For many women, finding out they are pregnant at an inconvenient time creates worry, stress, and anxiety. It’s scary to not know what to do or how your life will turn out. At Helping Hands PRC, we want to give women clarity and control in their situations so they can choose what’s best for them based on their lives and circumstances.
Have Questions?
Before you get an abortion
If you’re considering an abortion, there are a few things you need to understand first to determine the type of abortion you can have.
1. Is your pregnancy test positive?
It is possible to have a positive test at home and not be pregnant. The best way to confirm a pregnancy is to have a medical-quality pregnancy test, which we want to provide you for free. Our mission is to serve you and to give you the best resources necessary to make your decision.
2. Have you had an ultrasound?
How far along a pregnancy is will determine what kind of abortion procedure is available, which impacts the cost and potential risks involved.
We not only offer a complete pregnancy evaluation performed by our medical team to confirm pregnancy, we also provide a private medical consultation – ALL AT NO CHARGE.
Women leave our center with an action plan regarding their pregnancy.
Basic Abortion Facts
Medical (chemical) Abortion
A non-surgical abortion, often referred to as a “medical” or “chemical” abortion, can be done between the fifth and tenth weeks of pregnancy (seven to nine weeks after the first day of your last period). This type of abortion requires taking two pills that end the pregnancy and cause the uterus to contract and expel the embryo.
Side effects from this type of abortion include:
- excessive bleeding (lasting from several days to a few weeks)
- heart palpitations
- infection
- incomplete abortion (in this case, you would need to have a surgical abortion afterward)
There are several contraindications for chemical abortion, so a thorough medical history should be made on any woman interested in this procedure.
For more information on chemical abortion, the possible risk factors, and whether this procedure would be an option for you, please reach out to us.
Surgical Abortion
The most common type of abortion is surgical abortion, also referred to as “in-clinic” abortion. A procedure known as suction aspiration, often accompanied by dilation and curettage (scraping of the uterus), is done from six weeks to about twelve to fourteen weeks. It involves a “twilight” or general anesthetic (being “put to sleep”), a dilation (opening up) of the cervix, and a suctioning and/or surgical removal of the fetus. Possible side effects for this type of procedure include
- severe cramping
- excessive bleeding
- blood clot formation
- damage to the cervix/tearing
- perforation of the uterus or scarring of the uterine lining
Dilation and evacuation are performed after fourteen weeks of pregnancy (dilating the cervix, sometimes with seaweed strips, and surgically removing the fetus). This type of abortion has similar risk factors for surgical abortions done earlier. Obviously, the farther along a woman is in her pregnancy, the more risk factors she may be facing.
Next steps if you’re considering an abortion
If you’re considering an abortion but need more information or need a safe place to process all your options, we’re here for you. Please contact us today to set up an appointment for a pregnancy test and ultrasound if you need them, or for a chance to talk about abortion and other options.