Medical termination of pregnancy is a physically and emotionally strenuous process, which you must care for your physical and emotional well-being. Though your healthcare provider will perform a safe abortion, there are a couple of risks involved. As a result, women must know what they should expect or how to care for themselves after getting a private medical abortion in London.
Whether you have a natural miscarriage or a medical procedure done, the effects shall likely remain the same. In this blog, we will talk about the possible consequences, recovery time, medical guidance to be taken and how to take care of yourself.
What should you expect after a medical Termination of Pregnancy?
The abortion clinic in London recommends several abortion methods as per the patient’s pregnancy stage and medical requirements: vacuum aspiration, abortion pills and D&E (dilation and evacuation). In most cases, the woman experiences severe symptoms if she has had an abortion performed in the second or third trimester. After the abortion, you may experience bleeding for around six weeks or not at all.
You may have swollen or painful breasts, pass small to medium-sized blood clots or experience cramping. Some women have mood swings and emotional outbursts due to the hormonal changes in pregnancy or even due to mixed feelings about their abortion. Most get their period within a couple of months, though the flow and frequency initially vary. You can get pregnant soon after you have an abortion, which involves ovulation. If you want to avoid pregnancy, refrain from sexual intercourse or use protection or birth control.
How should you take care of yourself post–abortion?
It is normal to feel exhausted or otherwise unwell after you get an abortion, such as intense cramping and pain. Ideally, ask for a drive home when you have an abortion from the hospital. They must take complete bed rest to recover from the side effects, and avoid physical and emotional exhaustion. As they are susceptible to infection due to an open cervix, they must use sanitary napkins for bleeding (not tampons and menstrual cups), avoid swimming for a week and penetrative sex.
Apply heat to the back or stomach to relieve pain and cramping, take medication (usual antibiotics) as per the gynaecologist’s recommended dosage. Massage your back or stomach to pass uterine tissue and relieve cramps. Monitor your temperature daily for the week ahead to rule out infection and fever. Use over-the-counter (OTC) medication and pain relievers like ibuprofen, and seek immediate medical advice in case of severe pain. Attend your follow-up appointment with your private gynaecologist, which ensures a complete abortion and progress towards a healing uterus. Usually, you will not need additional medical care if there are no complications. If you do notice intricacies, please visit the doctor immediately. In rare cases, abortion complications can take you to the emergency department if treated in time.
What is the usual recovery time?
Women who have had abortions in the first trimester without any complications usually get better with time, and the bleeding stops at six weeks. For late-pregnancy abortions with complications, women need surgery or hospitalisation for full recovery – but they recover within weeks.
When must you visit a Private gynaecologist?
Abortion clinics have a twenty-four-hour advice helpline that advises women on their symptoms, their severity and possible treatment. Thus, you can contact the emergency department or helpline if you use up more than a single sanitary pad every hour, feel faint or dizzy, have difficulty in breathing, have suicidal thoughts or pass large blood clots. You must also visit the doctor if you have a fever, have an odour coming from your vagina, worry about an incomplete abortion or experience severe pain.
Does abortion have long–term effects?
Like most surgical procedures, it is a simple process that does not have lasting complications. Though some women fear that it has long-term effects on fertility, private abortion clinics in London agree that abortion does not affect future pregnancy or the chance of complications in pregnancy.
Abortion is a difficult choice, and it is entirely normal to have mixed feelings after the procedure. Speak to your doctor about things to expect, how to care for yourself and know about support groups (family and close friends) who can work with you to manage the changes. If you are looking for clinics for medical termination pregnancy, please book an appointment at Well Women Clinic.
