Beyond the emotional turmoil that comes after such a procedure, this is also a period of physical recovery. Here are a few tips on how to go through this period.
1. Attend all the clinics stipulated by your doctor in the case of a medical termination to ensure that all the pregnancy tissue has passed. Bleeding related to abortion may last up to two weeks.
2. If you received sedatives or were unconscious, as with general anaesthesia, don’t drive or use dangerous machinery for at least 24 hours.
3. Avoid sexual activity for 2 weeks to prevent infection and to allow the cervix and uterus to return to normal shape and size.
4. You usually can resume most daily activities a few days to a couple of weeks after a late second-trimester abortion, depending on how far along you were in your pregnancy and whether there were complications. You may need to avoid sexual activity for two to six weeks after the procedure.
5. Ask your doctor for medication to ease cramps. Cramping may be worse after a late second-trimester termination.
6. Do not use tampons or douches and change your pad regularly to prevent infection.
Danger signs
Contact your doctor for any of the following problems:
• A fever of 38 degrees C or higher.
• Bleeding heavier than a normal menstrual period, soaking pads at a rate of one per hour or more, or passing large clots.
• Severe abdominal or back pain.
• Unusual or foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
• No bleeding within 24 hours after the medical termination of an early pregnancy especially in the case of an ectopic pregnancy.
Emotional recovery
After a therapeutic abortion or termination, you and your partner will experience similar grieving patterns as someone who has had a miscarriage or had a stillbirth. The loss of a baby is one of the most difficult times you will ever have. Friends and family may be either supportive or very judgmental depending on their feelings or opinions. You may consider just telling them that you ‘lost’ the baby without going into details if you feel that people may not understand.
Seek counselling help to help you figure out the feelings of guilt and regret. Many women who have had a therapeutic abortion require psychiatric and counselling support after the procedure has been done. Take things one step at a time and make use of all the resources that are available to you.
