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One-day
Abortion Procedure For 12 - 19 Weeks
You probably have many questions regarding
a second trimester abortion procedure.
This information is designed to address
those concerns. Please read the information
carefully and if you have questions
please call 1-888-878-3304
and speak to a patient educator. If
you are unsure about how far you are
into your pregnancy, click
here.
We are one of only
a limited number of providers that
are able to perform second trimester
abortions up to 19 weeks in one day.
We have specifically developed this
expertise out of respect for our patients'
busy schedules and desires to maintain
confidentiality. For more detailed
information, click on the following:
PRE-OPERATIVE
INSTRUCTIONS
THE
PROCEDURE
POST-OPERATIVE
INSTRUCTIONS
POSSIBLE
COMPLICATIONS
PAYMENT
| PRE-OPERATIVE
INSTRUCTIONS |
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You may not eat,
drink or chew anything for four
hours before you
come in. |
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Smoking is not
advised prior to your appointment. |
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Please make arrangements
for children to be left at home.
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When you come
to our office payment in full
will be collected prior to any
services being rendered. For your
convenience our offices accept
cash, Visa and MasterCard. Personal
checks are not accepted. Most
insurance plans are accepted,
but must be verified prior to
your visit. |
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If you have I.V.
sedation or General Anesthesia,
you must have an escort to take
you home following your procedure.
You may not drive yourself home
due to the fact that you will
have received anesthesia or IV
sedation.. |
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During your visit you will: |
| 1.
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Complete
self medical history and consent
forms. |
| 2.
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Leave
a urine sample for a pregnancy
test. |
| 3.
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Have
a sonogram
to estimate the length of
pregnancy. |
| 4.
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Have
a simple blood test by finger
stick to determine your blood
count and your Rh factor. |
| 5.
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Meet
with an intake counselor to
discuss your medical history
forms and to make your payment
in full. |
| 6.
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Meet
with a patient
educator who will discuss
the procedures, aftercare
instructions and birth control
options. |
| 7.
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Have
an examination and receive the
cytotec
medication (which takes
up to 4 hours to work.) and
if necessary, have laminaria
inserted |
| 8.
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Have
the
abortion procedure. |
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9.
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Be
observed for a brief recovery
period with the recovery area
staff (Approx. 1 hour) |
| 10. |
You
must have an escort to take
you home after receiving general
anesthesia or IV sedation. |
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| POSSIBLE
COMPLICATIONS |
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Second
trimester abortion
is a safe surgical procedure
and has approximately the same
rate of complications as normal
childbirth. Complications range
from minor to severe, including
the rare event of death. However,
deaths that occur during abortions
in the second trimester are
usually the result of physical
complications present prior
to the procedure. Therefore,
it is very important that you
inform us fully about your medical
history and any drugs, legal
or illegal, that you are using.
Complications
that can occur during or after
the abortion include infection,
incomplete abortion (where some
of the placenta remains in the
uterus), injuries to the uterus,
cervical tear, heavy and prolonged
bleeding, whole body complications
such as blood clotting problems,
adverse reactions to the drugs,
shock, cardiac arrest, amniotic
fluid embolism and possible
sterility. If you have a multiple
pregnancy, the chances of complications
increase. There is also the
possibility of cervical incompetence
which may result in problems
maintaining a pregnancy in the
future (possible miscarriage,
stillbirth, low birth weight,
premature delivery). Should
any of these complications arise,
antibiotic drugs and blood transfusions
may be required. Remember, although
many types of complications
have been listed, the chances
of a complication are small.
Many
complications are also a result
of NOT taking care of yourself
after leaving our office. It
is essential that you follow
the post-operative instructions
explained to you. Even though
complications are rare, you
should call us immediately if
there is a problem such as those
mentioned on your post-operative
instruction sheet. Our doctors
are on call 24 hours a day.
A complication that is detected
early is usually easily treated
and corrected before it can
become a major complication.
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| POST-OPERATIVE
INSTRUCTIONS |
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Prior to your procedure
you will be given written after-care
instructions. Post-operative care
is essential to your well-being.
To protect against infection,
antibiotics are given routinely. If your blood type is RH negative
you will be given Rhogam. If the physician deems it necessary,
you may also be given Methergine
to help your uterus to contract.
We are On Call
24 hours a day for medical emergencies.
All patients
must have a post-operative exam
three weeks after the procedure.
We encourage patients to return
to their referring physicians
after release from our care.
However, complete post-operative
care and on-going gynecological
services are available to all
self-referred patients
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| PAYMENT |
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We
require your entire procedure
fee to be paid before the procedure
is begun. Payment can be made
in cash, money order, or credit
card (MasterCard or VISA). Most
insurance plans are accepted,
but must be verified prior to
your visit.
You
may also have additional fees
if the doctor or medical staff
determines that you need extra
medications or testing. This
may include, but is not limited
to: injectable antibiotics,
early detection urine pregnancy
test, urine culture, throat
culture, or Rhogam injection. If you have Rh negative blood
it is absolutely essential that
you receive a Rhogam injection.
There are some supplies which
you have the option to purchase
while in our office. Methergine
tablets or the Depo
Provera injection (birth
control) are both available
for an additional charge. Ask
the intake counselor if you
have questions about the cost
of these medications.
If
the procedure is not
performed due to patient request
or physician advice, you will
be responsible for payment for
services already rendered such
as the pregnancy test, sonogram
and lab tests. All other fees
will be refunded.
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