If I’m Pregnant, what happens in an abortion & what are the risks?  What’s Next?

I MISSED MY PERIOD!

“I missed my period and I might be pregnant, “What are my options?” “What happens in an abortion?” and “What are the risks of abortion?” these are all frequently asked questions at Pregnancy Resource Center Medical Clinic

What’s your first step?  First, confirm your pregnancy.  Missing your period is not a confirmation of pregnancy.

Make a cost-free appointment for pregnancy testing at the Pregnancy Resource Center Medical Clinic. If your test is positive, you may qualify for a free limited ultrasound to verify your pregnancy.   Other reasons you may miss a period include:

• Stressed
• Experiencing excessive weight gain or weight loss
• Substance abuse
• Eating disorders
• Increased exercise
• Illness
• Travel
• Different birth control methods
• Hormonal changes or problems

If your pregnancy is confirmed through ultrasound, there are things you should know.  When you are pregnant your body responds with powerful changes that will support the pregnancy.   Don’t be alarmed by changes. This link from FamilyDoctor.org details some of what you may experience in the first several months

WHAT IF I’M NOT SURE IF I WANT TO HAVE A BABY RIGHT NOW?  WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? 

At the Pregnancy Resource Center Medical Clinic, we can talk about your options with you.  If you choose to parent or place for adoption, we have several resources and referrals to help you through your pregnancy.  If you’re contemplating abortion, you should know about the procedure and risks which we can also share with you so you can make an informed decision.

WHAT HAPPENS IN AN  ABORTION and WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Abortion is defined as “the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.”  – Oxford Languages / Google Definition

There are possible risks to consider including physical, emotional, and relational when you’re thinking of making a pregnancy decision.  You can make an appointment to discuss abortion and your options, at no cost to you, by clicking here:

WHAT IS A MEDICAL ABORTION (ABORTION PILL)?

The most common type of medical abortion uses abortion pills.  These can be taken nine weeks from the last menstrual period (LMP) and will cut off the lifeline to the embryo.  Cramping is the body’s natural response.  Cramping results in pushing the embryo out, thus ending the pregnancy in a non-surgical manner.  

Side effects may include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, severe cramping, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, fever, and chills.  The potential risks are heavy bleeding, possible life-threatening infection, undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, and failed abortion.  If the pills fail, a surgical procedure is done to complete the abortion.  Other potential risks may include negative emotions including anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, suicidal thoughts and behavior.

WHAT IS A SURGICAL ABORTION?

 Surgical abortions can be performed four weeks after your last menstrual period (LMP).  The most common procedure is suction aspiration.  It is performed up to approximately 13 weeks LMP.  First, a long plastic tube is inserted into the uterus. Then it is attached to a suction device. Last, the fetus is suctioned out. 

After 13 weeks LMP, the Dilation & Evacuation procedure is used.  Because the fetus is larger, the cervix must be opened wider than in a 1st trimester abortion.   Laminaria (dried seaweed sticks used to expand the cervix) is usually placed in the cervix for 2 – 3 days before the procedure.  The procedure is identical to a 1st-trimester suction abortion, except that after suction is used to remove the uterine contents, the remaining fetal parts are removed with forceps.  A curette may be used to scrape out the remaining tissue.

At 16 weeks LMP, a more complicated surgery is required. Now the fetus is too large to fit through the suction tubing. Surgical instruments are used to grasp and pull body parts through the open cervix. To remove remaining tissue or remaining blood clots, a scraping device and suction machine is used. Surgical abortion risks at this stage may be incomplete abortion (which occurs when fetal tissue is left in your body), heavy bleeding, and organ damage.

At 24 weeks LMP, it is possible for the fetus to survive outside the mother’s body. The law requires that a doctor make sure that the fetus is no longer alive before it is removed. Before the surgical abortion, an injection is given to stop the fetal heart. Later-term abortions are much more expensive. They are not available in many states and have a higher risk of complications. Additionally, they have the highest risk of death compared to earlier abortions.

POSSIBLE  RISKS

General surgical abortion risks include heavy bleeding, infection, incomplete abortion, damage to the cervix, uterus, or other internal organs, and emotional problems (anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicidal thoughts and behavior).

There are other possible risks to consider including emotional and relational risks when you’re thinking of making an abortion decision.  An abortion usually ends a pregnancy quickly. Some women express immediate relief.  Meanwhile, some women report negative emotions that linger.  As a result, mental and emotional health issues that disrupt a woman’s life may emerge months or years later. 

You can make an appointment to discuss abortion and your options, at no cost to you, by clicking here.

WHAT’S NEXT? 

Reach out to the Pregnancy Resource Center Medical Clinic for your cost-free appointment where you can expect the following:

• Call or text 949 997 2683 or make an online appointment by clicking the link: https://www.prcmedicalclinic.com/appointment/
• Arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment
• Fill out the one-page intake form
• Meet privately with a client advocate for your confidential appointment
• Take a pregnancy test verified by our medical staff
• Discuss your options with your client advocate
• If needed you may schedule a limited ultrasound for verification, viability, and dating of pregnancy