If you are considering an abortion procedure, it’s wise to evaluate what the mental and physical recovery process can look like. Whether you have had an abortion or are curious about the process, read this article to learn more.
What does physical recovery look like?
The recovery time and symptoms you may experience depend on the type of abortion procedure: surgical or medical. When researching what is locally available, keep in mind that abortion is banned after 12 weeks and six days gestation in North Carolina.
Surgical Abortions
Surgical abortions are conducted under anesthesia at a medical clinic. Some side effects include:
- Mild cramping
- Spotting
- Light bleeding that may last a few days
Medical Abortions
Medical abortions involve taking drugs to block progesterone and induce cramping so your body expels the pregnancy and related tissue.
Symptoms include bleeding or spotting, which can last up to several weeks.
Other temporary symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What is an incomplete abortion?
One possible risk of an abortion procedure is that your uterus hasn’t expelled the pregnancy, which can cause an infection called incomplete abortion.
These are some of the symptoms to look out for:
- Heavy prolonged bleeding
- Saturating a pad in less than an hour for two hours in a row
Contact 911 for immediate medical attention if you experience this type of bleeding.
What does emotional recovery look like?
Abortion recovery looks different for every woman. However, studies suggest that some women may struggle with adverse effects like grief or depression after an abortion, especially if there is a history of mental health struggles.
What post-abortion resources are available?
At Hope First, we believe every woman deserves compassionate care. We offer no-cost confidential appointments where you can get the resources you need, such as post-abortion counseling.
Suppose you are pregnant and are considering terminating. In that case, we also offer options consultations where you can explore alternative options, ask questions, and share any concerns about pregnancy.
Contact us today!