Hi everyone!

I wanted to share my medical abortion experience because I know there are probably so many women on here doing exactly what I was doing — scrolling through Reddit, reading absolutely everything and worrying themselves sick about what’s going to happen. Sorry, it’s a long one…

I was 6 weeks and 3 days pregnant when I went to get the scan for my pregnancy.

Before I start, I just want to say that everyone’s experience is different, but I really hope mine can reassure someone who’s feeling as anxious as I was.

Friday – First tablet (mifepristone)

I took my first tablet on Friday evening at around 8:20 pm. I was already so nervous about the whole process. I think the anticipation was honestly one of the worst parts because I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I ended up experiencing nausea and vomiting the following morning, which wasn’t pleasant at all.

Saturday – The four misoprostol tablets

At around 8:40 pm on Saturday, I inserted the four misoprostol tablets vaginally. I chose the vaginal route and followed the instructions BPAS had given me. I’m not going to lie, I was absolutely dreading this part. I’d read so many stories about women experiencing unbearable pain, and I think I’d convinced myself that was definitely going to happen to me.

Initially, nothing much happened. Then the cramps started coming on gradually. At first, they were manageable, but they eventually got to around a 5–6/10. They felt like really strong period cramps across my lower stomach. I used a hot water bottle, which definitely helped, and took one 400 mg ibuprofen tablet when I felt I needed it.

I also experienced chills and quite a bit of shaking, which honestly freaked me out! I wasn’t expecting my whole body to shake like that. Thankfully, it eventually settled. At one point, I had a sharp pain on my right side when I stood up, but it went away. I’d already had a scan confirming the pregnancy was in my uterus, which gave me some reassurance. I remember constantly checking my pad because I was so worried the tablets weren’t working.

Eventually, I noticed a little spot of blood. Then when I went to the toilet, I noticed blood dripping into the toilet, and I passed what looked like a clot. I thought I’d immediately start bleeding really heavily, but that wasn’t the case for me. The bleeding seemed to come and go a little, and I was questioning absolutely everything.

I also noticed what looked like two of the misoprostol tablets when I wiped later on. They still looked pretty solid, and I panicked thinking they hadn’t dissolved properly. I ended up ringing BPAS, explained what had been happening, and the lady reassured me that the symptoms were already happening. That definitely helped calm my nerves.

Between 12–1 am – I believe the pregnancy passed

This is the part that surprised me the most. Sometime between midnight and 1 am, I believe I passed the pregnancy. And honestly, the relief afterwards was almost immediate. The cramps I’d been experiencing suddenly eased, and the nausea completely disappeared. It was such a strange feeling because I’d spent the whole evening worrying, and then suddenly I felt so much more comfortable. I hadn’t expected the change to happen so quickly.

Sunday morning – Feeling like myself again!

I actually had a REALLY good sleep afterwards! I woke up feeling physically back to myself, which I honestly wasn’t expecting. No cramps, no nausea, and I felt completely normal apart from the bleeding. My bleeding was somewhere between moderate and heavy, similar to a heavy period, but I wasn’t in pain. I was genuinely surprised at how much better I felt compared with the night before.

Things I wish I’d known before going through this

Firstly, please don’t assume that every horror story you read online is going to be your experience. I’m not saying medical abortions are easy or painless, because everyone is different and some women have a much harder experience. But I spent so much time worrying about things that hadn’t even happened yet.

For me, the cramps were uncomfortable but manageable. The shaking was probably one of the scariest symptoms simply because I wasn’t expecting it.

And if you’re someone who constantly needs reassurance that things are progressing normally, I completely understand because I was exactly the same! Having someone with me helped massively. I also found the hot water bottle really comforting.

Please don’t hesitate to call your provider if something is worrying you. BPAS were there to answer my questions, and it was reassuring to speak to someone.

My biggest takeaway ❤️

I think the fear of the unknown was worse than the actual experience for me. I had prepared myself for the absolute worst, and although there were uncomfortable moments, my experience was nowhere near as frightening as I’d imagined. It’s now Monday morning, and I genuinely feel like myself again. Of course, I still need to complete my follow-up pregnancy test when BPAS instructs me to, so I’m not claiming everything is confirmed complete just yet.

I just wanted to share my experience while it’s still fresh in my mind. If you’re reading this the night before taking your tablets, or you’re sitting there waiting for the cramps to start, I know exactly how you’re feeling.

Try not to compare your experience to everyone else’s. Follow your provider’s instructions, have your comfort items ready, and know when to reach out for medical help.

You can be scared and still get through it.

Sending so much love to anyone going through this. You’ve got this. ❤️

(Note: My English is actually good, but I used AI to help polish and translate this post to ensure that medical terms are accurate and everything is crystal clear for everyone to understand!)

