I just wanted to write a post about my experience with the at home medical abortion that was supplied through BPAS. I'd read a lot of horror stories in the week before I went through with the procedure which did nothing for my nerves so I thought I'd share my experience as it was nothing like the majority of stories I've read. I just want to reassure anyone going through the same thing who might be bricking it!
So I found out I was pregnant a couple weeks ago and judging by dates, I was only around 3/4 weeks. I got into touch with BPAS as my GP said its all about self referral now. I have to say, BPAS have been brilliant from start to finish so I highly recommend using them if you can. I filled out a form on their website and within a day, I had 2 emails with 2 different dates booked in for telephone calls. The first was an emotional support phonecall which you can use to talk through things if you're having a hard time deciding what to do. I didn't need this phonecall as I was pretty certain it was what I wanted to do so the lady was happy to let me go ahead with the procedure.
The second phonecall was with a nurse who talked through my options, asked my reason for the abortion and then explained what would happen during the procedure. The next day, I had a text from Royal Mail saying my tablets were due to be delivered that day! So from self referring to getting the tablets, it only took around a week. At this point, we'd worked out I was 5 weeks.
Inside the package, you get a pregnancy test, the pills and a handy little guide book. I decided to wait until the weekend to start the actual abortion so I had my partner at home with me so on the Thursday, I took the first pill by mouth which stopped the pregnancy from progressing. The only side effect I had from this one was that on the Friday, my anxiety was sky high and I was really stressed but that could've been from knowing I was starting the procedure the next day.
On the Saturday, I inserted the pills at around 8am and took 2 ibuprofen. You can take 4 but I have health anxiety so I was worried about taking that many! Within about 45 mins of insertion, I started getting cramp but it was super mild. Probably about a 1 out of 10. It remained like this until about 12:30 when the cramps became a lot stronger but manageable. I was passing clots by this point which were the size of grapes and the bleeding was pretty much just like a regular period. Not heavy but not light. The cramps would come in waves like contractions but they weren't painful enough to have me doubled over or anything. It was literally just like period pain, so about a 5 out of 10. At that point, I took 3 ibuprofen because I could see that this was probably going to be the point where things progressed and the pregnancy was going to pass. I'd read online this part was going to be quite intense, and a lot of posters said they were in excruciating pain so I didnt want to just take 2 ibuprofen.
I didn't have to worry though as this part only lasted an hour and the cramps went from a 5 to a 6, so not massively painful. It was more uncomfortable than anything. I found it more helpful to get up and move around because the cramps were in my back and down the back of my legs. My hot water bottle was a lifesaver too! They'd eased off by 1:30 back to the 1 out of 10 cramps.
I was really confused though because all the posts I'd read said during the more intense stage, you'll know when the pregnancy has passed because there'll be a big gush or a big clot but I didn't have any of those so I thought it hadn't worked. I decided to get in touch with the BPAS aftercare team. The lady I spoke to ran through loads of questions, asking how much I was bleeding, what the pain was like, if I'd passed any clots etc. She also asked if my pregnancy symptoms have started to disappear which they have - my sore boobs are nearly back to normal. She said not everyone gets gushing or big clots after the intense phase. She said the fact I'd passed a lot of smaller clots says the pregnancy has passed in smaller stages so she was confident the tablets had worked.
At about 2:15, I started getting stronger cramps but again, they weren't excruciating. They were more like a 4 out of 10 and in waves. The bleeding came a lot quicker this time, almost like when you're at the heaviest point in your period. The clots had stopped too. By 3:30, the cramps eased but the bleeding remained at the same level. After that, I just had the odd little cramp here and there at a 2 out of 10.
Its the Sunday now and I woke up to a normal amount of blood, as if I'm on day 2 of a period. No cramping, no clots.
It definitely wasnt anywhere near as bad as what I'd read throughout the week. I know everyone experiences things differently but I just wanted to put a more positive post out to show that it can be quite an straightforward process with just a bit of discomfort.
What helped me:
- hot water bottle
- ibuprofen
- watching something on TV
- chocolate...preferably a massive Dairy Milk 😜
- comfy pyjamas
- walking around during stronger waves
I have to take the test in 3 weeks time so hopefully its been a success! I'm feeling fairly confident it has been :) if anyone has any questions or needs any advice/reassurance, I'm happy to answer any comments! Or you can message me if that feels more comfortable for you :)9