SURGICAL ABORTION
The vacuum aspiration
abortion procedure is done in our clinic, using the safe and most common
method of abortion performed in the United States. We offer first trimester
abortion services from 6 to 14 weeks of pregnancy with two types of
anesthesia.
Local Anesthetic
The local anesthesia is the simplest and least
expensive method. Injection of Lidocaine is used to numb the area where
the surgery is taking place. This means your cervix will be numb, but
you will still feel some cramping. The nurse and/or counselor will assist
you in relaxing during the procedure.
Twilight or IV Sedation
Through the IV (intravenous) you will receive
sedative medication to relieve your anxiety and produce a tranquil,
asleep state. This sedation is recommended for women who have a very
low tolerance to discomfort, nervous about the procedure or have never
been pregnant before.
Information prior to surgical abortion
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Do not have anything to
eat, drink, smoke or chew after midnight the night before your surgery.
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Please remember not to use
alcohol or drugs the day of or night before your appointment. If you
take prescription medication, you may be instructed to take them with
a small amount of water in the morning of surgery (especially if the
prescription medication is for your heart, lungs, or blood pressure).
Please bring medications with you on the day of your appointment.
You should let us know about any important medical conditions you
might have such as: heart problems or blood clots, seizure disorders,
asthma, diabetes, current infections or STD's, and allergies to medications.
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If you are receiving IV sedation,
you will not be able to drive for 24 hours, and must have a responsible
adult to drive you home. |
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Call the clinic at least
one day in advance for an appointment. All insurance benefits and
coverage will be assessed at this time. |
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Because of the size of our
waiting room and lack of facilities for children, we ask that you
bring only one adult support person to wait with you. |
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In the State of Illinois,
minors (women under 17 years of age) do not need parental consent
or notification to obtain an abortion. However, our clinic encourages
all minors to include a parent or an important adult in their decision
making process. |
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No 24 hour waiting period
needed in the state of Illinois. |
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No spouse consent required. |
On the day
of your appointment
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You must not consume
any food or liquid after midnight. |
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Bring an extra pair of clean
cotton underwear (no thongs). Wear loose fitting clothing and no high
heels. |
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You must shower the morning
of your surgery. |
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Do not wear any jewelry,
contacts, tongue piercing, false nails or retainer. |
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If you are receiving IV sedation,
you will not be able to drive for 24 hours, and must have a responsible
adult to drive you home. |
What to Expect
on the Day of Surgery
On the day of your surgery, you can expect to be in the office for approximately
four hours. This time will include an ultrasound to date the pregnancy,
laboratory testing, private one-on-one counseling, the procedure, recovery
time.
Due to respect for all patients, no family members or friends will be
allowed beyond the waiting room area at any time during the visit.
Registration - Each patient will receive
information and consent forms to be filled out prior to surgery.
Ultrasound - An ultrasound will
be done for each patient. The results will provide us with an intrauterine
gestation to determine the duration of the pregnancy.
Counseling - Our counselor will
discuss your medical history, explain the procedure and go over aftercare
instructions. Birth control options will be discussed and consent forms
will be signed at this point.
Lab - a blood sample is drawn to
determine Rh factor as well as your iron level and a urine sample will
be analyzed. Test results will be processed immediately. Rh-negative
patients will need an injection called Rhogam right after procedure
and will NOT need to pay an additional fee.
Surgery - The procedure will be
done in a private surgical suite. An IV sedation or local anesthesia
will be administered. The procedure itself will take 5-10 minutes. After
the procedure a nurse will assist you into a wheelchair and take you
to the recovery room.
Recovery - You will be required
to stay in the recovery room for at least one hour. A nurse will monitor
your condition and periodically take your vitals signs (blood pressure
and pulse). You will be given some soda and crackers once you have been
in the recovery room and are stable, awake and alert. After one hour
your condition will be reassessed and discharge instructions will be
given. You will also receive your medications at no additional charge
along with instructions on how to take them. If you will have IV Sedation,
you should not drive for at least 24 hours and will need someone to
drive you home.
Medication - You will need to start
taking your medications that same day with food. Methergine is one of
the medications you might be receiving at the clinic to help your uterus
contract back to pre-pregnancy state and minimize bleeding. Doxycycline
is an antibiotic prescribed to help avoid infection. Over the counter
medication such as Advil or Tylenol would be recommended for your cramps.
Follow Up - We request
that you have a follow up exam 2-3 weeks after your abortion.
You can return to our clinic or go to your own physician for
this appointment. As part of our full-service care we maintain
a 24-hour answering service for emergencies (847) 676-2428
or (773) 725-4232.
Post-Abortion Care
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Drink plenty
of fluids and avoid alcohol while taking medications. |
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Rest the day of surgery.
You may resume normal activities the following day but avoid
any strenuous activities, exercise, heavy lifting (anything over 15
pounds) or standing for prolonged periods of time for two weeks. |
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Do not drive,
operate heavy machinery or make important life altering decisions
for 24 hours. |
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Monitor your temperature.
If a fever of 101 degrees or higher occurs, contact the clinic. |
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Do not immerse yourself into
water until after your follow up appointment (2-3 weeks). This includes
tub bathing, swimming, hot tubs and douching. Do not have any intercourse
or sexual contact until after your follow up appointment. |
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Do not use tampons for two
weeks to avoid the risk of infection. |
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For the next couple weeks,
normal bleeding may vary between very light to heavy. Small blood
clots may be passed. Your discharge may vary between bright red, pink
and dark brown. If you experience extremely heavy bleeding (saturating
2-3 pads an hour) or if a clot passes that is a size of a half dollar
or larger, please call the clinic. |
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Your menstrual period will
return in 4-8 weeks unless you started taking birth control pills
right after procedure. |
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You will need to have a follow
up exam 2-3 weeks after your surgery. |
Please call our office if you have any
questions at (847) 676-2428 or (773) 725-4232.
In case of emergency: Our answering service is available 24 hours.
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