handle another round of pregnancy but the stories on this pill have definitely stopped me in my tracks!
Hey, I posted my story a few
Hey, I posted my story a few paragraphs down "a quick review". I'm a real person who just went through this and had an abortion with the pills. Keep your baby if you can and if you want. This is a very personal choice. But I do want to tell you DO NOT believe everything you read. I was SO scared to take the pill. It really truly wasnt bad at all. Like I said in my post, I did pass the entire gestational sac. That was so upsetting to me. But the pain wasnt bad at all. Very minor cramps that passed quickly. I was prepared for the worst. My experience was as good as it could have been. Its been almost two weeks and I'm still bleeding but its very light. Maybe Im just one of the lucky ones, but I doubt it. Just know that the pill abortion isnt nearly as terrible and dangerous as ppl say. Thats my experience and opinion. You make your choice, be strong and do what you need to do. I can only tell you that it was safe for me and I can tell you that my abortion was less painful than a period. I wish you the best with whatever you choose.
Hi, I'm 23 years old and my
Hi, I'm 23 years old and my last period was 5 weeks ago, and i'm pregnant due to a HCG test. so for an abortion i took 4 oral cytotecs(misoprostole) one by one at 2hrs interval and nothing happened except cramping, so 2 days later i took 4 vaginal cytotecs at 4 pm and after 5 hrs i had a little bleeding, and during the night i had a severe abdominal pain and cramp, not being able to sleep, and i didnt have bleeding at all, it's 20 hrs after i took the pills now and i really dont know what to do, please help me, i'm living in a country where abortion is illegal and there's no one to help
Thanks
worried
I'm 19..I am still a virgin but my boyfriend and I have indulged in a bit of foreplay . He ejaculated and wiped his hands with a towel a bit and maybe after 5 mins, put his hand around my vaginal region for about 30 seconds. Is there a chance I may be pregnant??? I am very worried.He says nothing's gonna happen... It's been around a week and my period is supposed to be coming on this 18th. But, the wait is killing me . I have experienced a little bit of dizziness for a minute today. any help??
i dont think so you got to
i dont think so you got to worry still you go for a urine test and incase you find positive result go for pills
Every situation is different
First of all, the harsh judging has to stop. Everyone has a different situation and it is up to them to make decisions regarding what best fits their life. Here is my story.
At 23 my fiance and I found out we were expecting. We didn't think it would happen so quickly but it did. I was under SO much stress with work and other things in my life that I ended up losing the baby at 8 weeks. I had the surgery to remove what was left inside, it was SO traumatic. I felt so violated and it took months for me to recover(mostly emotionally).
My fiance got a job that required him to travel a lot and about 6 months after my miscarriage we found out we were pregnant again. We had unprotected sex 1 time and I used the plan b pill the next morning, it obviously failed. I found out I was pregnant at about 4 weeks. I knew this wasn't the right situation to bring a baby into. My fiance was gone, my relationship with my mother wasn't the best and I felt if I was going to bring another life into this world, it deserved the best, and I wasn't able to do that. I also knew I hadn't prepared my body properly for the pregnancy and I was afraid I'd lose it again, so I made to decision to terminate the pregnancy.
I chose medical abortion because I felt so violated after my miscarriage. I read online over and over of how terrible it was and I am here to tell you, it's not. I have NO pain tolerance and to be honest, my periods are about 10x worse than this was. After having the pills in my mouth for 30 min, I felt mild cramping for about 30 min followed by a decent amount of blood. I really never felt any pain at all, the surgery was much more painful and over double the cost.
This was a lose lose situation for me. I had always said I'd be a single mother before I'd abort a pregnancy, but I obviously felt different once it actually happened. My advice to people considering this, is take it seriously. Weigh all of your options and know this doesn't just affect you, it affects everyone around you as well. Good luck to anyone who is going through this and know you always have options, please explore them all and decide what fits your life the best.
abortion pill
I am so glad that there is a place on the web to get info about abortion. I also took the abortion pill about 3 weeks ago. I was not taking care of my body like I should of, I was taking diet pills and wasn't eating properly. The decision was very hard to make. When I took the first pill I didn't feel anything but then 12 hours later I took the four pills and 40 min later I started to feel cramping kind of like a period. Then I saw blood clots. The bleeding lasted about 5 days and it was like a period. I did felt dizzy for about 6 days and I was very worried. I went to the docs office and they did a vaginal ultrasound just to make sure that the pregnancy was expeled. Yes, it is painful and yes I feel guilty. Today I feel better I asked God for forgiveness... The doc advised to take some vitamins so I can feel better so I did.
