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

@MC2603 honestly a bit upsetting. Since the first set of cramps nothing has really happened. I called up the clinic and they said it may take longer for me for things to start. I’ll have to call back on Monday if stuff isn’t sorted and will need to figure out where to go from there. So fingers crossed everything starts to get in motion

@Scared20something don’t be disheartened I had this but I felt it pass and it was only early. If you’re early too then you may not experience a lot of blood, I know I didn’t, I just bled over a long time

@MC2603 i just haven’t really had any bleeding at all. Only minor spotting and one tiny tiny clot. Just got to hope. And I appreciate you’re input that does help me feel a little better

Just give it time and just make sure that you take the other two pills @Scared20something

@MC2603 took all the pills by 3:30 yesterday. Nothings happened,I’m going to have to call back tomorrow. I’m so genuinely distraught by this situation

Have you had no bleeding at all? Give them a call now they’ve got a helpline every day of the week @Scared20something

I’ve had basically none. I called them this morning And they said to just wait and call back after 48 hours which will be tomorrow at half 12 .
I haven’t had any negative side effects, just literally such slight bleeding that I would call it spotting.
my friend had to leave as well so it’s pretty lonely

@MC2603 please keep us updated I have just started at 9am. Nothing has happened yet but I know it’s early. Hope you are ok x

@Scared20something how you feeling today? What’s going on?

@MC2603 sadly no real change in my situation. Minor increase in bleeding but still incredibly light. Just waiting now to talk to a member of the aftercare team. I’ll know more once that’s happened.

@Bantuchick sending you all the best . Stuff happens at different times for everyone ! You’ll get through this

@Scared20something fingers crossed you’ll feel better

@MC2603 I really hope you have made some kind of progress. Sending you good vibes.

I got to hour 4 and nothing. The thing was the cramps were noticeable so I was hesitant with using the second lot. So I thought of doing another hour and I then felt a gush. I have passed a massive clot and bleeding moderately. I am still cramping though.

please let me know how you are

Minor update
spoke to someone and they’ve booked me in for an appointment on Thursday. Most likely if nothing improves I’ll be given more pills . But also I should really only be expecting bleeding like my period not necessarily big clots and stuff because im so early on in the pregnancy. Fingers crossed that in the next two days something improves but if not I have options and I will be seen.

hope your cramping is ok @Bantuchick glad everything seems to be going as it should

Sending you good vibes on Thursday. Cramps were intense at the point at which I was passing clots. Nothing unbearable I I feel ok. For me it was the emotional side that took me aback. I was week 4/5 of pregnancy my breasts were really painful but that stopped with the fist pill which I took yesterday.

Hi Everyone,

just wanted to check in . As you remember I last posted on Monday which is when I started bleeding. I am worried because I still am bleeding moderate to heavy. I still have clots still. Starting to feel physically rubbish and I intend to escalate this to the helpline. I just wondered how long the bleeding lasted for you? This is day 5 for me and no signs of slowing down.

Hi @Bantuchick , its been a week and a half since my medical abortion. I am still bleeding, although alot lighter but only the last couple of days . And ive still been passing the odd random
bits of tissue and some small clots. xx

@Scared20something How did you get on in the end? I’m maybe experiencing something similar, not sure if the termination has worked. Took the mifepristone on Thursday afternoon, inserted four misoprostol 24 hours ago (Saturday) and another two a few hours later. I’ve been cramping for the past 24 hours but not very much bleeding at all (only minor bleeding when I go to the toilet and push, nothing like a period). Had some of the tablets come out this morning, whole. It was five weeks since my last period so it’s very early, and perhaps it’s just taking some time to get going, but I’m not sure? It’s very frustrating as I’m meant to be having a tonsillectomy in two weeks time, been waiting ages, but I have a feeling they will have to postpone it because of this..

@eml87
hi sorry to get back to you so late. For me it took over 48 hours for something significant to happen. I spent two days calling the helpline and all the nurses were super helpful. I got cramps at first and then nothing , but on the third day I did finally start bleeding. They did say to me that the earlier you are the more likely things could be either not as painful as expected or more likely that things might take longer than expected. My advice is if you’re worried call the aftercare line as they were an absolute godsend, and just know you aren’t the only one for this sort of experience to happen to. I’m here if you need anything, i how it all goes well .

@Scared20something Thank you for your reply. The bleeding today is still fairly light with a few tiny clots in, the cramping has stopped, but I do think it’s been successful. I had been reading other people’s experiences before going through this, and so many had mentioned very heavy bleeding, large clots, sometimes a lot of pain. So to experience something akin to a light period with some cramping seems at odds with what I was expecting to be honest. I feel like I was made to expect the worst, and it made me feel really anxious the day before. Then actually going through this was (physically) completely fine. It’s not great mentally, but it was 100% the right decision.