| After Care Instructions |
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The first three days after your abortion, avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity. After this time you may return to your regular schedule. The most common question that our patients ask is, "How much bleeding will I have?" After an abortion, most women bleed less than during their menstrual period. However both the amount and duration of the bleeding varies widely. Some women may not have any bleeding after leaving our clinic while others may bleed off and on until their menstrual period. Frequently, a brownish discharge will develop later on in the post abortion period. However, heavy bleeding, severe cramping not relieved by Ibuprofen, and a temperature over 100.5 F are not normal. Should these symptoms occur, call our office? The most common problem that develops after an abortion is the formation of clots in your uterus within the two weeks after surgery. When clots develop, your uterus will begin cramping as it attempts to push them out. Some clots will pass easily. Others may be too large for passage. In this case, your cramping may become worse. The best treatment for this problem is to remove the clots from your uterus. We can do this safely and easily in our facility. Should you
develop any problems, be sure to call us. We are the best people to handle
post-abortion problems in the safest and least costly manner. Should you
go to an emergency room for treatment, the staff may not be sympathetic
to your circumstances. Follow your after-care instructions carefully to insure that you have the best outcome. We have a physician and nurse on call at all times. For
urgent problems: We continue to provide ongoing care for you after your surgery. For minor or non-emergency questions, call the clinic during our regular hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Saturday. For urgent or emergency calls, we have a commitment to respond within 10 minutes to all after-hours calls. After hours and on weekends, our phones are forwarded to an answering service. If you get no answer after 10 rings, we ask that you call our answering services directly at: 501-373-8648. Eat a light meal after leaving the clinic. For
the next two weeks avoid: Bleeding may last only a few hours or it may persist for several weeks. If your bleeding soaks more than 7 pads per day, call us. It is normal for some women to experience some cramping and clotting, but if it is excessive, call us. Take your temperature daily - each morning - for the next 3 days. If your temperature is over 100.5° degrees, take two Tylenol or Aspirin and recheck your temperature after 30 minutes. If the temperature remains over 100.5 F, call the office. Be sure to take all your medications. This is to further prevent infection and excessive bleeding. It is important for you to do a pregnancy test 3 weeks after your abortion. This is to make sure that all the pregnancy tissue has been removed. It is normal for a pregnancy test to remain positive for up the first 2 weeks after the abortion. You should schedule an appointment with your primary care provider at the usual time for your annual gynecologic visit. If you have not had a period by 8 weeks after the procedure, you need an examination to further evaluate this circumstance. If you have been given birth control pills, begin taking them on Sunday after the procedure. Medication
Instructions Methergine - (to control bleeding). Take one every 8 hours. Ibuprofen - ( Datril, Advil, Motrin, etc.) for minimal to moderate cramps may be purchased at your pharmacy. Take 400 mg. to 800 mg. every 4 hours. Vicodin (hydrocodone and acetaminophen) - (for severe cramps). If your cramps are not controlled by a maximum dose of Ibuprofen (800 mg) you can take one tablet every hour until the pain is controlled (but no more than 8 tablets in a 24 hour period.) As long as severe cramps are present, monitor your temperature AM & PM. Report any temperature over 100.5 F. Call us if your cramps are not controlled by this medication. If
Breast Tenderness develops:
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