A quick review. I was seven
A quick review. I was seven weeks pregnant, took the first pill, took the other four pills the next night. That part is easy, follow the doctors orders. I had read so much about the abortion pill that I was literally scared for my life. I was terrified! But I am here to say, honestly people, the cramping was very quick and mild. I took plenty of vicodin and advil and used a heating pad. It took about three hours from start to finish. This is not a period, this is an abortion and IMO, it isnt even a similiar feeling. The cramps feel different, this feels more like the cervix opening. On a scale of 1-10, the pain was a 2. I have a VERY low pain tolerance and I have terrible periods that keep me laid up for two days a month, every month. So trust me, I know period pain very well. So lets stop comparing this to a period. Its not the same thing. Now time to get graphic. I fell asleep for an hour and when I stood up, I felt something heavy and large slide right out of me. I went and checked my pad and there it was, a perfectly intact gestational sac. It was clear and fluid filled and while I tried not to look, I could see something white inside. This was obviously the hardest part. I found it very disturbing and upsetting. Then I realized most women get a surgical so they dont have to see it! But its an abortion either way. So I passed a few more blood clots and bled lightly. The cramping stopped completely once I passed the pregnancy. If youre terrified of the surgical abortion, I highly recommend the pill abortion. Just be aware that this isnt a period and you may see your pregnancy. The pain wasnt bad at all. Be strong ladies. I know how difficult it is to make the decision to terminate. Sometimes you just know what you must do. So prepare for bad cramps, take the pain meds, but know that not everyone has unbearable pain. Im thankful we can make our own choices. Be strong ladies!
Thanx for sharing your
Thanx for sharing your story... I JUST took the 1st pill yesterday in the dr's office, so I got online to frantically search for other womens' stories.... about 20 mins ago, I JUST finished taking the 4 MISOPR...and just sitting here waiting on the bleeding/cramping/etc to start.... I, like you read SOOOO much stuff online prior, that now I'm sitting here freaking out AS I TYPE this. I try to keep myself calm by saying the pain COULDNT be worse than delivering 2 kids vaginally, without meds, lol.
Just greatful for you and ALL the ladies who chose to share your stories!
not painful in the least
So I've decided to post a blog that will help ease inquiring minds, all I have read is negative horrible stories about the abortion pill. This blog will be much different. I just went through this procedure myself literally a week ago, so please know that this is all fresh emotions. I was so very relieved when I was well into the process that I had minimal pain. There was slight cramping, but nothibg intolerable like the stories above. use the pain medication properly, be in a calm menyal state of being, and it is honestly a breeze. take time off work for bleeding purposes, drink fluids, rest. It's not a horrible blood bath ladies. It's all about your state of mind, have self control over your body. Get a grip. You'll be fine.:)
I don't know what happened
I don't know what happened but my experience was much different! I had horrible pain. The doctor confirmed that the abortion was complete last Saturday but my uterus doesn't feel the same. I am supposed to be monitoring myself but things just don't feel right and I am afraid something might have happened down there so I can't say with certainty that I am ok. I don't recommend taking the pill. Here is my story. I wrote this while I was going through the process:
6.5 weeks pregnant
I needed to add my story since before my experience I read all the submissions here, and wanted to share what I experienced, hoping it will help someone.
I was 4 weeks and 2 days pregnant, was told by Planned Parenthood that they would not be able to give me the pills until they could verify through sonogram that I was at least 5 weeks. They set up my appointment for 2 weeks later, so I would be 6 weeks and 3 days.
Needless to say the next 2 weeks were horrible for me, the waiting, the thinking, all the emotions that come with this decision etc...I would spend hours on the computer researching women's experiences, side effects of the pill, anything and everything to put my mind at ease, or to scare the crap out of me, all with the thought that I would rather be prepared emotionally and mentally than go in not knowing what to expect.
The day came (July 27). The Planned Parenthood staff was so nice and understanding, I actually cried when I told the nurse my story, since I had no one to talk to before this (I was in a bad situation) Having someone listen to you and not judge helps....She did the sonogram to confirm the age of the fetus along with take blood pressure, weight, etc....
