After Abortion Recovery
The best thing you can do following an abortion is to pay attention to your body and take care of yourself both physically and emotionally.
- Treat yourself with kindness
- Rest – you’ve been through a major procedure and your body needs to recover
- Drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids such as water and chicken broth, especially if you are experiencing diarrhea or vomiting
- Eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables and protein
- Use a heating pad to alleviate cramping
- Avoid strenuous activity, especially lifting heavy objects for at least 2 weeks
- If taking antibiotics, continue to take medication as prescribed
- Take over the counter ibuprofen to alleviate symptoms, as directed by your supervising clinician
- For at least 2 weeks or until the bleeding subsides, avoid any vaginal insertions such as tampons or sexual intercourse. Some doctors recommend waiting to have intercourse until after you have had one menstrual period.5
- Follow up with your doctor 1-2 weeks following a medication abortion and 2-3 weeks following a surgical abortion, or as directed by your clinician.
You are not alone. Call us or Request an appointment today.
Physical Effects1
- fatigue
- abdominal cramps
- light to moderate vaginal bleeding
- nausea and vomiting
- breast tenderness
- diarrhea
- Severe cramping that is not remedied by ibuprofen and/or heating pad
- Fever
- Chills
- Vaginal discharge with a foul smell
- Severe bleeding and/or blood clots
Emotional Effects
It is important to have support lined up following an abortion because of the major shift in hormones that takes place. Plan to stay close to home for the first few days and expect a roller coaster of emotions and feelings. Having someone near you that you trust can be a comfort and will help you feel less alone.
Common Emotional Effects include2:
- Sadness / Depression3
- Tearfulness
- Numbness
- Relief
- Guilt
- Regret
- Shame
- Suicidal thoughts
- Relationship issues
- Substance use
- Anger
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares and/or disturbed sleep
There’s help after an abortion. Some women continue to experience painful emotions after an abortion and may benefit from speaking with a counselor or trained professional – or even by connecting with others who have had similar experiences.
“…I had an abortion over a year ago and I just couldn’t ‘get over it’ like I expected to be able to. I had nightmares, I was really depressed and I was angry that I was left feeling this way. I had no idea that help was out there for me and I am so glad I chose to call the helpline. The woman who answered the phone was so wonderful. She really helped me through a tough night and I am forever grateful that I was able to speak with someone and start my healing.” -Anonymous Caller
You are not alone. Call us or Request an appointment today.
More Resources
If you are ready for more, there are resources in Baltimore for a retreat experience with other women who have undergone an abortion. Project Rachel4 grew out of the work of Theresa Karminski Burke, MA, PhD, DAPA, NCP, LPC and has become the largest post abortion healing ministry in the world. The program is an opportunity to examine your abortion experience, identify the ways that the loss has impacted you in the past and present, and helps to acknowledge any unresolved feelings that many individuals struggle with after abortion. Because of the emotional numbness and secrecy that often surrounds an abortion experience, conflicting emotions both during and after the event may remain unresolved. These buried feelings can surface later and may be symptoms of post abortion trauma.
Weekend retreats are held in Baltimore several times a year and provide women and men a safe, confidential and non-judgemental place to express their emotions, reconcile painful experiences and begin the process of healing and restoration.
Rachel’s Vineyard is therapy for the soul.
“I was so blessed to attend a Rachel’s Retreat. That weekend allowed me to “Feel Again”. I did not realize how I continued to punish myself by not allowing myself to feel emotions. I thought I did not deserve to cry when things happened in my life because of what I did in the past. So, whenever I experienced pain I would not allow myself to show emotions or feel. I learned to forgive myself and allow God to heal me. I am learning to communicate my pain to others. Whenever I am hurt by others I would shut down and push the pain down on the inside. I was hurting and there were women who did not know me, but I felt genuine God’s love for me. They allowed me to talk as long as I needed to. The retreat saved my life. Now I am “feeling again”. I feel God’s presence and love. It is amazing. Thank You.” Nay, retreat participant
“I can only say that it was a weekend of transformation for me. A weekend of taking responsibility for my actions, a weekend of being forgiven and a weekend of allowing the beautiful people to care and love me like I had never known before.” Judy, retreat participant
“The different levels of healing that were touched in me during the weekend will take me a lifetime to absorb. When the retreat ended it was difficult for us to part. Post abortive women share a common wound and those wounds are joined to others during a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat.” Patricia, retreat participant
Questions?
We are available to help answer any questions you may have about abortion, recovery, parenting or adoption. Our experienced counselors, free resources and services are available to you right now. Sharing with family, friends and even your boyfriend can be difficult. Let us help you.
It is possible for you to ovulate within the first 2 weeks following an abortion, so if you have intercourse at or near that time, you could become pregnant before your next period.5
Since it takes time for your body to heal and recover, it is recommended that you wait at least 2 weeks before having intercouse again.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, women who have experienced a planned termination may experience similar feelings to women who lose a pregnancy unexpectedly, especially with hormone fluctuations. These feelings include; anger, guilt, shame, loss of self-esteem or self-confidence, remorse or regret, feelings of isolation and loneliness, sleep problems and bad dreams, thoughts of suicide and relationship problems.6
It is common to experience feelings of grief, sadness, loss or regret after an abortion. However, if these feelings do not subside after a time or if they get worse, it could mean that you are depressed.
If your feelings do not go away after a few months, or if you begin to feel suicidal or start to abuse alcohol or other substances, it is recommended that you find the support you need immediately.
Call 866-482-5433 or visit www.internationalhelpline.org/helpline.
At Towson Women’s Care, we can assist you in finding the resources that work for you. Contact us 410-377-2871.
[1] www.healthline.com/health/after-abortion
[2] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313098
[3] https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/detecting-depression#1
[4] https://www.rachelsvineyard.org/emotions/stories.aspx
[5] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327287#how-soon-can-you-get-pregnant
[6] https://americanpregnancy.org/unplanned-pregnancy/abortion-emotional-effects/
Are you considering abortion?
Are you considering abortion?
What Our Clients Are Saying
What Our Clients Are Saying
Questions & Answers
Yes, we are not currently taking walk-ins. To make an appointment, please text us at (410) 970-3897 or call us at (410) 377-2871.
We recommend you make an appointment if you have missed a period, have any pregnancy related questions, or think you or a friend might be pregnant.
After completing paperwork, you will meet with our professionals to go over your information and a pregnancy test will be administered. With a positive pregnancy test result, we will perform an ultrasound to confirm whether or not you have a viable (living), intrauterine pregnancy.
All our services are provided free of charge.
All you need is your photo ID.
Absolutely, you can bring your boyfriend, family member or friend. We will talk with you privately first. Then provided you have given us consent to have them in the room, your guest will be able to join you.
We adhere to a strict privacy and confidentiality policy. Clients will be protected from disclosure of information that violates their right to privacy except where required by law, required for public health reasons, required to avert a threat of harm to the client or a third person, or when other circumstances may reasonably warrant such use or disclosure without prior authorization (e.g., abuse reporting, suicide/homicide prevention, etc.).
Although Towson Women’s Care does not perform nor refer for abortions, we are here to support you during an unplanned pregnancy. At our center we do offer help and support to women who are deciding between abortion, parenting or adoption. We understand that although this moment in your life may feel completely out of control and insurmountable, we are here for you. We offer real support for women during pregnancy and up to a year following birth and we counsel women through the adoption process. All of our services are FREE and Confidential. Since 1982 we have been helping women in your exact situation and we are here to tell you that there is hope.
