After Care for Medical and Surgical Termination
Surgical Termination - Waking up and Going Home
After-care for a surgical termination is undertaken in the clinic. You will be kept for about 60 to 90 minutes after your procedure while you wake from the light anaesthetic.
You will be provided with some light refreshment for after the procedure, or you are welcome to bring in your own drinks and snacks, for afterwards, provided you remain fasted before the procedure.
You will be provided with simple pain relief if necessary and given detailed instructions about what to expect, who to make contact with if you have any questions, and details about contraception.
You will likely be given a prescription for a single dose of antibiotics to take on the evening of your procedure.
When you get home, do not drink any alcohol and do not do any vigorous exercise and just have a quiet day if you can.
However, we recommend that you try to resume your normal life rather than just taking to bed. A short, gentle walk on the day of the procedure is recommended.
After-Care for Medical Termination of Pregnancy
For a medical termination of pregnancy, there will be some initial pain and bleeding after the second lot of tablets, and then you may continue to bleed until the review two to three weeks later.
At this time, we strongly encourage you to keep your follow up appointment to ensure that the medical termination has been successful and that there is no tissue remaining. That you have recovered completely, and that you are happy with your choice of contraception.
Post Medical Termination Check
You will be given a form for a follow up blood test at the time the medication is prescribed, for 3 weeks after the medical termination has occurred.
You may also have an ultrasound scan performed when you attend for follow up, if you come to the clinic in Bloemfontein. It may be necessary to have another ultrasound scan post abortion to ensure the uterus is completely empty.
For women who have undergone medical abortion, we would recommend that they do not put anything in the vagina until they have been told that the medical abortion is complete.
It is possible to undertake remote follow up e.g. for women who have undergone tele-abortion. Your prescribing doctor will discuss follow up arrangements with you when you are prescribed the medical abortion.
