After the Abortion: Risks and Concerns
By: Ccep J. Dew
dews_ccep@yahoo.com
Editors Disclaimer: The Staff of eXcape the matriX believes in unity. With that being said, our staff doesn’t always agree on everything. This article is very touchy and the staff was torn about adding this topic to our Mars/Venus issue. eXcape the matriX has a mission and that mission is to wake people up and to educate them. While some of us may be uncomfortable with this topic; Ccep felt as though it was important to educate women even if it is taboo. I’m proud of her for stepping out on a limb and the entire staff realizes that our magazine is not about censoring our writers nor our readers. Read on……….
Regardless of our faith, beliefs, and morals, it is estimated that 33% of US women will experience an abortion by age 45. Abortions carry the risk of emotional strife and multiple abortions may result in a weak cervix or piercing of the uterus.
Though most think of abortion as a choice whether or not to prematurely remove a fetus/baby from the female body, there are two types of abortion: spontaneous abortion and induced abortion.
A spontaneous abortion occurs naturally with little/no assistance and is most commonly called a miscarriage.
|
Type of Spontaneous Abortion |
Description |
|
Threatened Miscarriage |
Bleeding early in pregnancy; cramping, lower backache |
|
Inevitable/Incomplete Miscarriage |
Bleeding, abdominal pain, backache, dilation of cervix |
|
Complete Miscarriage |
Bleeding, pain/cramping, complete expulsion of the fetus |
|
Missed Miscarriage |
Decreased pregnancy symptoms, absence of fetal heartbeat, no other symptoms |
|
Recurrent Miscarriage |
3 or more consecutive miscarriages
|
|
Stillbirth |
Expulsion of fetus later in pregnancy |
Depending on when/which type of spontaneous abortion occurs, professional assistance may be required to completely terminate the pregnancy. Dilation & evacuation (D&E) and dilation & curettage (D&C) are the two most common ways to terminate pregnancy if a complete miscarriage does not occur. A D&E uses suction to empty out the uterus whereas a D&C uses a scraping technique.
Though most think of abortion as a choice whether or not to prematurely remove a fetus/baby from the female body, there are two types of abortion: spontaneous abortion and induced abortion.
|
Miscarriage |
|
|
Can Occur |
First 20 weeks (3 months) |
|
Warning Signs of Abortion |
Backache, weight loss, white-pink mucus, contractions every 5-20 minutes |
|
Professional Assistance |
D&C to stop bleeding, prevent infection, end pregnancy |
|
Recovery |
Prescribed drugs to control bleeding after D&C; may require bed-rest |
|
Warning Signs of Complications |
Increased bleeding, chills, fever |
Although a spontaneous miscarriage is inevitably uncontrollable, a healthy diet and happy lifestyle may reduce stress and promote a better environment for the fetus.
|
Stillbirth |
|
|
Can Occur |
After 20 weeks (3+ months) |
|
Warning Signs of Abortion |
Lack of fetal movement; cramping/stabbing pain in pelvis, back, and/or lower abdomen; bleeding |
|
Professional Assistance |
D&C or D&E; induced labor and delivery |
|
Recovery |
Prescribed drugs to control bleeding after D&C; may require bed-rest |
|
Warning Signs of Complications |
Increased bleeding, chills, fever |
|
Moving On |
Support group, family, friends, religious affiliation; request frequent prenatal visits to monitor fetal movement |
With an induced abortion, a woman chooses to terminate pregnancy and accepts professional assistance to remove the fetus. About 22% of US women have induced abortions each year. The reasons for choosing an induced abortion varies, but once the decision is made there are three main ways to terminate pregnancy: medication abortion, vacuum aspiration, and dilation & evacuation (D&E).
Medication abortion requires a woman to ingest either mifepristone or methotrexate. Either medication signals the body to expel the fetus similarly to a spontaneous abortion. Recovery time varies. Both vacuum aspiration and D&E require a more extensive procedure, yet offer a quicker recovery time. There are, however. major risks associated with any type of induced abortion.
|
Medication Abortion |
|
|
Can Occur |
First 14 weeks; before 63 days; first trimester |
|
Effectiveness |
92-97% (depends on medication used) |
|
Procedure Length |
50% of patients abort after 4-5 hours of medication use similar to miscarriage; most abort within a week; 15-20% take 2-4 weeks to abort |
|
Recovery Time and Suggestions |
Bleeding may last 13 days; spotting may occur a few weeks; may return to work/normal activities after 1-2 days; no aspirin use or breastfeeding; ibuprofen such as Motrin® and acetaminophen such as Tylenol® suggested for pain |
|
Side Effects of Procedure |
Bleeding, cramping, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, mild fever, mild pain |
|
Overall Risks |
Possibility of: birth defects if pregnancy continues; vacuum aspiration required if abortion is incomplete; allergic reaction to medication; heavy bleeding |
|
Warnings of Complications |
Signs of infection: abdominal pain/discomfort; diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weakness after 24 hours |
Aside from the procedure itself and when it can be performed, a vacuum aspiration and a D&E carry the same risks and offer the same recovery time.
The reasons for choosing an induced abortion varies, but once the decision is made there are three main ways to terminate pregnancy: medication abortion, vacuum aspiration, and dilation & evacuation (D&E).
|
Vacuum Aspiration and D&E |
|
|
Can Occur |
(VA) First 14 weeks; after 63 days; first trimester (D&E) After 14 weeks; second trimester |
|
Effectiveness |
99% |
|
Procedure Length |
10-20 minutes prior for information session, vaginal exam, reading/signing of forms; about 10 minutes for procedure |
|
Recovery Time and Suggestions |
1 hour at office; no baths, douching, vaginal medication, driving after sedation (VA) May return to work/normal activities the next day (D&E) May take longer than a day to return to work/normal activities |
|
Side Effects of Procedure |
Cramping, heavy bleeding a few days, quarter-sized clots, spotting up to 6 weeks; a reaction to local anesthesia such as nausea, vomiting |
|
Overall Risks |
Bacterial infection, chills, heavy bleeding, blood clots; vacuum aspiration required if abortion is incomplete; allergic reaction (shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, swelling); cervical injury (cut or tear); inner organ injury |
|
Warnings of Complications |
Heavy bleeding that soaks over 2 pads per 2 or more hours; lemon-sized clots; unstoppable pain/discomfort; fever; 4-6 or more hours of vomiting, unpleasant vaginal odor/discharge; signs of continued pregnancy |
For more information on specific details of procedures, please visit the sources listed below:
www.hss.state.ak.us
www.plannedparenthood.com
www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/miscarriage.html
www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/sexual/miscarriage.html