An unplanned pregnancy can be a cause of major trauma. A plethora of questions clouds your mind. What would be the next step? Should you settle for parenting or opt for an abortion? The choice essentially has to be an informed one. It is extremely important to decide now that will also feel right in the years to come. If you aren’t ready for parenting, an MTP procedure or “medical termination of pregnancy” procedure, comes to the rescue.
There are many possible methods to terminate pregnancy medically. The earlier you decide, the quicker and safer the abortion is likely to be. Typically, terminations in early pregnancy do not require hospital admissions. Here are some outpatient procedures to consider.
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Surgical Out-Patient Abortion Procedures Available
Vacuum Aspiration Abortion: This process is used within the first trimester of pregnancy, that is within the first twelve weeks from the first day of your last period. It is the most common among surgical termination procedures. A thin tube called a cannula is tubed into a bottle and a pump for providing vacuum suction. The cannula passes inside the uterus, the pump is switched on and the tissue is pulled out. Manual suction can also be performed with the use of a specialized syringe. The process takes no longer than 15 minutes.
A cervical dilator may be inserted into the cervix a day prior for dilating the cervix. This makes suction easier. In addition, antibiotics may be prescribed once the process is done to prevent infection.
The D & C Method: The D & C method or Dilation and Curettage method is used when the pregnancy is terminated between the twelfth and the fifteenth week. The cervix is first dilated using a laminaria stick. This stick is inserted into the cervix, and it causes dilation of the cervical muscles after absorbing fluids from it. This may take up to a day. The patient can get up and move around normally once the stick is inserted and it is not likely to cause any discomfort.
Once dilation happens, vacuum suction is applied. Subsequently, curette instruments are used to scrape out remaining tissues from the uterus that have not been cleaned by suction. Although the process takes no more than 30 minutes to complete, a few hours of hospital stay is recommended. Recovery, however, may take a few days.
When to Seek Medical Help Post Abortion
MTP procedures are largely safe, more so when undertaken at renowned Child hospital in Delhi under the supervision of expert obstetricians and surgeons. Some rare complications however warrant immediate medical care. If you experience sharp periods like cramps that are not alleviated by pain killers or have flu-like symptoms accompanied by high-grade fever, it’s time to see your doctor. Other symptoms to look out for include very heavy menstrual bleeding that requires more than a couple of extra-large pads every hour, odorous vaginal discharge, or vomiting for a straight period of over 4 hours.
Abortion may also involve considerable mental anxiety. Counselling may therefore also be needed along with medical care.
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