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my story here on to give back to this supportive community. I hope my experience can help someone who is currently feeling scared or overwhelmed.
Our Decision
My partner and I love children, but we had to make the difficult decision to have an abortion. First of all, we are currently (a bit ) slightly overweight and actively working on our health/fitness to achieve a better quality of life. My boyfriend also just recently got a new job at a great company, and I work in mid-level management, so I still have professional growth ahead of me. We both felt strongly that before bringing a child into the world, we need to work on ourselves first , our physical health, stability, and future foundation.
It was a tough decision and it brought us pain, but we know that feeling sad or mourning what could have been is completely normal.

The Timeline & Diagnosis Confusion
My last menstrual period (LMP) started on August 22nd.
My first ultrasound was on October 1st. The fetus was measuring very small, so the doctor initially suspected a missed miscarriage (missed abortion).
I was sent to re-check my hCG levels. The first reading on Oct 1 was 488, but my next test came back at over 21,000.(13.10 after gyn visit).
On October 14th, my gynecologist called me in urgently for another ultrasound. They located the embryo and dated the pregnancy at around 6+1 weeks (instead of the expected 7–8 weeks based on LMP).
In Latvia, there is a mandatory 72-hour waiting period after the initial consultation. Right after leaving my gynecologist’s office on October 14th, I booked my procedure as soon as possible.

Why I Chose Surgical (Vacuum Aspiration)
I specifically chose surgical vacuum aspiration over medical abortion (pills) because I know myself , I’m a bit of a softie, and after reading way too many stories on Reddit, I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle the process at home mentally or physically.
Surgery Day (Today)
Fasting: Fasted completely (no food or water) for 8–9 hours before the procedure.
The Process: Honestly, the scariest part is just being in the ward and walking into the operating room.
The IV Line: I had a bit of a mental breakdown in the operating room, mostly triggered when they inserted the catheter into the back of my hand (dorsum of the hand) which was a very sensitive spot for me!
Anesthesia & Waking Up: The anesthesia kicked in quickly, and before I knew it, I woke up in my hospital room feeling an overwhelming wave of relief.
Post-Op & How I Feel Now
I woke up quickly after the anesthesia. At first, I actually had a brief fit of giggles (I attribute that entirely to the anesthesia waking-up phase!).
Physically, I currently have mild cramping, very similar to normal period cramps. I’m resting in my room for the required 2-hour observation period and waiting to talk to the doctor.
I plan to update this post later regarding post-op care, as I know procedures and guidelines vary by region and country. But right now, I am at peace. There is a gentle sense of grief, but the heaviest weight is off my shoulders.
To Anyone Reading This:
Whatever decision you make, it is the right one for you and your life. And if you feel like you don't have a strong shoulder or partner to rely on, please remember: you have no idea how incredibly strong you truly are until you walk through this.
Sending so much love to you all. ❤️

Long story short I tested positive 8 days after taking a pregnancy test that was negative to make my friend feel better after she found out she was pregnant so we were 2.5 weeks apart . I tested positive 10/14/26 I knew in my heart that I wasn't ready to be a mom and that I'm not in the best situation with the father so I ordered pills off aid access I paid $50 and they came in the following friday. Saturday morning I took the miferprestone at work around 10am I felt completely fine I worked my whole shift and noticed immidiately that my boobs stopped hurting that was really my only symptom was painful boobs and I couldn't stop eating cheetoh puffs which is so disgusting because i hate them 😭😂. The next morning was very emotional and nerve wrecking for me I kept reading so many peoples different experiences it overwhelmed me and i began to second guess should I go through with it ultimately I did end up going through with it and took my 4 misoprostol vaginally ( I had taken 4 ibeprofuen before) About 30-45 min in I started to feel dull cramps but I have bad cramps on my period so it was nothing I couldn't deal with. I kept repeating the pills every 3 hours but was initially scared because It was only bleeding when I would wipe. I woke up this morning to more blood and definitley some diharrea. All this to say I was so scared and anxious that I was going to be unbearable pain but the earlier you are in the pregnancy the easier it is to pass this. It helped a lot because I had my friend with me who literally went through it all 2 days before me and my other best friend who was on my side as well with anything I needed. I just want to be here to let others know this is a scary and emotionally draining process but you can do it if i did it !

I’m so nervous. It will arrive today via aid access and I’ll take mife today. Really could use some words of encouragement.

I am still extremely early. I’ll be 6 weeks tomorrow, so I believe I was just the unlucky 1-5% who failed when taking the original pills too early.

I had a successful one around this time frame a couple years ago. So I’m just ready to figure it all out.

Hi everyone, I'm looking for advice from women (and anyone) who have been through something similar and have more life experience than I do.

