I’ll try to keep this as short as possible but happy to answer any questions I haven’t covered below! For context, I’m 27, live alone and have IBS (constipated at the time of this abortion) and ADHD. This context will make sense with the things I cover on this post. Also, a low pain tolerance.
Monday - 5th Oct
Phoned the women’s health service for north lanarkshire and they called me back to schedule a telephone appointment with a nurse on the following monday. They also emailed me all the abortion options with lots of information.
Monday - 12th Oct
Women’s unit called me back to book me in for ultrasound, discuss options and ask usual questions about my medical history and such. I got my ultrasound appointment for the next day!
Tuesday - 13th Oct
I went to my appointment at the women’s health unit (in a hospital near Glasgow). I had an ultrasound and the doctor advised I was 5 weeks and 4 days. I was very emotional during all of this and had to bring my mum in to hold my hand. We discussed what nerves I had prior to the medical abortion, mainly the pain and that fact I can’t take ibuprofen due to my stomach problems, she prescribed me heavy duty painkillers (dihydrocodeine) and a nurse gave me my package, which had the following:
- 1 mifepristone tablet
- 6 misoprostol tablets
- a tampon and wipe if i wish to insert tablets vaginally (i had the option for under the tongue or vaginally)
- 3 day course of anti biotics
- a pregnancy test to be taken 3 weeks after my miso day
- 3 month course of the contraceptive pill. You can choose either combination pill or progesterone only
- instructions for the medication and what to expect plus an ‘abortion talks’ leaflet for support if needed
- my prescription for dihydrocodeine
- my ultrasound scan (I had to ask for this specifically as it’s not included without request)
Everyone in the unit was exceptionally kind and understanding. I had a positive experience here.
Wednesday - 14th Oct
I didn’t start the process this day but I do believe I may have started miscarrying on this night. I was watching TV with my partner when I started feeling cramps. Went to the toilet to wipe and had about 2 x 50ps sized amount of red blood. I was really emotional and confused to be honest.
Thursday - 15th Oct
I took the mifepristone tablet at around 1pm. I was very anxious about it and ended up going to the shops to get some comfort food and started a new comfort show (Sex and the City for anyone who cares). I was very anxious due to bleeding the night before and having brown blood when wiping throughout the morning.
Nothing really happened this day, except some cramping and a little nausea but I was already experiencing this with the pregnancy.
Friday - 16th Oct
I started bleeding that morning very lightly which progressed throughout the day. Around 6pm I started feeling more intense cramping and feeling like I had to poo? I went to the toilet and started pushing, before I could even pee, a £2 coin sized clot fell out of me with a gush of blood. I found this really upsetting. I phoned the hospital to make sure everything was ok and they told me to continue with the process. My partner brought me food and cared for me that evening as it was unexpected for me to start the process so early.
Saturday - 17th Oct
My partner came over at 1pm. I took my painkillers (1000mg paracetamol and 60mg of dihydrocodeine) at 1:30pm along with my antibiotics and birth control. I then put 4 misoprostol tablets under my tongue at around 2pm. Made sure I had ice cold water available and my hot water bottle. Within 15 minutes of the tablets being in my mouth, I started getting cramps that felt like IBS and period cramps mixed together. I ended up going number 2 and the cramps were about a 4.5/10, manageable but sore. I hadn’t went number 2 for almost a week on this day, the miso must have made me go which I’m thankful for, lol. They subsided by the time the pills had disintegrated and my pain killers had kicked in. Around 3:15pm, I started having intense cramps. I mean moaning, holding my stomach, could not do anything except lie there and accept defeat. I kept getting up to sit on the toilet to try and push as this was the only slight relief I could get. I managed to push out many more big clots. The cramps intensified until 6pm, when I took more pain killers. The cramps were honestly an 8/10, very painful for me and I couldn’t even string a sentence together (my bf kept asking me things and I kept telling him shhhhh can’t speak). I was shaking really badly and didn’t want to be touched. I tried to run a bath but my hot water wasn’t working btw, but I’m sure that would’ve helped. I managed to sleep on and off from 7pm-9pm. I had cramps which were quite intense (not as bad as earlier) until 2am. I fell asleep at 2am and woke up the next day with 0 cramps and everything was ok. Obviously still bleeding heavily but not too bad.
I have to make a note here to say I was supposed to take a further 2 miso tablets at 6pm but I completely forgot, and because I’d already been bleeding for 2 days with heavy clots etc, I decided not to take them the following day. This is not medical advice and just my personal choice. Hence, ADHD noted because I genuinely did forget with all the pains and confusion I was experiencing. So, if you’re similar, please advise your partner or support person to remind you/give you them on time.
Today is Monday 19th October and I’ve been bleeding moderately and passing smaller clots. Everything is going well. I’m still very emotional and experiencing a lot of grief but I know I made the right choice and I’m glad it’s over.
I hope this helps anyone going through this. It really helped me to read other peoples experiences. Sending love to anyone struggling!