I was then instructed on how to take the second set of pills at home and given all the information needed, emergency #'s, what to expect, rx for tylenol with codeine and a anti-nausea medication etc...Right before I left the nurse gave me the mifeprex (about 10:30am) and told me I should have no side effects except maybe slight spotting (this pill actually causes the abortion). I took the pill, left to go fill my rx's and go into work for the second half of the day.
At work at about 2:30 I got hit with a wave of nausea and a major hot flash with light-headedness. This passed and hit again about 3 more times within about 2 hours. I felt shaky and weird all evening after that.
The next morning I felt nauseous upon waking and into mid morning, but could be attributed to the pregnancy (?) I started spotting brown, and actually passed a clot at mid-morning. I didn't really think anything of it, since the nurse told me some spotting was normal. I had very mild cramping all day.
That evening (6pm) I prepared myself. I ate a big meal and then took 800mg of ibuprofin like I was instructed, and took the anti-nausea med as well. I had a glass of wine (I confimed that this was ok with the nurse the day before) I took the 4 pills, 2 on each side and sat for half an hour to let them dissolve.....by the time it was over, they were mostly dissolved, but I swallowed the rest....drank more wine.
I sat on the couch waiting....waiting....waiting...not feeling anything. I FELL ASLEEP!! At 9:30 I woke up, went to the bathroom, and had a little bleeding, mostly only when I would sit on the toilet. At this time, I'm kind of getting frustrated that this is not working!!! I just want this over with.....Well, went to bed, and about midnight got up, still no cramps, a little more blood, but not much. 4am....same thing, not much more blood, no cramps.
7am I get up and its the same thing, blood, but not a lot....maybe a few little clots here and there, and I'm determined that this did not work!!! At 9am I went to Planned Parenthood to voice my concerns, I was told they could not tell me anything for 2 weeks until I come back for the sonogram to confirm, but she did say if I was bleeding that it probably worked.
That whole next day I bled, not a lot, but I did, and the next morning I woke up with moderate period cramps, and cramping all day (nothing I couldn't handle...it wasn't even a "bad" period) This is where some larger clots passed....still didn't seem like enough to me, if it worked.
I continued to bleed for about 6-7 more days...just like a period.
Went to Planned Parenthood this morning for the recheck, and everything worked!!! I am so relieved!!
I wanted to share this, because it shows that every women is different....I had no pain, no cramping, no nausea.....except with the mifeprex and that wasn't even that bad! I wish every woman the best of luck with this experience.
similar experience still worried
going through the same thing right now....took the 1st pill in the office at 12 noon wed aug 25 (6 weeks). Went back to work had weird feeling in my legs and my stomach just felt odd...I was attributing to nerves I guess. Next day I got super prepared for the worst and it's been 17 hours since taking the 4 tablets and nothing but very small brown stains on toilet paper only when I go to bathroom. Last time about 20 min ago had just a smear of blood-much like I get a few days before my period starts. I to be wishing for blood-its all SO frustrating!!!!!!!!
It is possible!
Summer 2009, I took RU-486. I was nine weeks pregnant. About six hours after taking it, I had a change of heart. I knew that I couldn't go through with the rest of the abortion. I told my parents what I had done; they took me to the emergency room. We were there for almost another five hours before any attention was given to my situation. I was given a LARGE dose of progesterone and started progesterone suppositories (into the vagina, not the rectum) the next day. I took them twice a day for three months. RU-486, as said above, is a progesterone blocker, and my doctor hoped to save my baby by overloading my system with progesterone. I was very sick (fever, chills, SEVERE nausea and weight loss, dizziness, fatigue) for a few weeks, but my baby is a completely healthy and happy seven-month old. I had a safe pregnancy and a reasonably easy natural childbirth, and have had no problems since then except one UTI.
Please, please, to all those women out there who begin down this road and then change their minds...You CAN change your mind! It's not too late! Even if you have taken RU-486, you don't have to take the Misoprostol. If you get on progesterone right away, your pregnancy can result in a happy healthy baby. I just want you to have ALL the facts.
Abortion Pill
I took the pill back in May of 2009. The first one given orally in the docor office, mifepristone, had little to no side effects. I was given the 4 misoprostol pills to take at home 24 hours from then, as well as perscrptions for pills to stop infection, nausea pills, and percs. The misoprostol was taken orally. About a half hour after taking it, I got terrible pain in my abdomen. Heavy bleeding came and large chunks of tissue came out. It was really bad. The pain went away after a few hours, but the bleeding didn't stop for over a month. It just slowed down. When what I believe was my period came a month later(the bleeding got heavy again), another piece of tissue came out. It freaked me out a bit because that hadn't happened since the day I took the pill.
