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To
Prevent Infection: Nothing should enter the vagina for
two weeks; no sexual
intercourse, no tampons (use sanitary napkins), no douching and
no baths or swimming. Take all the antibiotic until it is gone.
Call the clinic if you throw-up your antibiotic (it helps to
have food on your stomach when you take it).
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Activities:
For one week, avoid strenuous exercise (no jogging, hiking,
dancing, weight lifting or aerobic classes).
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Work:
Do not work full-time for two days, especially if you must be on
your feet all day. Patients who do so may have increased
bleeding and cramping which could lead to hospitalization. We
will be happy to provide a doctor's note if you wish.
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Fever:
A fever is a sign that you may be developing an infection. Take
your temperature every morning for 7 days. If your temperature
is above 100 f, call the clinic. You should also immediately
take two of your antibiotics and two Tylenol.
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Bleeding:
Your bleeding may be very heavy to light brown spotting to none
at all. If you bleed
through more than two sanitary napkins in less than two hours,
take 800 mg of Ibuprofen immediately and call the clinic. If you
pass clots larger than a plum, call the clinic. Your bleeding
may stop and restart for two to three weeks. This is not your
period. Your first period will usually return in 4-8 weeks.
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Cramping:
Cramping may occur for several days. This may also stop and
restart. Start with taking Ibuprofen for pain and use a heating
pad or hot water bottle on your abdomen for first 24 hours. You
can take 600-800 mg of Ibuprofen products Advil, Motrin, or
Aleve) every 8 hours with food for up to 7 days. If this does not relieve the pain or
you experience severe pain or dizziness, call the clinic.
If ibuprofen makes the cramping go away, this means that
it is working and you should continue taking it 3 times a day
for a few days.
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Sadness
or Depression: You may feel unusually emotional
after the abortion. This is normal and may be affected by the
dropping progesterone levels in your body. Feel free to call us
if you wish to talk.
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Contraception:
It is possible to become pregnant immediately after the
abortion, and therefore you need to use some form of
contraception. If you plan to take birth control pills, start
them the Sunday after your abortion. If you plan on using
Depo-Provera, Lunelle, or an IUD, please schedule these into
your follow up appointment with us.
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Pregnancy
Symptoms: Nausea and fatigue are usually the first two symptoms
experienced when first becoming newly pregnant. Breast tenderness and bloating are also common.
The nausea and fatigue should be completely gone 4 days
after your abortion. If
these symptoms are still present after 4 days, please call the
clinic. Bloating
and breast tenderness can take up to one month to go away.
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Post-Abortion
Examination: Have this important checkup
3
weeks after the abortion. Make an appointment with us or your
personal physician. Be aware that a pregnancy test may register
positive for up to eight weeks after your abortion.
If you give us up to one week’s notice, we can give you
a Depo-Provera or Lunelle injection or insert and IUD at this
visit.
