Submitted: April 3, 2001

Name: Kelley
Age: 20
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 130
Pregnancy Test: Positive
Resolution: Surgical Abortion

Did you have a pregnancy test? Yes
When was it taken? When I was one week late
What was the result. positive
How was the pregnancy ended? Surgical abortion during 10th week of pregnancy
Were you successful in using the herbs? No, but they did relieve symptoms

Would you try herbs again, or recommend them to a friend in the same situation? Yes, If I can start them earlier! And I would tell anyone else to begin them ASAP as well

What was the date of the first day of your last menstrual period? 1/16/2001
Do you know the date of fertilizing intercourse? Around Jan 31 2001
What was the date you were expecting menstruation? February 14th 2001
How long do your cycles usually run? The whole cycle; 30 days, more does it vary? Yes
Do you cycle regularly or irregularly? regularly

What was the date when the herbs were started? Feb 22 2001
How many weeks pregnant were you when the herbs were started? 3 weeks.
For how many days were the herbs used (total)? 14
What was the date the pregnancy was terminated? March 31st ( surgical abortion)

Were you using birth control? condoms
Do you know how/why it failed? Nope!

Did you experience any symptoms or signs of pregnancy? Breast tenderness and swelling, late menstruation, nausea When did they start? Breast tenderness around the 15th of Feb. Nausea started around Feb 29th or so and lasted until I terminated.

Please include a summary of dosage information.
Vitamin C 500mg every hour for 14 days, Vit C helped to reduce the nausea a bit.
Dong Quai, 1000 mg every 4 hours for 14 days. Some mild cramping but no bleeding or anything

How did the herbs affect you? Kidneys hurt for the first couple of days but I drank plenty of water to alleviate
Any positive effects? Mild cramping, reduced nausea
Where there any negative effects? It didn't work !!
How did the herbs make you feel physically? Not too bad.
How did being pregnant make you feel physically? AWFUL! Tired, grouchy, nauseous, etc

Your Story

Sister Zeus - Thank you for your site ! I found this information very helpful and comforting to know that there is an alternative to clinical abortions. I ended up having to terminate with a surgical abortion but I felt relieved when it was all over. I wanted to terminate using this process but it wasn't to be. I donut think I started them early enough. I didn't find out I was pregnant until I was a week late! And I think I was already 4 weeks pregnant.

When I went to the clinic to discuss options, they did an ultrasound and I was 7 weeks 6 days pregnant (that was March 12th .) Too late for RU 486, and I had already used the herbs and given up so the only option was a surgical abortion.

I had a surgical abortion about a year ago and I felt embarrassed that I was pregnant again. But everything was all right. No one at the clinic passed judgment, They were very kind and caring. Very professional. I read a few of the stories from other women on here how they dreaded the abortion and how awful it was for them, It wasn't like that for me. I was fine. It was over in maybe 10 minutes. And I recovered great. Hardly any pain. Some cramping but I have a prescription of Motrin for it.

Too many antiabortion people act like that the clinics are butchers and they don’t take care of women. They are wrong. The Planned Parenthood where I went I felt offered me better care than any doctor or hospital ever has. Anything I needed the gave me. The nurses were some of the best, they offered great comfort during the procedure. I'm glad we live in a country where we have reproductive rights. I'm also glad for women, like you, who offer us this timeless wisdom. I have also been reading your pages on contraceptives. Thank you for that information as well. God Bless you Sister Zeus. I will recommend your site to any of my family or friends who can use this information.

There are many lessons that can be learned from an experience such as this, Do you feel you have learned something from this experience? Yes, I learned a great deal about alternatives to contraceptives and clinical abortions, thank you for your insight!

Is there anything you would have done differently? Gone and taken the morning after pill!! Or started the herbs earlier.

Why did you choose to try herbal options first rather than just go for a clinical or medical abortion? I had an abortion about a year ago and I wanted to do something else! I felt kind of embarrassed at first, I didn’t really want to go back there pregnant again, but everyone at the clinic was very helpful and kind. They didn't pass judgment at all! I wish that I couldn't have terminated early with the herbs. I hated being so tired and nauseous all the time. I was so relieved just to get it over when I did !