MEDICAL  ABORTION

Abortion by pill is a safe procedure to terminate an early pregnancy.  This procedure has been widely used world-wide for decades.  Atlantic Women’s Medical Services has extensive experience with this method.  The pregnancy should not exceed 63 days from the first day of a woman’s last normal period (less than 9 weeks).  Further, the woman must also be in good health. Due to the possibility of severe birth defects that may be caused by the abortion pill, one must be certain of her decision to terminate the pregnancy.

Women who choose this method will be given an ultrasound to verify the length of the pregnancy.  You will view a video that fully explains the procedure, the risks, the possible complications and aftercare.  Written material including take-home instructions and a pamphlet provided by the FDA will be given to you.  You will be given every opportunity along the way to ask questions of the counselor and the physician before and after taking the pill.

The pill works by taking a combination of two medications, one taken at our clinic and the other at home.  These medications work in combination to cause a medical miscarriage.  The first pill which is the actual abortion pill, is administered at the clinic, this is the pill that will stop the pregnancy. You will be given tablets to take orally within 24 hours.  Then, a few hours after taking the second set of pills, most women will begin to bleed and cramp inducing the medical miscarriage.  You will be given all necessary verbal and written instructions and an emergency telephone number to call should you have questions, need reassurance or have any medical problems.  What to expect and side effects are fully explained before any medication is administered.

ABORTION PROCEDURES

Atlantic Women’s Medical Services, Inc provides abortion procedures up to 20 weeks.  Once signed in you will be given information, patient consents and medical history to fill out and sign. After fee collection and medical history, all patients will be taken to the laboratory, where we will draw your blood. This blood is tested for iron levels and RH typing. If you are RH negative you will need the Rhogram shot, which we do offer at our facility. Next, you will have an ultrasound to determine your exact gestational age. Once completed you will then begin counseling, where you will watch an appropriate video and be counseled on the procedure, birth control and aftercare.

First Trimester (0-12 weeks)  -You will be given a local anesthesia (lidocaine) which will numb your cervix (the opening to your uterus); you can also chose to have an additional sedation (Twilight) that will put you in a drowsy state. If you have chosen to have sedation YOU MUST HAVE A DRIVER. Our physician will then perform the procedure using the suction curettage method (a light vacuum of your uterus). The actual procedure itself only takes 5-7 minutes. There is NO cutting involved. Once completed you will go to our recovery room where you will be monitored by our nurse for at least 30 minutes and given light refreshments and you will be given your first antibiotic. The nurse will take some of your vital signs (blood pressure and pulse) every 10 minutes until you are discharged.

Second Trimester (13-20 weeks) -Most second trimester terminations are 2 day procedure; it depends on how far into the second trimester you are and if you have had vaginal births in the recent past. Only the physician can determine whether it will be 1 day or 2 days. On the first day you will see the physician who will insert Laminaria (cervical dilator), and then the physician will give you a time to return the next morning. While at home over night you may have cramping, bleeding or fluid leakage, these are just your bodies ways of preparing for the coming termination. On the second day when you return you will then be put on an IV drip of Lactate Ringer’s (electrolytes that will keep you hydrated), have the Laminaria removed and the physician will insert Cytotec (which induces labor). Approximately half way thru the IV the physician will administer the sedation (Twilight) and perform the procedure. The procedure will take 10-15 minutes, and then you will go to our recovery room where you will be monitored by a nurse for at least 45 minutes and given light refreshments and your first dose of antibiotics. The nurse will take some of your vital signs (blood pressure and pulse) every 10 minutes until you are discharged.