I took mifepristone because I was young, working at a coffee shop for minimum wage, and my boyfriend of 5 years was anything but supportive. I didn't even know there was an abortion pill until he told me. I was taking care of both of my terminally ill parents and planning on starting school that Sept. I had a lot of reasons. I thought it was the best choice. Now I occasionally spend my spare time reading the wic website and I still get very sad when I walk down the baby aisle at the supermarket. It doesn't haunt me and it didn't cause severe depression..no. I don't think it was the best decision though. There are programs like wic that could have helped me. I feel like I was just a coward and took an easy way out or something.
The pill works. Don't doubt that. Just make sure it's really really what you want.
Do all the pills look alike
Do all the pills look alike
The first one you take in the
The first one you take in the hosp is different, but the last four are the same.
Abortion
I just want to say to the women and girls that find themselves pregnant at a time in their life when they don't want to be..........THINK long and hard about the road you are choosing to go down if you abort......because YOU are the one that has to live with this decision forever.
For many women it may be easy.....they have the emotional constitution to move on with their lives, and forget it ever happened, they are able to look upon it as an inconvienent situation at most. BUT........many of us are NOT able to do that.......and for those of us that fall into that catagory of emotional make-up.......(which are many, if not most)......please THINK about what you will FEEL like 2, 5, or 10 years from now.
The clinics don't tell you this.....they treat all of us the same......but, emotionally, we are NOT the same.
I have known 3 women that have had abortions. One of them starting cutting on herself shortly afterward,.......one of them confided in me that she thinks about what she did every anniversary of the abortion and every birth day, the baby would have had and cries............and the third told me, that even after 15 years, she still gets up frequently in the middle of the night, not being able to sleep, and walks the floors with the guilt she feels and the grieving she still goes through.
All of them say it was the worst thing they ever did and regret it deeply......it has scarred them, and a certain joy has vanished from their lives forever.........
So, all I am saying is KNOW YOURSELF WELL.........This is about YOU and YOUR BABY.......If an abortion is going to cause you pain, grief, and guilt long afterward, it will kill more than your baby......It will kill the core of your being that is YOU, it will kill your spirit......and if you don't have that, you have nothing....and life will never be the same......
Two Abortions at 18?
1m 18, and a couple years ago I made a mistake. I was just turning 16 and i had gotten pregnant. I ened up getting an abortion. That was the best choice for my at the time. I was too young to take care of a child. Now about 2 and half years later im 18 and Im in the same predicament. Im pregnant and I dont know what to do. Im scared to get another abortion, im afraid it'll do something to my body. I figure the first time I got pregnant it was something to learn from and now that I am again, I cant just keep taking the easy way out, maybe I should just take care of my responsibilty this time .. My bf is supportive but all and all he's not ready and wants me to get rid of it. He thinks its just THAT easy. I keep telling him its NOT. I havent told him about my incident in my past. I dont wanna tell him but I think if I do, he'll have more of a understanding of why Im afraid to get rid of it this time and that having two abortions within such a short time and on my consience, is just something I dont think i can live with ..
signed, COnfusedd =(
your body your baby.
Hey, I realise you posted this a good several days ago, I hope I am not too late, telling your boyfriend may help the situation, but, if he has said he wants you to get rid of the baby even though he knows you don't want to, I think it is unlikely that it will change his mind. I think that you should keep this baby, for the following reasons, I was your age when I fell pregnant with my First baby (nearly 8 years ago now) and I was terrified because it was not planned, my contraception at the time failed for whatever reason. I didn't even consider abortion, but obviously you have, I understand why you had the first one because you were so young, but please regardless of what your boyfriend wants you to do, Please remember it is YOUR BODY, and YOUR BABY, so at the end of the day it is your decision. He isn't the one that has to go through killing the infant and actually going through the physical not to mention mental loss of your child. As I said earlier I was the same age as you when I fell pregnant, and I have never looked back, sure I could have been older but I wouldn't change my happy healthy almost 8 year old or his brother and sister for the world. Have a think about it, and if you need something to change your mind from it, type in real abortion into youtube and be prepared to be shocked and to have a cry, I know I did when I researched it. Good luck and I really really hope that you keep your baby and you live a long and happy life together. :)
forever feeling guilty until the day you die
please dont end his/her life!lookat the babe at 8 wee,ks
Baby Counting on You To Do The Right Thing for Her
Don't take that child's life. Don't let anyone talk you into taking her life. Make a compromise and carry the child to term...find an adoption agency that will work with you, paying all expenses, to give that child to a waiting loving couple that DREAM of giving her a wonderful childhood. Abortion is a cruel, violent death upon an innocent. Don't make her pay for your mistake; it will haunt you, rightfully, forever. Anyone that says otherwise is either selfish, immature, or a soul-less wretch.
