QuestionQUESTION: Hi, my friend just went and got an abortion about 2 weeks ago. When she went it to get the abortion, they knocked her out and she was releasing a lot of discharge but they told her she might not bleed. She bled a little but mostly discharge and a lot of stomach pains.
This past week she was getting really bad stomach pains. She went to the doctor and they did a songram on her and told her that she was 7 weeks.
How is this possible? are there such things as abortions that don't work?
ANSWER: Hi, Deborah,
Yes, it is quite possible that your friend is still pregnant, and there is such a thing as abortions that don't work. From the sound of things, she had a surgical abortion. Most facilities won't do a surgical abortion that early, because it is easy to miss the baby, because he or she is so small. They're supposed to check, but it wouldn't surprise me if some people don't because it's not a pleasant job.
The age of a pregnancy is calculated one of two ways. One is from the last menstrual period. The other is gestational age. Last menstrual period gives an age which is two weeks older than gestational age. It is used because determining when conception occurred can be difficult. The sonogram can probably tell the age of the baby fairly accurately, but you haven't told me if they gave an age of LMP or GA.
The discharge and stomach pains are of concern. She could have an infection. I am glad she is going to a doctor.
Does your friend know what she wants to do about the situation? She should feel free to come and talk to me about it. I hope she does well. Please do let me know how things turn out.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you so much. She went to the doctor and they told her that the baby might come out with problems. She would very much like to keep the baby now, seeing that she didn't want to do it in the first place. But if she knows that there is a very large risk of the baby coming out with problems due to the failed abortion, I don't think she would want to continue the pregnancy.
What is your recommendation?
Thank you.
AnswerHi, Deborah,
On rereading my answer, it dawned on me that I thought in my response that your friend had a medical abortion, when I first came to the conclusion that she had a surgical abortion (because of the anesthesia). I apologize for this mix-up. Given the situation, it is likely her baby will be normal, if they can treat any infection she might have. She won't need progesterone. I wish her all the best. And thanks for the very nice comments.
If for some reason, the abortion damaged the baby, and she doesn't feel she can raise him or her, there are people who will be more than willing to help out. It's too early for that decision, however. There are plenty of community resources that can help. I can also provide information about that.
Pat
I'm sorry it took so long to answer. I was out for the day, and then the system was down.
I don't find your friend's desire to keep her baby surprising.
At this point, there is a possibility she could have a normal child. The best way to help make this possible is for her to receive progesterone throughout pregnancy. The result of the first pill is malnutrition, and it's not clear that this would simply cause defects, without causing the baby to die. I recommend she go see a pro-life doctor, who will try to help her bear a healthy child. Too many doctors just want to take the easy way out. If the baby is still alive, this means the medication didn't work as intended.
Here is a place where she can find a good doctor:
http://www.aaplog.org/physearch.htm
Please keep me informed how things turn out. I will keep both of them in my prayers.