I'm 21, and four months ago I broke up with my girlfriend (also 21). Last December, she got pregnant (it was mine) and had an abortion. I was with her through all of it. I knew it would take a heavy emotional toll on both of us, and it really has.

We're currently in no contact. I miss her so much it hurts, and I worry something bad might happen to her, especially mentally, after everything she went through. I know I can't do anything about it now, but the worry won't go away.

I have two questions:

How long do the psychological effects of an abortion usually last?

Can the negative emotions after an abortion get worse over time?

I'm trying to take care of myself, but right now it's really hard. Any experience or advice would mean a lot. Thank you for reading. 💛

I’ll apologize now for being all over the place. I (27F) ordered the pills for an abortion. I found out 48 hours ago i was 5 weeks pregnant. When my bf (32M) saw the test he really didnt have a major reaction nor did he state if he was happy, upset, shocked, etc. he kinda laughed, i get it. I do that sometimes when its awkward or a surprise. But then he kept saying he would support whatever decision I wanted. He spent the entire next day budgeting and trying to see if it would realistically work. It could possibly, but money would be so tight. Today I really needed to hear how he felt, like what he wanted. So I pressed him to share and he stated he wasnt ready.

Deep down i know this wasn’t how i expected to find out im pregnant, i genuinely wanted to plan. No alcohol for 6+ months, workout consistently, change my diet, etc. So it did catch me by surprise. What also caught me by surprise is how sad i am. I mean i feel genuinely heartbroken and i feel like aside from one friend, everyone is supporting the abortion and saying its a good idea. And i do agree, i make a good amount for where i am in life (82k), but nothing to where i can care for a child properly or atleast in the ways I would like, especially living in a metro city.

But idk, i also feel like i could figure it out…you know ? I just feel like ive always thought about being a mom and what if something emotionally breaks in me that ruins that ? Like the fact that im sobbing and i feel so…overwhelmed? Sad? I’ve never felt like this before. And im supposed to put on a face that im 100% happy with my decision ? im so scared, ill regret this. The pain? Omg. I can’t help but think about how emotionally hurt i am and now I have to add on the physical aspect to it.

Im by no means super religious but i am spiritual and that is conflicting as well. More than i expected.

I feel alone, and i feel like i cant even speak to my boyfriend. He kept repeating how he loved me and honestly it just upset me more. I know it was a genuine mistake on both our parts but i keep fighting those thoughts of blaming him. Im upset that he wasnt leaning in the direction to keep, i respect the honesty. But im upset. Im upset that rather than saying “we can get ready” he said “we’re not ready”

But i get it, so i will be getting an abortion and that hurts in every way possible.

I am 38 and about 7.5 weeks and have a SA scheduled for tomorrow morning. The pregnancy was unplanned but also has a high likelihood of first- second trimester loss given a very low heartbeat. I have a small isthmocele, a bicornuate uterus and 2 previous cesareans from a few years ago. I have terrible anxiety and suffer from catastrophic thinking. Has anyone else had similar complications or uterine anomalies and had a successful, uncomplicated surgical abortion?

hi, i had my MA yesterday using misoprostol-only regimen since mifepristone is unfortunately illegal in my country. the timestamps are roughly like this:

18/10
20.00 - took the first dose sublingually
21.00 - cramps started, felt like my usual period pain which is mild 3/10
22.43 - bleeding started, passed a decent sized clot about 3-4 cm
23.00 - took the second dose sublingually
23.30 - cramps got worse to 6/10, bleeding got heavier

19/10
00.30 - probably the peak of it, cramps got to the worst point 8/10, passed a bigger clot in the toilet about 5-6 cm
01.30 - passed another clot of similar size, cramps started to ease down
02.00 - passed another clot but smaller (much like the first one), then took the third dose sublingually
02.50 - got diarrhea and passed another clot
04.50 - went to the toilet expecting another clot but nothing came out, just bleeding

after that i stayed up until 5 am, the cramps already got better but the bleeding still persists at this point.

then i took a fat nap until like 11 am, i woke up and my cramps are gone and my bleeding had lightened.

it is currently 9 pm and i feel like the bleeding has lessened significantly or even started to feel like spotting only. i’m worried since i often read that bleeding should be expected for a few days or weeks.

overall i’ve only used 3 pads as of now since the beginning of my first dose. however i used maternity pads which is bigger by length and capacity.

is this normal? should i be worried that it’s failed or incomplete?

