Although you may hear having an abortion is “no big deal,” the truth is all abortion procedures are major medical decisions. An incomplete abortion, infection, excessive bleeding, and mental health issues are all potential complications.
Alabama bans abortion except in the case of saving the mother’s life. If you are considering taking abortion drugs (the abortion pill method), you need to be aware of the limitations and risks beforehand.
Although Hope Family Services does not perform or refer for abortion, we can confirm your pregnancy and review the limitations. Contact us to schedule a free and confidential appointment.
Why Should I Confirm My Pregnancy First?
Experts estimate that over one in four pregnancies ends in a miscarriage. The majority of miscarriages occur before the 12th week of pregnancy. Because it takes a woman’s body time to return to its pre-pregnancy hormone level, it is possible to get a positive pregnancy test after a miscarriage.
If you’ve miscarried, there’s no need to purchase abortion drugs. Most miscarriages resolve on their own, but you should visit your healthcare provider to protect your health.
How Do I Confirm My Pregnancy?
You would think a late period and positive pregnancy test would be all the confirmation you need. As you can see by the number of miscarriages, you need more information about your pregnancy.
A positive pregnancy test is only the first step to pregnancy confirmation. You need an ultrasound exam. Ultrasound determines whether your pregnancy is growing or if you have miscarried.
What Are the Limitations of the Abortion Pill?
The FDA approves the use of abortion drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy only (70 days from the first day of your last menstrual period). It’s essential to determine how far along you are in your pregnancy.
In addition, the Mayo Clinic recommends not using this method for the following reasons:
- You’re too far along in your pregnancy
- You have an IUD in place
- You have a suspected ectopic pregnancy, which can be a life-threatening health concern.
- You have certain medical conditions
- You take a blood thinner or have an allergy to the medicine
- You can’t make follow-up visits to the abortion provider
- You don’t have access to emergency care
Are There Risks?
As we mentioned earlier, some of the risks of abortion drugs include:
- An incomplete abortion means the pregnancy ended, but not all of the pregnancy tissue came out of your body.
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work.
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Other sources add severe cramping and possible emotional and psychological consequences.
How Can Hope Family Services Help Me?
You can receive no-cost and confidential, lab-quality pregnancy testing from Hope Family Services. If you receive a positive test result from us, we offer a limited, no-cost ultrasound.
Our limited obstetrical ultrasounds detect if the pregnancy is growing, determine how far along you are, and if you have an ectopic pregnancy. This is vital information you need to make a confident decision.
Contact Hope Family Services to schedule an appointment for confidential pregnancy testing and an ultrasound. We’re here for you.