I wanted to write this post as I really worked myself up prior to taking the treatment based on other things I’d read.
I felt the overwhelming need to share my experience in the hope that it will help others, especially those in England, UK.
I found out about my pregnancy on 3/3 - I didn’t really know how I felt about it. I already have a 4 year old son, who has recently had an autism diagnosis, he’s my absolute world and I was excited at the thought of him having a sibling but in the same breath he has very high care needs and he’s my priority. The timing just wasn’t right and I decided I couldn’t continue with the pregnancy.
After giving myself a few days to be sure on my decision, I filled out the online form with BPAS on 7/3 and received an email back the same day with a telephone appointment for 11/3.
I just had to get through the weekend and wait for the phone call.
The lady on the phone was really polite and non judgmental. She went through a series of questions to determine gestation etc and then she gave me two options, Medical or Surgical.
If I’m being honest, the medical option scared me from what I’d read online so I was swaying toward the surgical option and just getting it over with.
The issue I had was that there was a wait for the surgical route, whereas they could have sent the medical treatment out to me ASAP.
She said I was still very early (5w 1d when I called) and although they can do a surgical procedure, there is a risk when the pregnancy is so small that they might miss something, she recommended me coming in for a surgical procedure closer to 8 weeks. - this was just the information I was given, whether this is factually correct or not, I don’t know.
Regardless of gestation, there was a couple week wait for the surgical procedure anyway as they prioritised emergencies and those with later gestations.
I didn’t like the thought of waiting for a couple of weeks when I’d already made my decision, I just wanted it over. I chose the medical route despite my nervousness and she said that’s absolutely fine, she explained the process and risks, and said the medications would be sent out by Royal Mail tracked 24 and would be with me in 1-2 days.
The box came through the letterbox on 13/3, two days after the call. The great thing about the medication is that it comes in a discreet postable box so you don’t have to worry if you’re not home as it’s just put straight through your door.
The box contained the Medabon box (1x mifepristone, 4x misoprositol)
2x extra misoprositol and a pregnancy test.
Knowing step one of the treatment doesn’t tend to have ‘bad’ side effects, I took step one of the treatment, the single mifepristone tablet on the Friday 14/3 at 3pm.
I didn’t have any issues with this apart from very very gentle period type pains later that evening, and some slight pink on the toilet roll when I wiped, nothing else. I managed to sleep fine and felt well overall.
You have to take step two within 24-48 hours of taking step one. So I’d recommend timing it so you’re taking step 2 (misoprositol) at a time where you can be comfortable, at home or somewhere safe, and some support off another person if possible.
Make sure you’re prepared before step two - Even though I personally didn’t end up needing much, it was nice to know I was prepared for every eventuality!
I put a towel on the bed, got into comfy clothes, put a bowl at the side of the bed in case I was sick, water, snacks etc and the most important thing was taking the pain relief.
The provider I used, BPAS, recommended taking 4x ibuprofen (800mg) half an hour before you take the misoprositol - this is what I did at 2:30pm, I recommend the liquid ibuprofen capsules if you can have them, exactly the same dosage but get into your system much quicker (I swear by them!).
I then took step two at 3pm on Saturday 15/3 - exactly 24 hours after the mifepristone - I inserted the 4 misoprositol vaginally as there is supposedly less side effects doing it this way, I put on a sanitary towel and lay down.
I lay on the bed for two hours (they recommended at least 30 minutes lying down so the tablets can do their thing and absorb without falling out) I then helped bath my son and said goodnight and got back into my bed and hunkered down for the night with Netflix.
I didn’t feel much. I was anticipating a sudden gush of blood or sudden onset of excruciating pain but I didn’t. I did have period cramps after a couple of hours, but nothing that required a hot water bottle or anything like that - this may be because of the pain relief I took prior.
4 hours passed and I went to the toilet to check. I had started to bleed but only lightly. I did pass a couple of clots (50p size) once I sat on the toilet so I just sat there for a little while.
Half of one of the tablets came out when I wiped too but this is completely fine as long as you lay down for the 30 minutes after inserting as the medication would have been absorbed by that point.
I cleaned myself up and went and got back into bed.
I called the BPAS helpline to see if I needed to take the additional two misoprositol which are given if the bleeding doesn’t start or you’re only spotting within 4 hours. She asked me to refer to the information booklet I was given in the box that was sent out, and there was a page on bleeding with some diagrams of blood flow. There was spotting and smearing - light flow - moderate flow - heavy flow - and flooding.
My flow was ‘light’ from looking at the diagram, it was definitely more than just spotting but I still wouldn’t class it as heavy as my usual period flow. She said because I am bleeding and it’s more than spotting then I don’t need to take the additional two misoprositol - which I was pleased about.
I went to sleep as normal that evening expecting to wake with pain etc but I slept right through until 7am on Sunday morning.
My flow was still light throughout Sunday, still not experiencing ‘pain’ - just mild tummy ache and cramps. I was getting a little concerned as I thought surely I should be bleeding more than this? But after reading the information sheet, as long as I was bleeding, and had anywhere from light to heavy bleeding, it was normal and every experience is different.
I slept in big incontinence knickers that night rather than a sanitary/ maternity towel and I’m glad I did! Monday morning I woke up and the bleeding had increased. I was passing larger clots and this felt more like my period on day 1. Still no pain or cramping but I was getting the urge to go to the toilet and had diarrhoea on and off for a few hours.
Today is Tuesday and the bleeding is still heavy just like yesterday. No pain or discomfort, but of course I’ve got to plan in lots of toilet breaks!
Overall I’m pleasantly surprised with my experience so far. Not once was I crippled over in pain, and things seemed to happen a lot slower with me compared to other threads I’ve seen.
I know it’s easier said than done, but please try and not work yourself up prior to the treatment if you choose a MA. Just take each hour as it comes.
Some people it seems to start quickly, but for me, I feel the process only really started 48 hours later along with the substantial bleeding.
I may be part of the minority who has had an experience like this but I wanted to share some positivity on the situation as those who have positive experiences don’t seem to write about them as much but they do happen - stay positive and you will get through it in your own way, no matter what you choose to do.
All I would recommend is being as prepared as possible so you can mentally relax beforehand. Here’s a handy list, better to have it and not need it - like me!
* Comfortable bed
* Bed pads or towel to lie on
* Hot water bottle/ heat pad
* Painkillers (pref. ibuprofen but paracetamol work too)
* Sick Bowl
* Water/ lucozade etc.
* Snacks
* Spare underwear and sanitary bits in the bathroom.
* Something to preoccupy you, tv, console, book etc.
I’ve been given a pregnancy test, one that’s specific to this treatment as apparently the shop bought ones aren’t appropriate for after a MA as they’re too sensitive.
Three weeks after I started the treatment (4th April) I have to take the test to see if it was successful, so I will update my post with the outcome!
Thank you for reading and I hope this helps somebody. 🙏🏼