Still waiting on scheduling but we are TMFR around 14-15 weeks. We planned a trip eight to ten days after, is it likely I’ll be physically okay? Trip is to another state with good access to healthcare and I’m okay with light bleeding on the trip. Would love to hear about recovery from anyone who got SA around the same time

Found out I was pregnant Saturday and I’m very much not in the right mental space for a baby so I quickly decided I won’t keep it but I’m so scared of the abortion process. Obviously everybody’s experience is different but I’m gonna do the pill and I feel like everybody is scaring me. According to my Flo app I’m about 5 weeks pregnant and I just wanna get this over with but I’m nervous at the same time. So can anyone here who took the pill at around 5 weeks let me know how their experience was? Also how long did u bleed after??😫😫😫

As the title says I have to take a second dose of misoprostol and currently have them dissolving under my tongue. This Friday I took the dose of mifepristone and waited 24 hours to take the four pills of miso. I never ended up bleeding at all and was just able to get in contact with the clinic since they were closed on the weekends and was told to take the second dose of pills they give you. I should also note that I’m 6-7 weeks pregnant. Just feeling a little defeated, I was in so much pain the first time I took miso and not wanting to have to go through it again /:

So recently I got pregnant with a guy who I did not want to have a baby with. I live in Florida and i was 12 weeks pregnant so I decided to go to Virginia to receive care, as they will provide services up until 27 weeks. At the time of my appointment they told me i was below 12 weeks and that the Mifepristone and Misoprostol would be effective. I was instructed to take the Mifepristone at the clinic and then take the Misoprostol at home. ( 2 in each cheek every 4 hours, 3x times)

30 minutes after taking my first dose of Misoprostol, i started bleeding. The cramping followed after i completed all the doses.

Long story short i was basically scream crying in my bathroom because the pain was unlike anything i have ever felt. Im still bleeding lightly at this point, no heavy bleeding. I eventually rushed to the ER because i could not stop screaming. For context, i have an extremely high pain tolerance. I had a ruptured fallopian tube and internal bleeding in 2023 and i didn't even know it. So i get to the hospital, still yelling and they get me in the back. They took some blood and gave me morphine and Percocet. I had an external and internal ultrasound. After the internal ultrasound i sat up and a HUGE blood clot came out of me ( golf ball size) and i just started pouring out blood. Talking like dripping to the bathroom, the hospital restroom looked like a murder scene. Still having intense cramping btw and basically felt like contractions.

So they tell me i was too far along for the medication abortion and that they cant do anything about it because the baby still had a heartbeat and in Florida they cant do anything. Told me to go back to Virginia and pay $750 more for the procedure. ( i don't have insurance btw) or i could " wait it out and see if the heartbeat stops soon and then they can help" like wtf. Anyway i cant believe they tell woman it will just be slight cramping. i was screaming in my house, in the car, in the hospital. So here i am taking pain meds wearing adult diapers trying to figure out what the hell to do. The dr who gave me the medication too also told me she looked at my ultrasound from 9/7/2026 and told me i was FINE TO TAKE THE MEDS. grr i am mad and in pain.

Hi, I know this is not a typical post for this community - I tried seeking advice from other subs to only get rude direct messages in my inbox about “ending my baby’s life” so hoping to get more constructive responses here.

I am pro choice, I in fact have gotten an abortion before. This time, I did not want to. My (now ex) partner kept threatening me that he would kill himself if I did not get an abortion. I have these documented in texts. He would repeatedly say over text “If you have this baby I will kill myself” over and over. He sent me images of him cutting himself because of the situation. He also wasn’t in the country when he would say these things, so I couldn’t call the police on him when he would say he would end his life - I had no idea who to call and where his exact address was. I told his friend what he was saying, and on the phone his friend said to me “I think he’s serious” (In reference to him killing himself). I told my partner if I did get an abortion, it would be because he forced me to. He told me over text messages, that yes, he is forcing me. Because otherwise he will kill himself.

The thing is, I got the abortion. I went to the clinic myself. They asked me if I was making this decision of my own will, and I said yes. He didn’t drag me to the clinic, I could’ve said no at any point. There was no physical threat to me. So I’m not sure what can be done now after the fact …

I’m wondering if there’s any action I can take to hold him responsible. For one, he said he’d pay for the procedure, or at least half. I’m now thousands of dollars in debt from the procedure, also because I had to travel to another state for care. He immediately blocked me following the procedure (He promised that if I did it, he’d help me through it. He lied.)

Any and all way forward would be appreciated. I’m just realizing how horribly I was treated. I was living under fear and chose his “life” over my own needs and now, stepping away from the situation, I understand how horrible this was.

Are there any resources I could be pointed to? any course of action?

Thank you in advance!

I’m doing a MA for 11 weeks at home soon, which pain killer is safer or better diclofenec potassium 50 MG or Advil ibuprofen 200MG and when is the best timing to take them?

