Medical abortion advice/experiences

[ThatPeppySheep]

Hi all, I’m looking for medical termination experiences please. I’ve found myself in a difficult situation of needing a termination, we fell pregnant unexpectedly due to failed contraception with already having a 16 month old (due date would be the same as my daughters 2nd birthday), we don’t have the room or finances to go ahead which has been difficult to accept but come to terms with this now. I’ve had a NIGHTMARE experience with MSI and I’ve today, eventually got the pills almost 3 weeks after finding out I was pregnant. Luckily, I had an US on Wednesday and they could only see a 8mm sac with a yolk sac within and no fetal pole inside which puts me at around 5w6d today so will be taking the final pills 6w1d. I’ve read so many horror stories online about the pain being unbearable, passing out, throwing up, worst pain of their lives etc and I’ve got myself in a state but I’ve found some comfort in reading experiences on mumsnet and wondering if anyone could share please? I’m taking the first pill tonight and the rest on Sunday at 2pm. I’m keen to know how long the worst of the process lasted for everybody as I’m really worried I won’t be over the worst by my daughters bedtime as she’s not the greatest sleeper but due to other commitments, I can’t take these before Sunday afternoon. I’ve been given codeine and told to take ibuprofen and paracetamol and would like to know when people took different pain relief to minimise the pain? I’m genuinely so scared to do this!😩 my partner will be home to care for my daughter all day Sunday and will put her to bed Sunday evening but she usually wants me if she wakes in the night, he’s also taking the Monday off work, will this be enough time?

Bump! Xx

I have been reading about this to and am in the same position. The key seems to be taking the pain medication early, and a bit before 2nd pills in case you throw up. Hopefully as you are not too far along it will be less painful. Advice seems to be set a whole day aside for second pills some say starting at 8 can be over by 1 but can take until the evening. Hope you are OK, if you partner is with you maybe have a pain relief schedule ready to help stay on top of any pain x

thanks so much for replying. I really hope everything goes okay for you! I take the misoprostol tomorrow, ill be relieved once its all over🥲xx

Hi, I don’t know if you’ve already gone through this but my experience was extremely positive. If you need anyone to talk to if you’re still worried please reach out! Xx

Hi glad to hear it went ok sorry I didn't look online over the weekend. Hope it went smoothly for you, sending big hugs hope you are ok x

Hi, I have my appointment with MSI this week as they want to do an ultrasound. Do they issue the tablets there and then? And do you have any advise on what to expect in the appointment? They said to allow two hours 🙈

hope it all worked out for you. X

Hi lovely! Yes they should scan you and if they can confirm the pregnancy they’ll give you the tablets. I had a nightmare as they couldn’t find the pregnancy at the appointment, I had to go back a week later for a rescan and they still couldn’t see it so thought it was ectopic. I got the pregnancy confirmed a few days later (I was SUPER early at my first appointment as I’d obviously ovulated late so this isn’t a typical experience). You go to the clinic, go in, do a urine sample, they’ll ask you a bunch of safe guarding questions to make sure you’re safe and no one’s forcing you etc, scan you (you don’t see the screen or anything) and then get the pills and they run through how to take, pain relief etc. my appointments every time were no more than 20 mins. Everyone is so lovely, judgement free and caring. I had a really positive experience, almost completely pain free and the ‘pain’ I did experience was very mild. I have a negative test now so all worked! If you have any questions please reach out xx

I’m glad it all worked out and went smoothly for you in the end. I’m really worried that they won’t provide the tablets because I suffer with high blood pressure in medical settings (white coat syndrome) 😔 I’m going to see if I can bring the appointment forward as I’ve still got a week to wait, I’ll be 6 weeks then. Xx

I do too! I had to have an induced birth due to it as my blood pressure was high towards the end but ONLY in the hospital 🤦‍♀️ they never actually checked my bloody pressure in clinic and I had 3 face to face appointments with MSI. I don’t actually ever record seeing a BP machine. I’m also a higher BMI so would probably be the most likely candidate for BP check x

Hopefully, I’ll have the same experience! Although can’t see how they can refuse tablets when they can do over the phone consultations! 🙏🏼 I’m overthinking everything and just want it to be over with!