I would love YOU (all you
I would love YOU (all you pro-life people that think you need to voice your opinion) to be in the same situation. Don't you dare push your beliefs on people. YOU should feel guilty for the rest of your life for being so closed minded and rude.
Get a life, go back to your children.
Not helping ..
That really did not help me or give me any advice and it sounded really biase. I need REAL HELP and REAL ADVICE. Not just from some pro-life person. Someone who can look at all sides and really give me sound advice. Thank you.
Your are a immature little girl.
i had a baby at 18 he was plan but still did. this is my theory thats ur second accident are u kidding mee. wht u want people to tell u thats ok to kill another baby. I think people have the right to choose what they gonna do. But not 2 time thats being plain stupid. They re is adoption if you dont wanna take care of your baby. If you do get another abortion, you do not deserve to have a child. never. This is to late to just think about you now u need to think of the baby. your 18 u are an adult. you are not a kid anymore u have no freacking excuse. im sorry everybody im not judging anybody else she just got under my skin sayin that people are not helping. you old egnough to have sex u old egnough to have a baby.
The pill was easy.
The pill was easy. At least for me. If you can take bad cramping you can take the abortion cramping. But really it all depends on how your body will react. Everyone is different.
Let me stress that, EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.
So, just be ready. Viccodin doesn't do much. So, be prepared.
I also had a friend who had done the surgical procedure, she said she didn't bleed for very long. If you're really scared about pain just pay extra for the IV sedation. She said she did the gas mask and she walked out of there like nothing. So, there are more options.
Sweetie, Layla is it? I
Sweetie, Layla is it?
I wouldn't listen or take advice from anyone who has grammar like ^^ that person.
You are 18 and this is YOUR BODY and YOUR LIFE.
Teenage boys don't always stick around, in fact: most run pretty quickly when the actual responsibility comes. Pro-life groups will tell you everything you want to hear to ensure you don't abort then drop you once you're too far along to do so.
It amuses me that the person above me is trying cuss you out for your life decisions and has no grasp on grammar or spelling. In my opinion, we could use much less of those in this world...and if she did, in fact, give birth at 18 years old, that could explain the lack of education and the probable lack of education her children are going to receive.
whose choice is it really?
well i got a pill abortion almost two weeks ago and i feel like i'm the baddest person in the world, this was like dying and coming back alive.....i am 17 years old with a 2year old already.....i personally regret having it because it wasn't my decision my boyfriend forced me too....now i don't think i would ever forgive him for it......he didn't have any emotions towards the situation....he just wasn't ready top take care of another child even though the mom is the one always at the end of the day doing all the work.....i suffer from moderate depression which is now getting worse....i really wish i could turn back and have my baby but now its too late.....Was it my choice as the mother and the person who was carrying the child to make this decision alone or is it both? but what if you don't agree with your partner? is it selfish to go and just make the choice on your own?......Ive been having the craziest dreams lately i always see a baby and the word abortion in my dream.....how long will i regret this......i so loved my baby but now i realized i made the most life changing decision in my life.
Shanice,i think in the very
Shanice,i think in the very end the decision is after a woman,she/woman can take his/man's opinion under consideration but eventually it is up to us women.
Ask your baby for forgivness and then try to forgive yourself...
it wasn't easy
I took the second set of pills last night at 9.00pm.30 minures before that I 'd taken Vicodin and anti-nausea pill and then I took second vicodin at 11.00pm. The pills started to work at around 11.30pm. Al of the sudden i felt nausea and cramps,I didn't vomit though.Next 1.5 hours I spent sitting on the toilet. Along with cramps and nuasea I got an upset stomack and chills which wasn't horrible. I passed the embrio at around 1.30pm and right away i felt a relief. It is 7 am in the morning I feel ok ,some cramps and bleeding.
It wasn't fun ,it was difficult and painful but I survived.I will go to my follow up in two weeks and hope everything is ok.