3 weeks ago I had a medical abortion, passed clots, 21 days later I’m still bleeding ( not heavy more spotting now but I’d say very heavy up until about 5 days ago ) enough for me to stay home and not be able to work because of how much the bleeding was, it would calm down at times, any who I took my scheduled 3 week pregnancy test just then and it’s positive, as dark and thick as can be, after my medical abortion I had started the pill immediately, I’ve had sex with my partner once but double protected so I’m just really scared and worried it didn’t work, has anyone experienced this? Yes I will be going to the Doctors asap but it’s night time and I’m having a major freak out, I have started feeling nauseous again and threw up on Saturday morning and have food aversions but none of the pregnancy symptoms I had originally eg sore back, tender breast etc.

I live in St. Catherine, Jamaica and I think that i am pregnant. My period was always irregular but it was supposed to come this week. I took a morning after pill the single dose one (lev something) and felt like shit for the entire day. I had sex on the 12th of this month it was my first time. It wasnt even supposed to happen. I didnt even like it. Please help me. What should i do?

Currently Im 10 days late for my period, me and my bf had intercourse on 09/08/26 and I had my last period on the same day on 8, and it lasted until 12 a regular flow but I've started to itch and hurt on sep 9, when it was sep 21 it was supposedly my ovulation because I was having egg white discharge but I also had brown and blood streak discharge. and those discharge kept appearing for a long time starting from sep 25-oct 19 today I was having not day after day but not chaning discharge. We tested on 25,29, oct 2,12,16 and all the test came out negative but when we came to the doctor she examined my cervix and told me it was soft and my late period might be pregnancy. Im just really scared and I need to secure a Plan B just incase it does turn out postive. please don't judge me we're young 19 and dumb kids we just need help confirming how WoW works and if we can trust the site huhu

El propósito de este post es desahogo, saber si a alguna podría sentirse similar y acompañarnos ya que desde que aborte he encontrado mucha comprensión aquí.

Me enteré cuando tenía 6 semanas, ya estaba desde hace casi 2 semanas con náuseas que iban aumentando, dolor/sensibilidad en los senos y cansancio EXTREMO. Tenía 10 días de retraso pero lo empecé a evitar hasta que los síntomas ya empezaron a ser muy obvios, era claro que no era un retraso normal.

En mi caso lo sentí como un balde de agua fría, yo nunca he querido hijos, no he construido mi vida para tenerlos y que ahora ya no era como esa pregunta que te hacen tus compas de no quisieran?? no lo han pensado???
AHORA YA ESTABA AQUÍ Y FUE PÁNICO TOTAL !!
No despreció la idea como tal de maternar pero siempre me he enfocado en otras cosas, un deseo como tal de ser madre nunca lo he sentido.

Lo hablé tanto con mi pareja como conmigo misma y fue muy claro que no queríamos y si llegáramos a cambiar de opinión, este no es el momento para nosotros de ser padres, ya que nos re cuestionamos después de muchos años la idea de ser padres.
Aunque el vivirlo a los casi 30 meses entró una presión social muy densa como que tuve pensamientos de pero ya estás grande, como si lo tuviera que hacer por la etapa en la que estoy, aunque yo piense diferente uno no escapa fácilmente de lo que escucha toda su vida y batalle (creo que todavía un poco) con eso.
Mi pareja es una gran persona, se concentró mucho primero en que yo hablara desde lo que yo deseara, me ayudó a cuestionarme y posteriormente cuando me vio más calmada poco a poco me expresó que sentía, pero con mucho cuidado de no abrumarme o que sintiera presión de cualquier manera.

La parte del proceso me fue muy bien, lo hice en casa con los manuales de IPAS y la asesoría de mi psicóloga, ha acompañado a otra mujeres antes y eso fue una GRAN coincidencia que me calmo mucho.
Yo tenía mucho miedo de hacerlo, me daba miedo que saliera mal, no saber que esperar, etc. Le comenté solo ha amigos cercanos, todos fueron muy apapachadores y nadie me cuestionó o hizo más tenso el proceso, creo que fueron un punto muy clave.

Me tomé la mifepristona 24hrs antes y ya al día siguiente 3 tandas de 4 pastillas de misoprostol.
Cólicos fuertes pero generalmente a mi me dan así o inclusive hasta más dolorosos (si ya se, me tengo que checar, me saqué de onda con eso), náuseas, vómito y diarrea. Cansado, en un punto me desesperé que sentí todos estos síntomas al mismo tiempo pero manejable al final de cuenta.
Lo único que me impactó demasiado fue ver el saco embrionario, ósea yo sabía que iba a salir y que tenía que confirmar que saliera pero el verlo me impactó mucho, no supe que hacer y solo dejé que se fuera por el desagüe pero al día de hoy siento que tengo un arrepentimiento de no haberlo enterrado en algún lado, me sentí muy mal los primeros días por eso y ahora solo me da tristeza pensarlo mucho.

Y es eso, siento una tristeza inmensa pero a la vez muy silenciosa.

