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Self managed abortion at home...
Posted By: | March 7, 2022
Is a self managed abortion at home my best option?
Is it a good option?
In Texas, abortion access is restricted, with current legislation essentially banning abortion past 6 weeks of pregnancy. Why is this the “new” cutoff for abortion? At about 6 weeks of pregnancy, cardiac activity in a fetus can be seen and measured. This activity - widely known as the fetal heartbeat is considered by many people to be a sign of life. Thus, the time restriction on abortion.
In response to this 2021 change in abortion access in Texas, women in this state are considering how to to handle an unintended, unplanned, or undesired pregnancy. For many, this means considering termination options like the abortion pill. It is somewhat unclear exactly how the Texas law will impact women who choose to administer their own abortion - whether through medical or other means. But what is clear is that the impact of women having abortions at home, possibly without proper medical care, is something we should be talking about.
At Parkridge, our medical staff can provide confirmation ultrasounds and evidence-based medical education on all pregnancy options. And we want women to know the facts so they can make informed decisions. We hear from women before, during, and after abortion decisions and want to share some of what we’ve learned from them.
What we have heard in recent months is some version of this story:
...I was told that I would have some cramping and bleeding, but what I experienced was NOT like a normal period. I bled so so so so much more than I expected and the pain was literally so extreme. I didn’t know what to do or who to ask for help because I didn’t tell anyone I was pregnant and definitely didn’t want anyone to know I was having an abortion...
This patient accepted the information she was given,
but her experience wasn’t at all what the abortion provider described.
She did not have an ultrasound prior to
receiving the abortion pill, and didn’t have any resources for follow up care.
Unfortunately, she is not alone in her experience.
Our medical staff has followed up with other patients
that have had similar experiences with the abortion pill.
What we wish she had known before making this decision:
- It is important to have an ultrasound before proceeding with an abortion (abortion pill / medical abortion, or surgical abortion) This ultrasound will confirm that there is a viable pregnancy, and will determine how far along the pregnancy is. Yes - in Texas there is a concern about the timing of the ultrasound, yet there is also concern about taking abortion medications if the pregnancy is not viable, if it is an ectopic pregnancy(not in the uterus), or if the pregnancy is past a certain point of development.
- It is important to have trusted resources, a place to ask questions, and a place to go for follow up care. For most of us, it seems reasonable that we would want a medical exam and medical people - a doctor or nurse - to be accessible to us when undergoing a medical procedure. An abortion isn’t jump-starting a missed period, any abortion is a medical procedure.
- An abortion is a big decision, and there are some things to consider before making this decision. We often hear women say they feel rushed to make a decision about an unintended pregnancy. Our team of nurses and counselors encourage women to push pause just for a moment to think things through. Is parenting something to consider? What about adoption? If an abortion seems like the right choice now, will it still be the right choice in one week, or one month, or five years from now? It’s ok to take time to make a decision this big.
We hope the information included here is helpful, and is received in conjunction with other medical information. This blog post is not intended to replace information directly received from a medical provider.
Through pregnancy testing, ultrasound confirmation and STD testing & treatment, we serve women who are considering the abortion pill as well as other pregnancy options. Parkridge does not provide abortions, but we do provide professional counseling, including post-abortion support. All of our services are always free of charge, confidential and delivered by licensed professionals. An unintended pregnancy need not be faced by a woman in isolation. Please reach out to us and let us know if we can help! Call 806.794.8555 or make an appointment online by clicking here.
Medical abortion - Mayo Clinic
Medication Abortion Up to 70 Days of Gestation | ACOG
Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2018 | MMWR (cdc.gov)
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