Supporting Your Partner Through an Abortion: A Guide for Partners

Question
My girlffriend and I have decided to have an abortion. We have been together for about 4 months and I care about her a lot. She is going to try to use the medical abortion pills this coming week. I want to be there for when she takes the second pill and it gets painful, but I'm not sure what to be prepared for. Do you have any advice or tips to help me make her bad day a little easier? I have never been through this situation before so I have no idea what to expect. Also, I'm sure there will be some emotional trauma afterwards so any help there would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for any help you can give!

Answer
Hi Kyle :)

It's great that you want to be so involved. First-don't EXPECT emotional trauma. Most women don't experience that at all. Of course if it's been a hard decision for her and she wanted to continue the pregnancy she may have a more difficult time, but most that do experience negative emotions will recover soon after. Just being there with her is great-what will help her/make her day easier you'll have to find out from her during the process, since women experience a medical abortion differently. She may feel like she's having horrific menstrual cramps, or like she's in a mini labor. Maybe be prepared for her to not be feeling well physically, and sometimes that can cause people to be in not the best of moods, so just be aware. But there's a great community that is all about and for women seeking abortions, and they have some entries about their partners. Check em out, I think they'll help.

http://community.livejournal.com/abortioninfo/213718.html

http://community.livejournal.com/abortioninfo/281443.html

They also have tons of posts from women who had medical abortions. Hope it helps.