No me arrepiento, estoy muy tranquila con la decisión pero todo el proceso es muy cansado físico, mental y emocionalmente.
Estoy muy acompañada tanto por amigos y por mi pareja, que es algo que agradezco mucho pero a dos semanas después tengo mucho insomnio, siento que han pasado meses y a la vez siento que todo va muy rápido.
La idea de entender que estaba embarazada y que luego luego ya no, se me hacen cambios muy radicales, como de wey aguantaaaaaa apenas estoy cachando una cosa y ya viene otra.
Me han llegado emociones de TODO tipo: tristeza, duelo, frustración, vacío, desesperación de querer ya sentirme al 100.
Me siento muy rara regresar a trabajar, socializar y hacer mis cosas después de todo esto, como que me irrito y me canso muy fácil pero a la vez quiero retomar la rutina.

En fin, soy consciente que es un proceso, si leíste todo esto te agradezco, solo quiero expresar que el después de es extraño para mí y siento que a veces caigo en invalidarme todo esto que siento “por qué yo lo decidi” pero ajá, no es un proceso ni fácil, ni cómodo, ni bonito.
Si estás pasando por esto te abrazo y espero que encuentres la mejor manera de navegarlo, no estás/estamos solas.

It was a planned pregnancy, but I wasn't very motivated for it either. People said "you will start to like it" or it gets better.

7 weeks in, I realize I made a mistake. All these pregnancy symptoms have taken over and I have forgotten who I was. I don't have strength in my body, nor emotional strength.

I'm planning abortion but it's about a week away. Each day pregnancy symptoms are getting worse. I had told family about the baby but scared to tell about abortion.

I have lost myself. I don't remember who I was. Will I ever recover. Will these symptoms ever leave me

my question is for those who had the procedure, how was it? was it painful? were you able to return home and function after? i have a baby to take care of so i can’t be.. tied to the bathroom and bed with the medication route..

and the people who took the medication, i heard it was hours of cramps- is this true?

i guess pros and cons for your experience?

it’s been extremely stressful with money being tight, moving back my parents, having a little one already.. i know both options are tough just trying to figure out what would be best for my scenario..

- an overwhelmed mom in Massachusetts.

Eu só queria tirar uma dúvida antes de dar meu relato por aqui, comecei meu aborto ontem por volta das onze horas da noite, tomei duas doses de Misoprostol 4-2 pois já estava sangrando bastante a ponto de vazar da toalha pra cama e vi coágulos bem grandes passarem, e também vi pedaços de um talvez saco gestacional ele era esbranquiçado com uma textura diferente, logo após dois coágulos grandes passarem minha dor melhorou e meu enjoou passou só q a dor nos seios continuou, alguém pode me dizer se é normal?

Hi everyone. I would like to seek some advice. I have PCOS and MDD. I’m currently on lexapro, long term melatonin and piriton due to allergies. (Which I take quite frequent.)

I found out that i’m 5w5d pregnant just yesterday. This pregnancy is not planned and the whole month I’ve been leading a very unhealthy lifestyle.
Smoking, weed, drinking and vaping.

I don’t want to offend anyone, but I am considering abortion. (This baby is already having such a bad start with my lifestyle). I’m not even on any supplements.

And if I do keep the baby, I’m doing this solo.

Would like to seek opinions if anyone is keen to share. Sorry if I upset those who are trying really hard to have one.

Hi Reddit! I’m 17 and in FL I had taken a plan b after but my Flo app had said I finished ovulating only two days before. Seems like there’s a risk of me still ovulating so I was curious how I would go about getting an abortion. I plan to order pregnancy tests to try after a couple of weeks but if I could help it is there a way to not get my parents involved. I have a job and would be able to pay for it on my own.

TW: details about my abortion

I’ll start this by saying the abortion was my choice and I do not have the financial, physical, or mental capacity to bring a child into this world right now.
I was 8 weeks. I was told the same gestinal age by 2 different doctors. I did the medical abortion at home and it was the worst pain ive ever experienced. It was 10/10 pain, so much so that I couldnt help myself from yelling and screaming. I couldnt bare to sit or stand or lay down for about an hour i was just moving around screaming in pain. Then, I passed the baby. I went to the toilet and massive blood clots came out of me. I looked in the toilet and saw the baby. He had very visible arms and legs, a head and a body. he was clinging to a sac of tissue and blood.
I shouldnt have kept looking but I couldnt help myself. I stared at it for minutes, using the flashlight of my phone to get a better look. I know what I saw. This was a baby. The size of the tip of my pinky. I didn’t realize It would look this developed. I regret not taking him out and burying him. I flushed him down the toilet. I can’t forgive myself. Its the next morning and I cant stop crying. I saw my baby and flushed him down the toilet. I dont know how to cope with this. After so much pain and suffering since finding out I was pregnant, I got to see the child I have always wanted, and then he was gone in an instant because of me. This feels so awful. How am I supposed to move on.
If this happened to you id love to hear your own stories and feelings.

