I posted in a frenzy a couple other threads over the past week, but thought I'd do a quick summary for anyone else who finds themselves in this situation and is combing through the Internet for anything and everything they could find on the topic.
Warning: I am extremely blunt and direct with my experience below, some people may find it triggering.
For some background, I found out I was pregnant about 10 days ago. I was in complete and utter shock, it was completely unplanned and unwanted pregnancy in the current moment, and I felt angry, sad and scared that our protection method has failed us and I'm now left with this choice. I also felt embarassed and ashamed that this has happened to me, which was also completely irrational. I have a 9 month old baby and I'm about to return to work full time, so my husband and I were 100% on the same page as to what to do. I emphatize with anyone who has doubts; I found the emotional side of this pure torture and yet was 100% sure of my choice.
Because I log my cycle religiously and also had noted when we had sex (habit from when we were actually trying for a baby!), I knew without a doubt how far along I was, but a digital test confirmed it - I was just shy of 5 weeks when I found out on Thursday. Being the type A, impatient person that I am, I started researching how to go about terminating terminating the pregnancy ASAP. From what I read, I decided I want a home medical abortion. Again, because I'm that person, by end of day Thursday I had filled out booking request forms with BPAS, NUPAS, MSI and my GP, and waiting to hear who would offer me an appointment the quickest. As it turned out, that was NUPAS.
I had a phone consultation with a nurse on Friday (exactly 24 h after finding out). The consult lasted about 30 min and we went through some medical questions, I found the woman on the other end of the line very kind and understanding and did not feel judged for one second. She agreed I can do it at home and everything can be posted to me.
The next few days were TORTURE. As I said, I'm the type of person who thrives on doing, if there is a problem, a situation, I'm on it. Let's roll our sleeves and figure out how we move on from it. Sitting around, doing nothing other than wait for the pills to arrive was so tough for me mentally. That being said, I absolutely realize and appreciate how lucky and fortunate I am to have access to this service and to be able to have a consultation so quickly. The pills arrived by noon the following Thursday, which in hindsight was not slow at all. It took precisely 3 working days.
I took the first stage (the 1 pill orally) as soon as they arrived on Thu noon.
Had no side effects or adverse reactions and felt absolutely fine.
The next day (Friday) I took the second stage (the 6 pills) just over 24 h since taking the first pill. I was sent 4 codaine tablets, but I remember when I was in labour it did nothing for me, so decided to leave them aside and see how I get on. I took 1 paracetamol. I decided to insert the first 4 pills vaginally, as less risk of feeling sick and vomiting (even though I had no nausea with the pregnancy). I don't know why I was freaking out how I'll manage to insert them, will I get them high / deep enough, what if they fall out...I was well and truly overthinking everything and freaking myself out. In reality, they were diddy. I put them in one after the other just ensuring to push them as high up as they'd go. I did it while laying down in bed, and then proceeded to lay down for 60 min (I think they recommend 30 min to ensure the pills dissolve, but I wanted to be extra extra safe). After 60 min I got up and got on with my afternoon - I went for a wee and saw some light bleeding had started, but other than that had no other side effects - no cramps or anything. I proceeded to clean the house, make dinner and do bedtime with my little one. Then had a nice big dinner and immediately after took the last 2 pills orally. I waited 45 min (I think they recommend 30 min to ensure the pills dissolve, but again - overachiever) and then swallowed what was left with water. I expected a nasty bitter taste and to feel sick - but felt none of that, and could have happily taken the first 4 orally too, actually. Precisely 45 min after the last 2 pills, I went for a wee and felt and heard a clot come out. It was probably the size of a small plum, was dark in color (but couldn't really see much on the bottom of the toilet bowl). It did not hurt when it came out, it sort of just...ploped out. I still did not have any cramps or pain. Bleeding at that point had picked up and was comparable to medium period, no heavier. Over the next 2 hours I passed two more clots like this one and similar in size. Again - no clue on more details as I couldn't see anything in the bloodied toilet water. I also felt my face was hot and had chills, but no temperature. I took 1 paracetamol at this point to help with the chills. I felt emotionally wiped out from the roller coaster of the last week and went to sleep at 8.30 pm.
Throughout the night I got up to wee a couple of times, but did not pass any more clots and never got any pain or cramping. Bleeding in the evening and night was as strong as when my period is at its heaviest, but no more than that. I had prepared with a pack of maternity pads, but found them overkill, and used my usual Always ultra & night instead.
Saturday my bleeding got pretty light, I'd say light-period like, so I called NUPAS (you guessed it, because I'm a psychopath). I explained to the midwife my experience to date and she re-assured me that it all sounds normal, sounds like things are working and to not worry over the lack of pain. That definitely made me feel better.
Sunday & today the bleeding continues and is quite steady, I'd say it has picked up again a little bit and is more moderate-heavy period-like flow.
I did a pregnancy test (because I cannot wait for 3 weeks to test with their test), so I did one of those digital ones that shows how many weeks. When I found out I was 2-3 weeks on the digi, and when I tested again yesterday it was 2-3 weeks again. I found that re-assuring, because shortly before taking the pills it would have been 3+. So in my mind, it told me that the treatment has worked and my hCG levels are slowly going down. I plan to do another one in a few more days, which will hopefully say 1-2 weeks. I think I'll then wait to do their special low-sensitivity test at 3 weeks after the procedure, to hopefully see that final Negative.
I was so stressed out and anxious, I read every post under the sun and only freaked myself out more. It is not a pleasant experience and it absolutely sucks to find myself in this situation, but it really was a very straightforward and efficient process, in my case. Not sure if it was because I was so early on ( I was 6 weeks on the dot when I took the second stage), or just because of how my body reacted, but I had no pain or cramps at any point; the bleeding was no heavier than my period; never got any headache or vomiting or any other adverse reaction. I passed 3 clots, completely painless, but odd sensation, and that was that. In fact, it was so anticlimactic that I was panicking it wasn't working. My very long-winded point is that it absolutely wasn't horrible, and while I never wish to have to go through it again, I had worked myself up so much beforehand, and my personal experience was the polar opposite of everything I've read online.
I hope this is encouraging and someone who is about to go through this finds it helpful.