Wow. I went through the same
Wow. I went through the same thing, on the same night. I'll never forget it---I already regret my decision. Do you?? IT KILLS ME. The physical pain isn't anything compared to the emotional pain I have. I'm scared I won't be able to have children in the future. Do you know if it causes problems later?
it wasn't easy
I meant 1.30 am when I passed the embrio 4.5 hours after i put pills in my mouth.
It is has been over 12 hours since it all happened and I have no cramps. I am taking alive though.
How lng does d cramp last
I took d misoprostol bout 4days ago and i stil have cramps and heavy bleedin, its always like there's excess gas in my system and i have to fart and poo all d tym. D cramps re nt dat bad anymre unlike d first nyt afta i took it and i cnt stop feeling guilty bout killin my child although my fwends try to make me fil beta by sayin it was just 5wks nd nt a baby yet. I wish i could have kept my baby bt im just 18 and in d university, i dnt have any money and i dnt want to disgrace my family, d father wantd 2 marry me bt im so young and i dnt love him. I tink d most difficult part of dis is d guilt u'l feel afterwards. I just want to knw if any1 kept feelin pelvic pains after 4days
Call health provider that
Call health provider that gave you the pills and ask them if that is normal. Bleeding can last for days but it shouldn't be too heavy.
What is done is done,feeling guilty won't help. We need to make sure that won't happen again. be strong and good luck.
I wish someone would have told me
I had an abortion. My name is Christine and I’m a real person who walked through getting pregnant in a crisis situation and I know what it feels like. I chose abortion because I was desperate to get myself out of a situation that I couldn’t handle by myself. I thought abortion was the answer. The problem was it didn’t solve my problem, it only made it worse. I thought abortion would make my pregnancy go away, as if it had never happened. The “pregnancy” went away, but there was no way that I could make it as if it never happened. I’m writing this story to tell you what those who want to help you kill your child won’t tell you. No one in the abortion clinic is going to tell you about the consequences to your heart and soul if you follow through with the abortion. Those consequences are real and I’m here as a witness to them. Not only will you be taking a life, you will be taking the life of your own child and if you do that you will harm yourself to the core of your being. I know…because I did it. Please listen to my story. At 19, I had already disappointed my parents so much from so many other mistakes that I couldn’t bear the shame to ask them for help when I became pregnant by a man who didn’t love me. Unfortunately, my father had always told me to never come home pregnant otherwise I would have to move out on my own. I had no money, nowhere to go and no one to ask for help. There was no way I could have taken care of a baby by myself, I was still such a child at that point, still living at home and barely starting to work. I was so scared and thought I had no other choice. The father didn’t love me and I never heard from him again when he found out I was pregnant. I didn’t tell anyone else. I truly was alone, or at least felt that way. I knew where to go for the abortion. Planned Parenthood was where I had gone for birth control before and I knew they did abortions. After I made the appointment to go in for the abortion, I remember for a moment allowing myself to think about a baby inside of me. I had always wanted children. I started to cry but had to push those thoughts and feelings down deep. My 19 year old mind rationalized that I had to have the abortion; adoption wasn’t an option because there was no way I could bring this baby to term since I could not bear to then give the baby up. You see, somehow I thought that having an abortion would make it all just magically go away. Like it never happened or something. I was very wrong. So very wrong. It doesn’t make sense now. I couldn’t bear to give the baby up for adoption…so killing it would make it better? Oh how I wish my child were alive today out there somewhere with an adoptive family. Yes, it would have been very hard to carry that baby, give birth to it and then give it to another family to raise, but its much harder to grieve over my child that I took the life of. At least my child would be alive today. I am an adult women now and during the abortion I experienced things that I didn’t understand because I was too young. But now…I know what happened to me and I want to explain. First, when I went for the abortion a young woman (we’ll call her Shelly) was assigned to me to walk me through the whole thing. She was there to help me sign the papers and pay etc. I was very scared of the procedure and I was having second thoughts. I told her I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it and was it really OK…you know…because it was a baby? She told me “Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s just a blob of tissue.” I pictured in my mind a formless mass of tissue and that immediately relieved me. I believed her and then signed the forms and went through with the abortion. Why wouldn’t I believe her? I was 8 weeks along in the pregnancy. Recent technology has made it very, very clear that my baby was not a blob of tissue. It had brain waves, little fingers and toes and was moving around.
