Having a surgical abortion is a painful experience both physically and mentally. While the procedure typically takes less than half a day to complete, the affects can linger for a while. But the pain will start to vanish as time goes on, and luckily you don't have to sit around and wait for that to happen. Here are a few important things you can do to make your surgical abortion experience just a little less painful before, during, and after the procedure takes place.
Recruit a Support Team
You shouldn't have to go through the experience of having an abortion alone, so if you don't already have a supportive partner to lean on it's a good idea to recruit a support team for yourself. Ask friends and family members who have gone through a similar experience as you to spend some time talking with you and helping you find answers to your questions.
Make sure that someone will be there to hold your hand throughout the procedure, and that you have at least one person on speed dial who you can call in case of an emergency or when you're feeling sad or apprehensive about your decision. If necessary, schedule a few appointments with a therapist who can help you work through your feelings about your overall experience.
Plan a Full Day of Rest
You will probably be able to get back to most of your normal activities the day after your abortion. But you'll need to rest for the entire day of the procedure to ensure that you properly heal and to give your body and mind a chance to adjust to the changes they have been through. So, it's important to plan for rest on the day of your abortion, so you don't end up overexerting yourself unnecessarily.
Make sure that a friend or family member drives you home from the abortion clinic, so you don't have to get behind the wheel right away. Prepare a casserole or some soup ahead of time and put it in the freezer, so you don't have to cook on recovery day. And put together an entertainment box full of books, crossword puzzles, DVDs, and crafting materials so that have something to do while you rest.
Offer Your Own Support
You can help yourself feel better about your decision to have an abortion by helping other people feel good about their own decisions to get abortions. By sharing your story and experiences with other women who have chosen to get an abortion will help put them at ease and make them understand that they aren't alone. And you'll have an opportunity to meet new people and make friendships with other like-minded women who can help you through your experience just as much as you help them.