I hope everything goes well for you! I’ve had a look online and it doesn’t seem that blood pressure effects the process so hopefully it’s smooth for you🤍🤍

I went for my scan today and found out I have a twin pregnancy, which was a shock 😔however due to my circumstance’s I’m still going ahead with the termination and have taken my first tablet. Just hoping the second and third stage work as they should do. Feeling a little down that I’m going though this 😔

Im so sorry you’re going through this, I can’t imagine how hard it must be. I hope everything goes well. If you need to talk to anyone at any point, please reach out. You should be proud of yourself for doing what’s right for you and your family, it’s not easy to do🤍 x

Can I join as also going through this completely alone and while I’m absolutely certain it’s what I want to do, I’ve been able to think of nothing else since the positive test at the weekend. I have the appointment as MIS on Friday and hoping this will all be over by the end of the weekend and I can start to feel normal again and get back to normal!

Of course! It’s genuinely the most anxiety ridden, horrible thing I’ve ever been through but for me, the waiting around was the worst part. I felt such relief when it was over, I was so scared but I didn’t need to be! So many women helped and supported me, I’d love to do the same for someone else. You’ve got this! X

Thank you so much. Apologies for the typos, been scouring mumsnet for some positive stories of the medical route! Friday seems so far away, I was hoping for a sooner appointment but took the first they had. Hopefully it’s straight forward because I’m so tired and hungry at the minute and trying to hide that is difficult

I’m currently going through it now, and it’s been totally fine although I’m worrying whether it’s actually worked. I took the first tablet yesterday and had no side effects at all. I prepared myself this morning and took two ibuprofen and two paracetamol 30 mins before I inserted my first four tablets at 9am. Nothing really happened for the first three hours, I started shivering and put a heat pad on my lower belly which massively helped and laid in bed until it passed. I then did the second dose and put two tablets in my cheeks. After an hour, I went to the toilet and passed a clot and since then I’ve had a steady flow pretty much like a period nothing heavy and only had to change the pad once. I was expecting to pass more clots especially having a twin pregnancy which is why I’m worrying that it hasn’t worked!

You’ll be fine. I also went to an MSI clinic and the staff were really lovely, made me feel at ease. Forgot to say I was 6 weeks! X

This was super similar to my experience! I’ve just done my 3 week test and it was negative! I barely passed anything the first day, just a couple of clots. I did pass a few big clots randomly over the week following which I was worrying about (not painful at all still, just didn’t expect it) but they’ve completely stopped now x

I’m so worried it won’t work and I should have said surgical but that would mean a longer appointment and without knowing how long that would be I can’t really explain that away when I’ve not told anyone in real life.

Fingers crossed it all goes ok for you!

I wanted a surgical too but the wait was over a month so I reluctantly took the medical abortion but I’m honestly glad I did now, my personal experience was straight forward, not painful and no more uncomfortable than my period. I read SO many horror stories I really terrified myself. I found a Reddit page just called abortion and there’s a subreddit on there with everyone’s experiences and a LOT are positive. Reading the positive ones really helped me x

This is reassuring and good news your test was negative you can put the stress and worry behind you now 😊 chat gpt has been my best friend today 😂

My cramps have been so mild, nothing unbearable at all! Hopefully, the tablets will continue to work and a waiting game for three weeks now 😬 my pregnancy symptoms pretty much went over night after taking the first tablet yesterday. So grateful for speaking with you and experiencing similar! I read so many horror stories! X

Hope you’re feeling okay today xx

So I’ve been for the appointment, have a sac but they can’t see anything else so I’m super early (5w+1d). Left with the tablets and will take the first tomorrow and second lot Monday morning. Hopefully the experience is as ‘positive’ as yours (if that’s the right word!) planning a day in bed Monday while I go through the worst of it

I hope everything goes smoothly for you! I’d recommend taking the pain killers 30 mins before the second tablets and using a hot water bottle before any cramps, I think this mightve contributed to why I didn’t feel anything! I took 800mg ibuprofen and 2 paracetamol before hand and saved the codeine for if I needed it. I also had just a gestational sac and nothing else so I hope you have a positive experience too! I hope you’re feeling okay after the appointment x

Thinking of you and hope it all goes okay. X