Hi all, reading some of these threads was incredibly helpful to me in the run up to my abortion so I wanted to add my experience in case it helps one person to feel more prepared or less nervous. I'm more than happy to answer any questions in the future if I can too.* *
My circumstances were, I had my abortion between Christmas and new year in 2022 via BPAS's pills in the post. I was 6.5 weeks in reality but would have been classified at 8.5 weeks from the start of my previous period. I've always known I don't want children so I was lucky that the decision itself was straightforward and easy for me. I'm also lucky to have a brilliant DP which was a huge bonus but if you are undertaking this process alone, you will absolutely be OK.
The run up to the procedure could have been more straightforward. I can't fault BPAS who were fantastic. I "felt" pregnant so tested on the first day of my missed period, got a positive, and had my consultation with them a few days later. However, I had to get hold of some old medical records (to confirm I could have the medical procedure) and the NHS had lost these, to the extent that I ended up having to get some tests redone privately. BPAS were very helpful and communicative throughout, but this delayed us by about 2.5 weeks total. This was a lot of unnecessary stress TBH especially around the Xmas bank holidays, but I was still in plenty of time to have the pills. Do not panic if there are some delays in your process - a couple of days feels like forever when you're feeling sick/worried but it will be OK.
I decided to have the pills at home because this should have been c2 weeks quicker than a clinic procedure in my area (central/SE London). I just wanted things over and done with as quickly as possible.
To prepare I just did the things the nurse recommended - got in lots of painkillers, night time pads and sugary drinks. Because (spoiler) I threw up quite a lot, I sent DP out for some food like yoghurt (easier to vom!) and ginger biscuits, so worth having those on hand. A hot water bottle was also invaluable - I found it very heavy filled up completely so recommend just filling it enough to heat or maybe using smaller lighter heat pads. The abortion kit itself was comprehensive and easy to understand.
I took the mifepristone whilst travelling home after Christmas so I was a bit worried that things would get started or I would have symptoms (but as above I wanted to get things going asap). I did feel a little drowsy in the first few hours but nothing else for 24 hours. At that stage, I started to feel a tightness/weight like a light period pain before I took the second pills. All very very manageable.
As soon as I was home, I took the misoprostol vaginally, lay down and waited. For me, very little happened at all until I took the second dose 3.5 hours later. I had some very mild cramping and no bleeding at all. I was a bit worried but mostly just wanting to get started so it could be over with. I read up and this is nothing to worry about. About 90 minutes after the second dose (also vaginal) I started to get more painful cramping and within the next hour I had started to bleed lightly.
For me, there were then 4 waves of increasingly painful cramping, about 45 minutes apart and lasting about 15-20 minutes each. The first two had some normal, period-type bleeding (about half a pad each, although I would recommend just changing pads as often as like, just monitor how many you use) and were the same as a bad period. I was overlaying codeine and ibuprofen and it was still painful but manageable.
The third wave was quite a lot more painful (I threw up from the pain). I didn't bleed normally during this wave but passed 2 or 3 distinct large clots - about the size of a big grape. After this I felt pretty wobbly but could tell things weren't finished. I checked in with BPAS because I'd thrown up my painkillers and they were brilliantly reassuring and knowledgeable. One thing that really helped was I had been keeping a note of which medication/painkillers I had taken at what time and how much so I would definitely recommend doing that.
The fourth wave was the most painful and I won't hide it, it was the worst pain I've ever felt. I was crying and again throwing up with the pain. During this wave, I passed one big clot (about twice as big as the ones before), then what I think was the pregnancy itself (nothing identifiable, please don't worry about this, but it had a lot of pale mucus and was a different consistency to all the other clots), then a final biggest clot. The pain receded within a couple of minutes of this and I felt "done" - there was just something in my body that said things were finished.
From taking the first misoprostol to feeling ok again was about 9 hours in total.
Since the abortion I've felt absolutely great - I don't feel nauseated all the time (this was fixed instantly), my boobs aren't so sore I want to kill anyone who so much as looks at them (this took about a week), and I don't have the tightness in my abdomen which I didn't realise had developed . I had some light bleeding for the next 3 days or so and some very light spotting for about 4 days after that. I was tired for about 24 hours afterwards (but was able to travel) and was playing sport 24 hours after that. Overall, thrilled for all my friends who are pregnant/have babies and thrilled I'm not one of them.
Looking back, for me, if I find myself in the same position, I would probably opt for the hospital procedure rather than the pills at home. I did find that there was quite a lot of pain and being in hospital doesn't phase me; also I don't have caring responsibilities so am able to take the time away. However, the at-home option has loads to recommend it and if it is right for you, please don't let it hold any fear.
Sorry it's so long but I wanted to capture as much detail as possible that you don't get in the medical info! I hope every woman reading this knows: this is your choice, if this is the choice you make, it is not super fun, but it is safe, and so many women are going through it alongside you, and you will be fine.