“Mentally, it’s a massive relief and weight off my shoulders. I couldn’t have done it without the amazing team at MSI and my family’s support.”
A client shares her story of having an abortion with pills, including details about her consultation, why she chose a medical abortion, her experience of taking the abortion pills, and how she felt after her abortion.
“I found out I was pregnant on 27th January 2023. It was such a faint line on the test, but I had been feeling so ill, not eating, and was so tired all the time, it was like I was expecting it.”
I found out I was pregnant on 27th January 2023. I put off doing a test for about 2 weeks which was silly come to think of it. I wish I would have known earlier. It was such a faint line on the test, but I had been feeling so ill, not eating, and was so tired all the time, it was like I was expecting it. I did a second test to determine how many weeks pregnant I was and about 10 minutes later, it came up with 3+ – it was a definite answer.
I can’t even describe the panic I felt; how will I tell my parents, what do I do? I cried for hours on end to my boyfriend. We decided that now wasn’t the right time for us. We’re in the middle of saving for a house, and I just couldn’t see myself having a baby whilst living at my mum’s house. I came home straight away to tell my parents. I was so stressed about telling them, but I couldn’t have been happier for all the support they have given me though the whole experience.
“I don’t think I slept at all that whole week, all these questions kept going round and round – am I making the right decision?”
The next morning when things had settled a tad, my mum helped me research clinics and we found MSI. I booked an appointment on their website and received a text back within 24 hours to say an appointment had been made for the Friday. It was the Monday at this point. I was away in the lake district all week so luckily, I was able to keep it out of my mind. I don’t think I slept at all that whole week, all these questions kept going round and round – am I making the right decision? I personally would be ok with never having children, it’s as simple as that. But my boyfriend does want them eventually. Night after night while being away, I was tossing and turning, my mind was on overdrive. I couldn’t think of anything else.
Friday came and I had my consultation with the nurses at MSI. They were so lovely and didn’t judge me. They asked all about my medical history and reasons for wanting the abortion. It was over in 10 minutes, and she had booked me in for another call the next day just to discuss which type of abortion I wanted.
On the Saturday at 11.30am, the nurse phoned again from my local MSI clinic and advised me on the difference between medical and surgical abortions. I chose a medical abortion as I’m petrified of being in hospital, injections, and anything to do with GPs so I chose to take abortion pills at home. The nurse advised me on how to take the tablets, and asked if I would like to pick them up or have them posted to me. I chose to pick them up on the Monday as if they were posted it would have been another 5 days before I would receive them, and I was already 8 weeks pregnant.
At 12pm on the Monday, I arrived at the clinic in Fallowfield to pick up my pack. It was a quick in and out. The nurse handed me a big white envelope with everything in – pregnancy test, tablets, pain relief and the medical abortion aftercare booklet. I took the first tablet as soon as I got in the car, and I went straight back to work. I didn’t feel anything at all. No sickness, fever, bleeding, nothing to worry about.
On Tuesday morning, I had to take the second tablets and I was so scared. I was crying. This is it. I sat looking at them for about 45 minutes before thinking: what an earth am I doing? But deep down I knew it was for the best. About 10 minutes before taking the second set of tablets, I took two paracetamol, one codeine and two ibuprofens. I then took the second set of tablets, put them in my mouth between my gums and cheeks and waited. One hour passed and I was so desperate for the toilet, so I went, and I didn’t look, but it was the weirdest feeling. When I passed the pregnancy, there wasn’t much blood it was more like a clear clot. I didn’t look too much as I was feeling a bit lightheaded. I’m not very good with pain or blood so this wasn’t the best of experiences for me.
“I laid in bed all day, watched six films, I did some colouring, and read a book.”
Another two hours passed, and nothing had happened in terms of pain or bleeding. I was getting so worried, I laid in bed all day, watched six films, I did some colouring, and read a book. It was about 4pm now and I needed the toilet again, this time, there was about four blood clots. I think that was the worst part of the whole experience for me. I could feel a sort of period pain coming so I decided to get a hot water bottle which eased the pain. After that, I just kept topping up the pain relief and I was fine. The day after (Wednesday) I was still bleeding, but it’s not heavy at all. There are still a few blood clots, but they are only coming out when I go to the toilet, so it’s not leaking anywhere which is good. My periods are usually quite light anyway.
“Mentally, it’s a massive relief and weight off my shoulders. I couldn’t have done it without the amazing team at MSI and my family’s support.”
I think the worst part about having an abortion is reading all the stories online. I worked myself up over things I read, and the lead up to taking the tablets felt worse than taking them. I had visions of losing all this blood, having excruciating pains and being sick, but I didn’t have anything of the sort. I know people have different experiences, but it was nowhere near as bad as I had thought in my head.
Mentally, it’s a massive relief and weight off my shoulders. I do feel guilty as it is still fresh – I suppose that’s normal as it’s a sort of loss – but this experience has been so positive for me and will stick with me forever. I couldn’t have done it without the amazing team at MSI and my family’s support.
Helping you choose between a medical and surgical abortion
At MSI Reproductive Choices, we offer medical abortion up to 9 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy and a surgical abortion up to 23 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy.
The options available to you will depend on the gestation of your pregnancy, your individual circumstances and how you feel about the different options. We can talk you through the options available to you, but you can also click here and read through the pros and cons of both treatments.
Read more abortion stories
Sharing stories is at the heart of ending the stigma that too many people still feel when it comes to abortion.
