surgical abortion with bpas at 9weeks (positive)

(UK, England) when i made the difficult decision to terminate I knew i wanted a surgical rather than medical because it felt a lot more “manageable” for me and my anxiety and the fact it would be in a more controlled setting. I also knew i really wouldn’t cope well with potentially seeing the remains of what i passed if i did a medical.

I was instructed to take 1 tablet of mifepristone 24hours before my appointment so did this on the tuesday at 9am. I was a bit worried about the side effects of this (I have emetophobia) but I honestly felt nothing and even had to double check the packet to see if id actually taken it and i hadn’t just dreamt it. I had no cramping or anything.

on the day i arrived at the clinic at 9am and by 9:15 i was already going through my admission paperwork and consent forms. they went over what would be happening and that rather than giving me a course of oral antibiotics afterwards, they would just insert a one off antibiotic rectally during the procedure. I was then shown into “recovery” where i was given my gown, socks and told to put a pad in my underwear and then take them off and put them in a bag for afterwards. I had a cannula inserted as I was having conscious sedation and then a set of obs taken. at around 9:50 I was asked to empty my bladder before walking round to the theatre where the surgeon and the assisting nurses all introduced themselves and asked if i had any questions. I said i had emetophobia and was worried about the sedation making me feel ill so they gave me a dose of anti sickness through my cannula at the same time they administered the fentanyl. They were so lovely and reassuring and were talking to me about my own nursing training i’m currently doing. less than a minute after the drugs were given i felt a bit tipsy like and let the surgeon know it was working so she then began. I honestly didn’t even know she had started really. I was aware something was inserted in me but it didn’t feel uncomfortable or even remotely painful. I didn’t fall asleep I just felt drunk and numb almost, like i knew things were happening down there but i couldn’t feel anything. and before i knew it she said she had finished. I kid you not I was in the theatre room no longer than 10 minutes if that. I then walked round to recovery and sat in my chair for about half an hour whilst i had continuous obs taken. I was told that even though i feel sleepy, not to fall asleep. apparently my blood pressure had dropped a little but i wasn’t aware of it and was drinking lots of squash anyway so they weren’t worried. after half an hour i was encouraged to check my pad for bleeding, which i only had a small amount of brown blood of and no pain yet. I then had my cannula taken out and could get dressed. then they accompanied me to another room where my mum was waiting and we were told the after care advice. and I was allowed to go home by 11am.

for the rest of the day I didn’t really feel anything pain wise. I slept for 4 hours when i got home and had some mild cramping in the evening but taking ibuprofen and having a hot water bottle seemed to help that. I also didn’t really bleed much either, not even enough to completely soak a normal flow pad, and the blood was all brown like it would be at the end of a period.

Today I have felt completely normal, majority of my pregnancy symptoms gone. I’ve had no bleeding but i’m aware that it can be on and off for a few weeks, and no cramping today. through the whole abortion process I had absolutely no nausea which i’m so thankful for. If anyone has bad anxiety generally and is leaning more towards a surgical (vacuum aspiration) then i would say 100% go for it, it made the process a lot more bearable for me and probably less mentally straining in the long run.