That so-called “blob of tissue” was a forming person/human. This is a picture of an 8 week pregnancy. There is no question that this is not just a blob of tissue that is being removed. I was told an outright lie. I believe it would have made a difference in my decision. My conscience was bearing witness that it was wrong to take the life of my growing child. It is insulting to me that I was not given all the facts so that I could make an educated choice. Making a choice means you know what the choices are. I’m amazed that women are not being given all the facts after all the woman’s rights movement issues. As I laid on the table in a room I had been in many times for a pap smear and to obtain birth control. This time was very different. I was not medicated because I needed to be able to drive myself home so I was aware of everything that happened and I remember it as if it were yesterday. “Shelly” was there to hold my hand and the doctor and nurse came in to start the abortion. I remember looking at the ceiling where there was a poster with hot air balloons on it. The doctor started dilating my cervix explaining to me what he was doing…dilating my cervix and then putting in the vacuum. It was about 5 seconds after he started the vacuum that a strange thing happened to me. It came out of the core of my being, completely separate from my brain. I shouted “STOP!…oh God please stop!” The doctor said very coldly, “It’s too late now.” It was then that I shut down my feelings as much as I could. I was embarrassed by the outburst. I believe now that somehow as a mother, in the deepest part of my being, My body and soul “knew” my child was being killed. I believe that was the moment the baby died. We are spiritual beings, not just flesh and bones. Even though my brain tried to block it all out, my soul inside knew. The doctor then went out of the room to check to see if he had gotten everything. I know now that meant he went and looked for all the body parts, hands, legs, feet etc. It would be harmful to the mother if any parts of the baby were left in her womb. But wait a minute…I thought it was just a blob of tissue??? After that moment, I had to shut down feelings deep inside of me. I had to shut down the deep part of my soul that had reared up instinctively when my baby died. After that I was taken to another room for them to watch me to make sure I was OK. I drove myself home and went to bed feeling relieved that it was all over. I thought to myself that no one knew and now I could go on with my life and forget about this horrible problem and what I had to do to take care of it. But instead of fixing my problem it only made it worse. Life was never the same. I tried as much as I could not to think about it but I kept having flashbacks…that moment that the baby died and I cried out and that hot air balloon poster on the ceiling. It was horrific and I tried to keep it in my unconscious as much as possible. I tried and tried not to think about it but I would have flashbacks. It was as if a black cloud settled over my life after the abortion. I tried to just forget about it but I just couldn’t. That’s what no one tells you. No one tells you about how your soul suffers deep inside and how you have to shut off a part of yourself deep inside to be able to survive the reality. No one tells you that your deepest soul will grieve over a lost child. No one tells you that you can’t erase it. No one tells you that you’ll never be the same again. No one tells you of the horrific feelings you’ll have when it hits you that you’ve taken the life of your own child. No one tells you the price you pay for getting rid of your problem is not worth it. Don’t do it…from some one who did and knows what it’s like.
M&M experience not a bad one!
Firstly, thanks to all the women who bravely posted their experiences: you were a great help to me before I went through with the 'standard regimen'. I am in a country where it is illegal and moreover the stigma against it is all-pervasive! But I believe in choice; making the best choice for all the parties involved and mine was a well-considered choice with the support of my partner.
Secondly, my experience: it was entirely at home (I had to travel to another country just to get the pills which were prescribed to me by an online consultation with a doctor). I am 35, 65kg and was almost 7 weeks pregnant.
The mifepristone (200mg) had no noticeable side effects. 24 hours later, I took the misoprostol (4 x 200mcg). I immediately felt the effect: slightly breathless, increased (but not frantic) heart rate and a slight twinge of nausea. Basically, no big deal at all (and more likely just nerves!) Then the waves of cramping came: I was expecting pain but it was just like a bad period (in fact, I've had much worse!) Within two hours of the first set of misoprostol I had easily and painlessly passed the largest of the clots. I took 2 more misoprostol tabs 4 hours after the first set. There was some moderate cramping for the next 4 hours or so (after a wave of cramp, I would go to the bathroom and have a little push) and that was about it. Only side-effect was diarrhea.
I know that every experience is different, but from my point of view, I would definitely recommend this as an option. It is private, non-invasive and (for me anyway) not painful.
Warm wishes to you all!
How do you feel? Didi all
How do you feel? Didi all your symptoms go away? Do you still have cramps?
Hi. I am almost 39 years
Hi.
