My Positive Medical Abortion Experience - Please read if nervous

[MC2603]

Hi guys,

I thought I would shed some light and share my experience of my medical abortion as I saw a lot of horror stories prior to taking the medication, meaning that I was very nervous and apprehensive on the run up to the procedure.

I found out that I was pregnant almost 3 weeks ago. My test stated that I was 2-3 weeks pregnant at the time of the test. I had a feeling before taking the test that it would come back positive as my boobs had become really heavy and sore, my period was late and I just was not feeling myself.

I am 21 and my boyfriend is 23 and although we would love to have children together, we know that now is not the right time for us to be thinking about children. I looked at some of the local clinics in the area and came across BPAS. I filled in the form on the Sunday night and waited. However, on Monday morning, I decided to just call them up. I would highly recommend this! however, the man on the phone could not give me an appointment for around 7-10 days time. I booked that appointment. However, I called them on the Tuesday again during my lunch break at work and they had a cancellation for 9am on the Friday. It is definitely worth checking to see if there are cancellations! I had tried to contact some other clinics, however, I am currently living in a different area to where my GP is which meant that a lot of the clinics would not accept me on the NHS and instead wanted me to pay privately.

The call itself took around 35 minutes. The midwife was so lovely. She asked some in-depth medical history questions, questions surrounding my mental health and then around the circumstances to make sure that I was sure of my decision. We spoke about it for a while as I had already made up my mind but of course she had to do checks to make sure that I was in a safe environment before then moving on to explain the procedure and the potential risks of this abortion.

The pills were then sent to me and I recieved them on the Saturday morning (so around 24 hours after the call to the midwife). I took the first pill and did not get any side effects other than some minor cramping, no bleeding and no nausea thankfully.

On the Sunday, I dosed up on ibuprofen around 20 minutes before starting the next step as I had worked myself up after reading horror stories that I would be in horrendous pain. I inserted the pills vaginally rather than orally as I did not want to have any nausea. I lay down for around 40 minutes so that none of the pills came out before this time. After this time I was walking around the house and started to experience some minor cramping. I had to go to my dads at this time so I drove for around 40 minutes during this process. I started to get more cramping, but nothing more than a light period cramp. I arrived at my dads and went on a dog walk and I was okay. I then got back and felt exhausted and wrapped myself up in a blanket as I started to feel really cold, I had goosebumps all up my arms! I then started to get more severe cramping but I had got on a self-adhesive heat pad from poundland which was a godsend it helped so much. I then had a huge wave of these cramps before then feeling like I needed to go to the toilet. Before this time, I had not experienced much bleeding but I was bleeding when I wiped. However, I passed a few clots and one I was sure of was the pregnancy. I then felt instantly relieved after this and lay back down.

I then drove back to my dads and then the cramping got a lot worse. I was holding onto my boyfriend and I could not stay standing, however, this felt more like extreme period pains than anything serious. I just took some time lying down in bed and holding onto my boyfriend. After about an hour these cramps passed but I still hadn't passed too many clots on a pad, and instead it was mainly whilst I was on the toilet that I passed clots.

This bleeding was going on for about 5-7 days after taking the pills, day 3 was heavy.

I still have another week until I take the test but I feel a lot better, my boobs are so much lighter and I feel like myself, so I am taking it as a sign that I have passed the pregnancy.

I hope this is a positive story to read. It is not the best experience in the world of course but hopefully this experience sheds some light that it is manageable and you are able to do it.

If you are in this situation, I hope that you're okay and you're more than welcome to message me.

If you got this far thank you so much for reading my experience x

oh my gosh thank you so so so much for this. I really appreciate hearing the positive stories, as there is so much negative out there. I’ve got my appointment next week and I’m bricking it if I’m honest

sorry to post again. I’m literally absolutely terrified about what will happen once I start the actual process . I know it’s what I want but I feel so shaky about it. What did you do to calm anxiety ? I can’t tell my parents, who I currently live with but am moving from after this happens, and my best friends are elsewhere in the country. I’m so freaked out about doing this alone

Hey @Scared20something honestly I would say my biggest tip is to stop reading the horror stories on places like here. I was guilty of this as I’d never gone through this process before but I think I’d read that many that I had worked myself up into such a state that when it came around to it, I was terrified and so anxious. I did not tell my mom either we’ve just kept it between me and my boyfriend. Just definitely have someone you can trust to tell so that you are not going through this by yourself.

I’m definitely going to take that advice, reading stuff on here like yours has been super helpful in dissuading me that it will only be bad . Thank you so much you’ve really been helpful. I’m super emotional as well cos of hormones so that’s not helping , but I have wonderful friends who I’m talking to who are helping, hopefully I can find someone to be with the days it happens. Thank you for sharing with me and being so kind. Still stressed obviously but feeling less intensely panicked than I was earlier

@Scared20something no problem at all. Feel free to keep in touch and let me know how it goes :)

thank you so much for this. Will almost certainly update closer to the time :) I really appreciate you being so kind to a stranger

Hi I appreciate this post. My marriage is in trouble and I am leaving. Just found out I am pregnant. I cannot continue with the pregnancy . Where do I begin I am about 2-3 weeks gone. Will it cost a lot? I expect to do it through the nhs. What is the process from the start? I appreciate any advice

@Bantuchick So I’m only sort of through my process. But as a start I’d recommend calling up BPAS or MSI. They will schedule a phone conversation with you where they ask about medical history and then discuss the options for abortion, medical and surgical. Then depending on that you’ll maybe go in to them( I am) or you’ll have pills mailed to you , I’ve seen a lot of that. That’s as much info as I have based on my current situation. If you go through the nhs it will not cost you , that’s only if you go private. I’m sorry i can’t give you any more advice as I’m only a little bit into the process myself. But I’d recommend avoiding doom scrolling( which I’ve done) and trying to just remain as positive and calm as can be. Make sure you have some good people around you where possible. And the people on here are lovely