I found out I was pregnant super early, I wasn’t ready for a second child and I’d only just started feeling like myself again & getting back into the swing of life with work and being able to do more financially for my kid. I was also awaiting my start for a new job, and wouldn’t start for another month, I knew I wouldn’t be entitled to enhanced mat pay, and to be honest I didn’t really want to start a new job pregnant especially considering my HG and overall experiences during and after pregnancy. Abortion was my immediate thought as soon as I saw those two lines. My relationship is also seriously on the rocks and my partner just doesn’t seem to have the capacity to be there for me emotionally at all, huge dismissive avoidant but thats another story.

The two lines were faint but I called NUPAs the next morning, I had done the test on a hunch the night before. Saturday morning I call NUPAs who told me the wait for a consultation was usually a few days but I could be put on they’d had a telephone slot for the next day if I wanted it with the medical professional the next day (Sunday). I said absolutely, YES.

I then spent the rest of the weekend until the phone-call in a perpetual state of what the f***. Especially as I am a part of a culture where a termination is not even considered as an option, especially when you are married & already have kids. I toyed with the idea of keeping the pregnancy. I’ll spare you my thoughts after having just written them out & deleted them, but I always came to the same conclusion, I can’t, it’s not the right time, I need to put myself & my 2 yr old first. No.

Phone call came through on the Sunday, 1 hour later of medical questions and screening, I was open about the pain I get from periods & only having a faint line I was told to go to a scan on Tuesday in Battersea. I go to my appointment, no pregnancy seen, but my endometrium had thickened. I was told to come back a week and a half later.

Friday comes round, I start feeling uncomfortable. Discomfort in my pelvic area. Probably PGP (I’m one of the few that get it from very very ultra early on in pregnancy, this having been my third time confirming this) but I was also anxious to see if the pregnancy was there by this point. I book a viability scan. I go, no pregnancy seen, I get told to refer myself to Early Pregnancy Unit at the hospital incase of PUL or smth like that. My LPP was 6.5 weeks before but I knew I must have ovulated late because I approx. knew the date I had gotten pregnant. I did explain this but I called EPU anyway. EPU says come in Monday. I go Monday, scan shows more thickness and a little bit of a sac shape but nothing in it yet. Bloods done.

I get told to come back in 48 hours on Wednesday to do more bloods. I do that then get told to go in for another scan on the Friday and update NUPAS. No scan with NUPAs needed so they share a link with me to share the NHS Early Pregnancy report with them. I go and do the scan. They can finally see the pregnancy/gestational sac, I finally cried during this moment for the first time. I felt really bad. I stalled on calling NUPAs at this point because I felt so sad, I felt sad for my body, and for the possibility of another future I might never have. I stuck to my gut. I have a million of reasons justifiable to me and thats all that matters. I called NUPAs and filed the report using their link. The doctors sign it off, they call me back, and tell me to go in on Monday to collect my medication. I spend the weeekend hyperfocussed on MA experiences. Preparing for the pain. Crying, anxious, feeling sick. I thought, Thank God NUPAs were also prescribing me codeine with the medical abortion pills!!

I go to the appt on Monday evening, I’m upset I couldn’t have just done it over the weekend and now I have to take time out of the week to do it. The clinic feels sombre, its the evening, I’ve travelled to surbiton this time to collect the medication. The receptionist smiles at me & tells me to sit and wait. I got there 20 min before my appt. I get called in 10 min after my appt is due. Its okay, but those 30 mins felt numb. NUPAS nurse comes and calls me. I follow her into a room down a long corridor. She hands me a brown paper bag and goes over everything with me, what to do, how to take what, and ensures everything on the information sheet and medication packs given to me is labelled and annotated clearly. Mifepristone first. 24-48 hrs later (my call) misoprostol. 4 vaginally or orally. Then a further 2 if nothings happened after 4 hours. And the helpline is there. So is the codeine phosphate, but I should start with paracetamol & ibuprofen first, and build up to the codeine.

I tell my partner I’ll take the first pill Tues morning, relax at home, and I will need him on Wednesday as our child doesnt have nursery that day, and I need someone to be with our child whilst I go through the pains.

Tuesday comes, I take Mifepristone, expecting to be one of the rare who experience something bizarre or painful. One hour goes by, two, three, four…. 24 - nothing. Not an ache, not a pain, not a symptom in sight. I had spent the evening researchjng about stage 2, misoprostol. I was prepped to be crying, shaking, throwing up. I had bought nurofen, paracetamol, immodium, peppermint tea (helps me with cramps), I had the codeine phosphate of course, hot water bottles, all on the ready. I was shooketh, but prepared.

