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ABORTION PROCEDURE -LOCAL
SEDATION PLAN C
For the woman who has fewer concerns about discomfort, total
privacy and time in our office.
After your fee is paid, an ultrasound and lab work will be done. You
will then fill out a medical history and consent forms and will meet
with an educational counselor who will answer your questions and review
your medical history.
While you are in our office, birth control methods will be reviewed
and most women can be started on the birth control Pill before leaving
the clinic. The birth control shot is also available the day of the
abortion procedure if you choose. Please speak with a staff member when
scheduling if you have questions about this highly effective method of
birth control.
Patients who choose Local Sedation Plan C will be given a pelvic exam
to check the position and size of the uterus. Either the assistant, the
nurse, or the doctor will check your blood pressure with the arm cuff.
A small clip will be placed on your finger. This is called a pulse
oximeter, and will be left on throughout your abortion procedure to
check your heart rate and the oxygen level in your blood. Your
physician will explain what he/she is doing so that there will be no
surprises. Your assistant is there to lend support, talk to you and
help you relax.
The procedure begins as the doctor injects Lidocaine into the cervix
and the surrounding area. This drug is similar to Novocaine at the
dentist's office. You may feel a pinch or a slight sting, a ringing in
your ears, and you may even have a funny taste in your mouth. Do not be
alarmed...these are normal side effects, and will pass quickly.
The doctor will begin to dilate the cervix. The cervix is a tight,
round muscle which closes off the uterus from the vagina. It does this
to keep germs in the vagina away from the uterus, and it supports the
uterus during pregnancy. It has a natural opening called an "os".
The os will be gently stretched to give an opening approximately as big
around as your little finger.
Dilation will take approximately one and a half to two minutes.
During dilation you will experience a few minutes of moderate to strong
cramping. Every woman reacts to pain/discomfort differently, but every
woman will have less discomfort if she relaxes as much as possible. If
you will relax your legs and let them go limp in the stirrups, your
abdomen will automatically relax, and that helps lessen the cramping
you feel. Controlling your breathing will help lessen the cramping even
further. Your assistant will help you get into an even rhythm with your
breathing. Take a deep breath through your nose, hold it for a count of
five, then
blow out through your mouth, letting your whole body relax. After the
dilation is complete, the cramps will probably lessen somewhat during
aspiration.
After the cervix is dilated, the aspiration process begins. The
aspirator is a machine which produces a vacuum, a gentle suction. A
tube is attached to the aspirator which is then attached to a vacurette
(a plastic straw-like tube much like what your dentist uses to suction
your mouth). The vacurette goes through the cervix into the uterus, and
the suction removes the pregnancy and the lining of the uterus. This
will take approximately two to three minutes. When the suction is
complete, the physician will use a curette, a blunt, spoon-shaped
instrument to feel the inside walls of the uterus to make certain the
uterus is empty. The entire abortion procedure at 12 weeks or under
will take five to six minutes or less. Since you are awake and aware,
you will hear the aspirator making a humming noise. This is just a
machine noise, and does not have anything to do with your body.
Cramping will continue to decrease after your abortion procedure is
complete.
You will stay in your room for about 15 minutes so that your
assistant can monitor your bleeding and your vital signs. After that
time she will help you dress, and will walk with you to your recovery
area. We will ask your guest to join you in that area if you choose.
one of the assistants will briefly remind you of how to take care of
yourself, check your bleeding and vital signs and will make certain you
have all appropriate medications and prescriptions. After about 15
minutes you are discharged from the medical area. Please get something
to eat soon after leaving the clinic as you will probably feel better
if you do.
Please remember that complications of abortion in the first 12 weeks
are rare, a first trimester abortion being at least 8-14 times safer
than childbirth. Although the rate of complications will increase once
you pass the 12th week of pregnancy, even at the 18th week of
pregnancy, abortion is still a safer procedure than childbirth.
The most common complication associated with abortion is infection.
This is not because of the abortion itself, since all the instruments
used in abortion have been sterilized, but most often occurs because
some patients do not follow the detailed verbal and written suggestions
we give for taking care of themselves after the abortion. For a few
weeks following the abortion procedure the cervix and uterus are
vulnerable to infection, so patients simply must follow instructions to
help prevent infection of the cervix and uterus.
Occasionally a pregnancy, pregnancy tissue or uterine lining is missed
by the suction, and is retained in the uterus. If there is a missed
abortion, or if retained tissue does not pass on its own with bleeding
after your abortion, it is possible that a resuctioning of the uterus
could be necessary. Your physician does check the uterus to attempt to
make certain a missed abortion has not occurred. This is one reason why
a follow-up visit is very important after an abortion.
One of the possible complications is perforation (puncture) of the
uterus or laceration of the cervix. Anytime instruments are used in or
around these soft organs there is a risk of tearing or puncturing them.
According to the Center for Disease Control, this occurs in about 1% of
abortion procedures nationwide. If this complication should occur, the
most common treatment is hospital observation to make certain the
uterus repairs itself. Only in the most extreme cases would surgery be
required.
All patients are instructed to return here for a post-operative
check-up. If you choose not to come to New Woman Health Care, it is
imperative you see your own physician or Health Center. You must tell
your physician that you have had an abortion, and approximately how far
in the pregnancy you were. This check-up is considered the final step
to assure the abortion was complete, and that you are on your way to a
healthy reproductive future.
Please remember that New Woman Health Care would be happy to help
you with the birth control pill, Depo-Provera which is know as the
birth control shot, an IUD, a diaphragm, and if necessary, emergency
contraception...the Morning After Pill, as well as regular pelvic exams
and Pap smears.
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