Here is my story for those of you who are concerned about the process of medicated abortion. I'm gonna try to be as detailed as possible as I found similar experiences on this website to really help me understand what to expect.

I am currently at 7 weeks, 1 day pregnant going through this abortion.

After I found out I was pregnant from two home pregnancy tests, I scheduled an appointment with a Planned Parenthood facility in Los Angeles and had a relatively simple experience. If you plan to use PP for your abortion I highly recommend printing and filling out their forms BEFORE visit the office, this saves time and I was able to get in a couple minutes before my appointment.

Day 1: Getting The Pill

The staff was extremely direct and straight-forward. Everything was business, I was in the waiting room for about an hour since I had arrived early (it's a good idea to bring support people with you!) After getting inside they had me do a urine sample for a pregnancy test and a blood test to check my Hemoglobin levels. After this the clinician did a pelvic exam and ultrasound with the probe (wasn't expecting this method). I was a bit irritated that my boyfriend couldn't be with me the entire time, they made him sit in the waiting room while all of the tests and results were being done, the nurses said that the only time he could come in was when they clinician was about to administer the abortion pill.

So when I was finally done with everything to make sure I was able to have the abortion, the clinician came into the room and talked to me about what I was to
expect. My boyfriend was able to be in there with me at the time, FINALLY. The clinician told the facts to me straight: "I'm not going to lie to you, this is going to hurt, and it's going to hurt bad. Worse that your worst period, heavier than your heaviest period." I was glad that I wasn't mislead or that they didn't sugar coat the symptoms I was about to experience over the next few days.

She gave me one single dose (200 mg) of Mifeprex, I really didn't have time to think about it since she put it in my hand and told me to take it. "After this, there's no going back", she said. So I popped the pill in my mouth and swallowed it.

I want to mention that the Mifeprex website says THREE 200mg pills will be taken, PP only gave me ONE, I thought this was kinda strange, but it turned out to still be effective.

The clinician also gave me a bag filled with the following:
- Misoprostol 200mg / 4 tablets to be taken buccally 24-36 hours after taking Mifeprex (sucked on and dissolved, NOT swallowed or taken vaginally)
- Antibiotics: Doxycycline 100mg / 20 tablets / long and blue
- For Pain: Rx for Ibuprofen 800mg / 24 tablets / white horse pills
- Sonogram photo (6 wks, 6 days), it was VERY small.
- Documents and instructions about the medications and what to expect.

After I received everything, the clinician explained that I should call if any complications arose (heavy bleeding soaking through 2 pads each hour for 2 hours in a row, if cramps don't go away without pain meds, if pain continues for more than 24 hours after taking the second set of pills - the Misoprostol). They also explained though that heavy bleeding and big clots are NORMAL. Nothing to be freaked out about, this means the process IS WORKING.

I was given the option to take the Mifepristone either 24 or 36 hours after the initial abortion pill. I chose to take it 36 hours later because I didn't want to stay up all night in the bathroom and in pain.

Anyways, 30 minutes after leaving the PP clinic, I felt a little light-headed from the Mifeprex, but other than that I was fine. The feeling went away and for the rest of the day I was exhausted.

Day 2: Letting the pill do it's job

Since I chose to take the Misoprostol at 36 hours, day 2 was fine until nighttime. I started getting light cramps, similar to getting a period. I went to sleep psyching myself up for what I was about to go through the next morning.

Day 3: The Abortion

I woke up early in the morning (around 7) and went to the bathroom to find some light spotting/bleeding. I figured it's from the Mifeprex doing it's job. I took my antibiotic, which I started taking the same day after going to PP for the pill, and had a light breakfast (oatmeal is good!, DO NOT eat anything greasy or drink anything with caffeine, PP directed me not to).

I was ready for the Misoprostol. I was expecting it to taste like crap, which it did, don't be surprised! I put two tablets between my check and gums on both sides of the mouth and sucked on them for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes I swallowed what was left of the pills and drank some water.

I started getting really bad cramps and pain BEFORE taking the Ibuprofen, trust me it hurts bad, but it's completely manageable.

I took the first dose of Ibuprofen after enduring about 10 minutes of pain.

About 15 minutes later I started to bleed out of nowhere. This is a GOOD thing. I started clotting almost immediately and am currently, right now still in the process. The clots are getting increasingly larger and bleeding is constant but not that heavy. I'm becoming more relieved with every clot that passes. Pain and cramps come and go, but for the most part I'm well under way, I'm experience some diarrhea, but this is expected.

I'm waiting to see if I can recognize the greyish tissue that some see when the abortion has taken place, nothing yet but I was also told that I might not see an embryo based on my development time.

I'll try to keep this updated as the day progresses. It's about 3 hours into it and things are going smoothly.

I sincerely want other women out there not to feel scared, and to know that this (so far) is turning out to be a safe experience. The pain isn't as bad as some put it out to be. Your best approach is to psych yourself up, it will hurt, you will bleed a lot. But going into it being strong and educated will make you less scared in the end.