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abortion

Pamela, Eric, Agnes,

history

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reproductive rights timeline

population

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who?
At least half of American women will experience an unintended pregnancy by age 45, and, at current rates, nearly one-third will have had an abortion. Women who have never married and are not cohabiting account for 45% all abortions. About 61% of abortions are obtained by women who have one or more children. 42% of women obtaining abortions have incomes below federal poverty level($10,830). Another 27% of women obtaining abortions have incomes between poverty level and twice poverty ($10,831-21,660).

percentage of total abortions by age group of women who obtained an abortion

(CDC United States, 2007)

Data are for 48 areas; excludes California, Florida, Maryland, and New Hampshire.

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percentage of total abortions by race of women who obtained an abortion

(The Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2011)

(The Alan Guttmacher Institute)

why?

75% of women cite concern for or responsibility to other individuals 75% say they cannot afford a child 75% say that having a baby would interfere with work, school or the ability to care for dependents 50% say they do not want to be a single parent or are having problems with partner or husband. 25% Wants to postpone childbearing 12% too young; parent(s) or other(s) object to pregnancy 3% risk to maternal health 3% Risk to fetal health

The reasons women give for having an abortion underscore their understanding of the responsibilities of parenthood and family life.

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medicinal abortion

medicinal abortion teaching

You will have cramps usually start 2 to 4 hours after taking the medication and may last for 3 to 5 hours. Heavy bleeding means that the treatment is working. The bleeding often lasts 1 to 2 weeks, and it may stop and start a few times. Some women get nausea, diarrhea or chills. This should get better in a few hours. If in pain, you can use a heating pad. And/or take pain medicine. Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) up to 800 milligrams every 8 hours and/or hydrocodone up to 2 pills every 4-6 hours.

Call health care provider if: bleeding soaks through more than 2 maxi pads per hour for 2 hours, you do not bleed within 24 hours after taking the medication you start to feel very ill after the heavy cramping and bleeding is over

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surgical abortion

manual or mechanical vacuum aspiration

Most common procedure during the 5th to 12th week of Pregnancy The cervix is dilated to prevent injury A thin cannula is inserted through the cervical canal Cannula is attached to a mechanical vacuum or hand held syringe

Risks: Injury to the uterine lining or Cervix Infection

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dilatation and curettage (D&C)

Involves dilation of the cervix and surgical removal of part of the lining of the uterus and/or contents of the uterus by scraping and scooping Most D&Cs are now carried out for miscarriage management and other indications such as diagnosis

Risks: Associated risks of general anesthesia Injury to cervix, uterus Infection Rarely, Injury to bladder or bowel (requiring further surgical repair)

surgical abortion teaching

You will probably feel fine when you go home. You can go back to your regular activities and shower and wash your hair as soon as you want to. You can eat normally, although you may still feel nauseated for another few days. For 1-2 week, DO NOT put anything in your vagina. Do not use tampons, do not douche, and do not have sex. You can expect to havebleedingfor up to 2 weeks. It may stop and start. Some women have no bleeding for 2 or 3 days and then begin to bleed like a period. Cramping: you can use a heating pad. And/or take pain medicine. Ibuprofen up to 800 milligrams every 8 hours and/or hydrocodone up to 2 pills every 4-6 hours.

Call health care provider if: Heavy bleeding: soaking more than 2 maxi pads an hour for more than 2 hours. Severe cramps: cramps that are getting stronger & not helped by pain medication. Fever: If your temperature is higher than 101 degrees.

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Click

teaching

decision teaching

Learn about your client, be a listener and empathic to her feelings. This is the time for the best nurse communication skills. Also, remember you do not need to know everything about her to help her make a decision. Ask about other supports in the patients life. Refer to the pregnancy, not the baby. Inform, do not make one decision more right than another. Reframe the situation so she knows her options. Clarity the facts. The actual timing of pregnancy and when each of her options need to be followed up by on. And that she may not need to make a decision today. Reassure and encourage her to trust and respect herself and her decision.

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emotional teaching
Remember emotions are hard to describe. Normalize all of her feelings. You dont have time for therapy buttalking is therapeutic. Investigate the womans feelings. Dont assume anything she may not be experiencing

the emotions of abortion

shame relief grief guilt regret disappointment depression exhaustion

alternative methods to be aware of

Herbal: there has been very little research done on herbs for abortion

 Women view this method as natural but this does not mean it is safe  These are strong and toxic herbs; signs of self-poisoning with these herbs include headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, upset stomach, more serious ones can develop and damage the liver or kidneys  The success rate of this method is not high and if the women does not follow up with a surgical abortion and the pregnancy is carried to term the child may have physical or mental birth defects.

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alternative methods to be aware of

Menstrual extraction (ME): Same theory as MVA (suctoning out the contents of the urterus) but it is performed by friends and acquaintances not medical professionals.

 Unlike MVA ME does not need anesthetic because the cervix does not need to be dilated; ME cannula is much smaller than the MVA cannula.  The procedure is performed in a home setting and the women can slow insert the cannula and the extraction is controlled by the woman stopped when there is pain.  A relatively inexperienced cannula operator can feel distinct changes in the movements of the cannula when products of conception pass.  Risk of complications are an incomplete abortion, uterine perforation, hemorrhage and/ or infection

 The equipment use is called a Del Em

q&a

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