Medical or surgical with local anaesthetic

[cherrytreehouse]

5 weeks pregnant due to contraception failure and have decided to terminate. Tomorrow I am booked in for a surgical termination under local anaesthetic. Having read up on it (and spoken to the woman at BPAS) I am having doubts.

I have had 2 children and a miscarriage previously and also previous issues with my cervix which needed treatment between births. DC1 was born vaginally and DC2 C-Sec. Since having them anything like smear test etc hurts a lot and seems very uncomfortable to me (but bearable), pre children i found them OK.

I am scared that the surgical option awake is going to be awfully painful? I am only 5 weeks but still worried mostly about the injection into cervix and suction hurting. The nurse said that the medical version might be a better option. Has anyone had experience of these around the 5wk mark? Usually I have heavy ish periods that are moderately painful but only usually for the first day, I do sometimes have clots in my periods though and am scared about bleeding lots with the medical route but the nurse said this is less likely at 5weeks but that everyone reacts differently. I also have two children to care for but of course my DH will be around to help throughout whichever option.

Thanks

[meme70]

You can have tablets so early to terminate ?

My cervix doesn’t dilate they found out why when I lost my baby to sepsis when I was 5 months pregnant so know how you feel but I had a miscarriage 9 weeks and it wasn’t painful in the cervix and I had an abortion at 9 weeks and I was out to sleep and no pain after ?

[Coconutspongexo]

I’m not really sure why you’ve been offered the surgical abortion at 5 weeks, that’s quite unusual.

You can opt for the tablets tomorrow you’re well within your right. I had a medical abortion two years ago at about 7 weeks you’ll just have a heavy period if you go down this route.

[ChilliCheeseMama]

I had a termination under general anaesthetic a few years ago, as I was just over the mark for having the tablets. That was fairly surreal but it did not hurt and I had no subsequent bleeding. The only thing I would say is with you being awake for the procedure, would this not cause you unnecessary stress or worry? The main thing for me was the mental stress rather than physical but of course this is a truly individual choice.

The surgical option is basically like a little vacuum, so I'm not sure if you would find the noise/practice stressful or a little overwhelming.

I would consider asking if you can take tablets, which is apparently just like a heavy period, or whether you can be put under completely to keep stress to you at a minimum, but they will do a lot to make sure you are comfortable and you can change your mind right up until the last minute. So please don't worry about the pain, just make sure you have a few days to pamper yourself after even if you feel you don't need it :)

Hope everything goes okay x

[cherrytreehouse]

Yes I would definitely prefer to have a GA but they can't offer that for 3 weeks, i don't want to wait that long as already feel quite ill.

The surgical option is the 'vacuum aspiration'. The medical route does sound OK, I am just worried that my children will be around and it may mean bleeding for longer. When I had a miscarriage (at 6 weeks), i had the EPRC under GA and I hardly bled so I thought perhaps that was a better / quicker option but having read some experiences it sounds as if the procedure can be quite panful and stressful under a local.

[ChilliCheeseMama]

I had the vacuum aspiration too, I was just more worried I think and went for the GA. Afterwards I had no pain, bleeding, cramping or sickness as I was only just over the time limit for the tablets.

It sounds a little blunt but as your pregnancy is not very far along, there isn't a large amount to remove to you may not suffer with much trauma. This is what was indicated to me after I was surprised at the lack of bleeding, etc.

I think maybe you just need to be prepared for a little discomfort but honestly I don't think they'd advise it if it was going to be overly painful xx

[Coconutspongexo]

With the medical termination you can take the tablets and go straight home - in my local clinics anyway it might be different In yours so that might make you feel more comfortable too.

[cherrytreehouse]

Thank you for the advice, I have decided to opt for the MAV option (manual aspiration I believe), from the research I have done at 5 weeks they probably don't need to dilate the cervix at all / much and as I have already had two children it's even less likely. Although I am absolutely petrified I think the fact that it will be over in 10 mins or so is more appealing than the unknown night of bleeding with my children at home. DH is coming with me so I will have support, just wish we didn't have to go through this, hardest decision I have ever made.

[ChilliCheeseMama]

Sending my love xx It is such a hard decision to make but just remember if at any time you feel like it's not right, don't do it, but sometimes it can truly be the right decision xx