I am almost 39 years young, and have a wonderful husband of 10 years with 2 beautiful daughters, ages 7 and 19 months.
I had an abortion at 19 and 27, (both surgical), and must say they were not pleasant experiences, but choices that I and my partner at the time, were comfortable with. At 32 I gave birth to my 7 year old. At 34, I found out that I was pregnant again,.. went to my first prenatal appt. at 8 wks. with my ob/gyn only to find out through an ultrasound that my fetus had no heartbeat, (which my doctor ordered because I said I had not been "feeling" pregnant the last few days.) They estimated that my pregnancy progressed 7 weeks. After having heart to heart talks with my doctor,...and husband,...I was told what to expect during the time my body would naturally miscarry my birth.
Much of what I have read from this great website, (and from many brave women telling their stories), is that this pill(s) are basically what I went through with my miscarriage,...and previous surgical procedures. There is really no painless way for our bodies to pass a fetus,...without going through the entire "process" of what would be birth, (although having given birth to two 8 pounders, naturally,...there is really no comparison!) Giving birth is beyond painful.
My surgical abortions were somewhat shorter in duration, than what my body could do when I miscarried. Neither were painless, without bleeding and severe cramping, (though I bled much more during my miscarriage), or without great sorrow and sadness.
During my miscarriage, I did pass a lot of blood, and at one point, felt like I needed to "push" in which I passed not just blood clots, but 'tissue' into my toilet. I know it sounds gross, but I actually picked it up and felt it. It felt very similar to a clam/or oyster, and was was definitely not blood! Though my husband, (and I'm sure many of you!) are horrified by this,...I had tried very hard to educate myself on what to expect and knew if I did not pass everything,....I could have an infection later on. My doctor wanted to perform a D&C afterwards, but because I felt so strongly that I had passed everything,...he did another ultrasound, which showed there was no remaining tissue.
On Jan. 7th, 2009, I gave birth to a 2nd beautiful, healthy, baby girl.
I am writing this because I have had 2 surgical abortions, 1 miscarriage, and 2 very healthy pregnancies,...to full term;...not one of them without pain or discomfort!
I appreciate many of you educating me on the subject of Mifepristone and perhaps my previous experiences might help someone also.
Nerves, Bleeding and Pain Pills
Hello,
I am 30 yrs. w/ two kiddos. I am 5'5 and 155. I took the mifeprex this past Friday and experienced only slight dizziness and tiredness, both of which could be attributed to nerves, stress and early pregnancy. I can get myself really worked up when I am anxious about something, and then I try to bottle my fear, which usually heightens any physical symptoms I may be having. That being said- the next Saturday morning I took my anti-nausea meds and a vicodin 45 min. before I took the 4 cytotec pills buccally (cheek&gum) and let them dissolve for 30 minutes. They hadn't dissolved much because my mouth was dry from nerves, so I called the clinic and they told me to spit them out anyways. I was frustrated b/c the literature sent home said to swallow the pills, but everyone at the clinic told me to spit them out. When I asked how much they should dissolve, the nurse couldn't tell me b/c "everyone needs a diff. amount." Thanks for your help!! So ladies, I put the pills back in my mouth for another 20 minutes, and then later on I put them in for another 10. In the end, the pills dissolved to be a quarter of the size they were originally- and that seemed to work.
After the cytotec,my heart was pounding and I was waiting for the violent pain that some experienced, but that never came. I laid in bed with a heating pad and a nice opiate high all day- experiencing nothing more than period pains.I took my meds as scheduled, and by 5 p.m. I was having a heavy period with some slimy clots (yuk).
Today is Sunday- feeling tired, heavy and still taking my meds. The vicodin really helps, take full advantage of it. I think the entire process is coming to an end, but I will have to wait for my followup to be certain that I have expelled the entire pregnancy.
The worst part of my experience was the anxiety I felt from being at the clinic, and the fear of experiencing some of the worst side effects that I read about on the internet. This method was really much better that I expected it to be. Though, I believe it is important to have good support, and good medication. Hope my experience helps quell some of the nervousness that the worst reports can garner. If you're scared out of your mind, I was right there with you before I took the pills- and so far it has been just fine. Thanks to all of the ladies who gave an account of your experience and the things you did to prepare. It really helped to read them. P.S. The counselor at the clinic told me absolutely no caffeine (makes cramps worse) and to drink really strong chamomile tea (3 bags to one cup).