Hey @Bantuchick I’m sorry that you’re going through this. I found out at around 2-3 weeks as well.
i would recommend contacting BPAS. They’re the main provider within the UK. You phone them and you will then be given an appointment for a phone consultation. I can only give you advice if you are going down the medical abortion route as that’s the route I went down. I then had the call with a lovely midwife. There was absolutely no judgement; she wanted to know my reasons for terminating as well as asking me some health questions. Once this has happened and everything is okay then they will send the pills out by post to you. Mine arrived around 24 hours after the call. You take the first pill 24 hours before the others so I took that first one as soon as they arrived. The first pill stops the pregnancy from developing any further then the second ones get it all out of you.

there is no cost with BPAS it will all be covered on the NHS. I’m here if you need to ask any more questions or just need some support x

Thank you so so much! I had the worst night yesterday. I thought I was ok but I am so so stressed. I appreciate this. Will call them tomorrow

I learnt very quickly not to scroll down 😆. Thank you so very much for this . Today is Sunday will call tomorrow ♥️

@Bantuchick you got this lovely ! Honestly it’s ok to feel stressed it is a very stressful situation. But I promise it will be better once you’ve called and made arrangements, because the unknown is gone. If you need anyone to talk to who’s going through a similar thing at a similar time feel free to reach out . I promise you’ve got this, even if it doesn’t feel like it

Hi. I just wanted to jump on this thread! I have just been through a medical abortion at about 7 weeks pregnant. I was absolutely terrified after reading loads of stories online about how painful it was . I have 4 children already and I was expecting the pain to be like labour as thats what I read ! I only passed the pregnancy yesterday so I wanted to write an account while its fresh in my mind.
Went to the clinic on Monday collected my tablets, took the first tablet that evening. No side effects at all. Woke up Tuesday terrible sickness all day ( dont know if it was the tablets or general pregnancy sickness as I had been suffering anyway) .
Inserted the 4 pills in the evening. I was literally shaking in fear not knowing what to expect. Started bleeding within the hour, very very light period pains. Next hour then i started to pass some clots, heavier bleeding and every time I went to the toilet more clots. I took some pain relief and the extra 2 tablets orally and went to lie down in bed . I actually fell asleep for a few hours. Woke up around 2am, had some strong period pains. Really nothing bad though probably not that much stronger than general period pains. Went to the toilet, bleeding heavily and passed what felt like 2 or 3 large clots the size of golf balls. This was not painful at all its just a very weird sensation. Went back to bed and went to sleep. Woken up and im feeling a little bit tender/slightly crampy now and again and still bleeding like a heavy period. But my sickness has completely vanished already! I feel like a new person. Obviously its very early days , but if anyone is worrying. Please dont. It was so much better than i was expecting. Sending positive vibes xxx

@Bantuchick

so proud of you for going through all that . You are amazing and I’m glad for the most part your experience wasn’t too bad( trying to find the right words to say) / wasn’t complicated.

I had a call from the team today and my medical abortion may be getting postponed because my GP hasn’t shared my medical history with them ( I have an underlying condition) so I’m currently still in limbo and definitely shaken up . Wishing you all the best over the next few days.

@Bethan1990 i meant my last comment for you I’m sorry my brain is sort of just not working at the minute and I can’t seem to edit my response .

@Scared20something oh gosh that’s so awful that your in limbo now waiting for it! Maybe contact your GP to speed things along or maybe ask if the surgical abortion is possible?

Sending so many positive vibes

@MC2603 its been a tumultuous day. But I rang the GP and they said to email them and flag it as urgent . I got a call a couple hours later with clinic with some extra follow up health questions and I asked and they said that the GP had finally shared my information with them; so fingers crossed everything is back on course , though I might here from the clinic again tomorrow. Worst case I may have to go in for surgical abortion, and not medical . I think your positive vibes definitely helped ❤️

@Scared20something oh bless you! At least the ball is rolling again now for you though and hopefully you can get it sorted

@MC2603 got a message today to say my records had been checked and I can go into the clinic tomorrow. It’s sort of hit now that it’s really happening and I’m kinda absolutely terrified but so ready for this to be over tbh . It’s such a whirlwind of emotions

@Scared20something no I definitely know what you mean but you have to do what’s best for you, it’s definitely a tough decision, just take it easy on yourself.

@MC2603 yeah I’m honestly just taking today to kind of calm and prepare myself because as an anxious person I need that. I really appreciate all your kind responses, this thread and a few others have been a godsend . Helps to be in touch with people like yourself who understand and have been through it

Taking my second set of pills in about an hour / 2 hours. Very nervous of course but also very ready .
I assume doing it at 26 hours is fine ?Because it says between 24-48 hours

@Scared20something yeah it’s absolutely fine to do it then, I didn’t wait the full 24 hours and mine was fine. Just take it easy.

i did my test yesterday and it came back negative so it’s all behind me now thankfully

@MC2603 I’m so happy for you that it worked out and your test came back negative.

its been nearly two hours since I took mine. The pain started to get pretty bad( though not really bleeding yet) took a Codine and I’m feeling a lot better now and bearing everything ok. All In all this is currently less horrific than I worked myself up into thinking. Really unpleasant but not so horrific.

I agree it wasn’t as horrific as I had thought. How you feeling now?