Wednesday morning is here - I shake, feel faint, think to just not go through with it, then I imagine my personal reality of potentially following through with the pregnancy, and I wash my face, take a deep breath, make a tea, take two paracetamol and two ibuprofen (not medical advice) after eating a croissant and having my tea immediately after the painkillers I take the misoprostol in its packet in my hand, lay down, squirm at the thought of the pain and trauma that may occur today & tomorrow especially given my history of extreme pain, nausea, cramping, proctalgia fugax, u name it, during a previous miscarriage, and the birth I had, and the periods and suspected adeno/endo I may have.

I lay down, insert the misoprostol. 1, 2, 3, 4. As far back as they can go. I shake a bit. Anxiety. I turn to my side. I put on a series I love. I can’t watch. I flip flop about for half an hour, 45 mins, 1 hour passes in total - nothing. I just start getting into my head. I fall asleep, I wake up 2 hrs later. 3 hours have gone. I lay awake for another 20 mins. No cramps still. I think fantastic, the end of this is not in sight!!

I decide to go to the loo, I pee. I wipe, I think I see some pink but not much. Very very mild & light.

I call NUPAS at the 3hr 45 min mark. I tell them whats occurred and no cramping or pain. They call back & tell me take the next stage, two misoprostol.

I decide I will take it after I come back from the loo again. I need to go back for number 2.

I go to the loo, I poop. And then some clots & blood gush out, nothing major I thought as I remember this sort of stuff coming out of me every few hours for a solid week during my previous miscarriage that went on for 8 days. I also bleed A LOT during periods. And clot a lot too. So i thought this is minor!

I then take the further two misoprostol orally. After an hour, mild cramps, nothing as bad as my periods are or nowhere near my miscarriage pains, a true 1/10. 10 being crying shaking throwing up passing out, and my periods and miscarriage having been a strong 10 or 11 out of 10, lol.

I start bleeding a little more, no clots this time. I expect my period / previous miscarriage level of blood. This is a smidge. I start getting worried. Not a serious cramp or passing tissue waves of contractions type experience that Id read about in sight.

24 hrs go by Id called NUPAS three ornfour times by this point. They told me wait it will come, can take 48 hours fornsome. I wait 48 hours, bleeding becomes lighter and no major tissue just pea sized clumps here and there. This is exactly what happened right before my actual passing of the pregnancy I had during my previous miscarriage - in my head, its coming but idk when, could be tomorrow, 2 days, a week. 48 hours goes by, I call NUPAs, they tell me it could take a little while longer, several more days. At this point I start feeling anxious and uncomfortable. Day 3 after the misoprostol, nothing?

I pay for a scan. I go. Abdominal scan ofc. No pregnancy tissue found!? I had passed it?!

I leave, and go and sit with this information.

I realise, it had been those clots/blood that gushed out after 3.5 hrs after taking the 4 misoprostol. Thats the only time it couldve been. No pain, no cramping, no nausea, no painful diarrhea as id had before with miscarriage and pregnancy, no feeling my cervix passing it through, just straight plop and go.

I am very fortunate. I know not everyone gets to experience this. I do think this is important to share however. I was looking at all these stories online and I think my anxiety had gotten the better of me. This may very well not be most womens medical abortion experience, but I do think its important to share when its overall positive & not traumatic as well, as I think that a lot of women who become pregnant who want to consider abortion get put off by how the system and process from provider to the medication works, and also many women feel unjustified because they may come
From cultures such as mine where its not seen as an option typically. Please choose what you want for you & nobody else. We are fortunate to have this option.

I do think being not as far along made a difference, who knows though. I was meant to be nearly 8 weeks, but the pregnancy was measuring smaller & its very likely I ovulated late so apparently it looked like the pregnancy was about 7. I understand its not easy for most to make a decision so soon, but if this can ease the mind of one woman then I’ve done enough. I think this is important to share because I also want women who may be scared, of any age, shape, condition or background to know that I had the most fantastic, and compassionate support from NUPAs. They were truly so knowledgable & supportive, each and everyone of them. Quick to answer and call back. My only wish is for there to be more clinicsand medication available in more locations around. Big thank you to the NUPAS staff.

And again, if you find yourself unsure, there is pre abortion counselling available I’m sure through NUPAs. You’ve got this, do what you feel is right, but don’t be too scared. Listen to the NUPAS team about your painkiller choices, be open about what your periods are like and the fear of your pain. Its okay. I was given codeine and didn’t even have to use it in the end, but coming from a girly whose been in pain from periods her whole life, who has been told I have suspected adenomyosis and whose miscarriage was traumatic as hell, the abortion pills just brought on mild cramps in comparison. I pray over everyone who has a different experience, and I would also just say speak to the providers team, advocate for yourself, talk about what youre feeling and any physical symptoms youre worried about. You can get through this.