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Warning-sign checks

Abortion - medication: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek urgent or emergency care if:

    • You soak two full-size sanitary pads an hour for two consecutive hours
    • You faint, feel severely weak, or have trouble breathing
    • You have severe or worsening abdominal pain, especially on one side
    • You have shoulder-tip pain with dizziness or abdominal pain
    • You develop facial swelling, wheezing, or other signs of a severe allergic reaction

    Tell emergency staff that you are pregnant or recently used abortion medicines so they can assess bleeding and possible ectopic pregnancy quickly.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact your healthcare team promptly if:

    • Pain does not improve with recommended medicine
    • You have no bleeding after misoprostol
    • Fever, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhoea, or weakness continues beyond the timeframe in your instructions
    • Bleeding remains heavier than expected or smells unpleasant
    • Pregnancy symptoms continue or your planned test remains positive
  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • is having side effects from a medicine, or is struggling to take it as prescribed

The article also says

Some cramping, bleeding, clots, nausea, chills, and tiredness are expected.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Abortion - medication. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.