This was taken from When Birth Control Fails - How to abort ourselves safely, by Suzann Gage. Its has good information which I thought would compliment my website. Our opinions differ on some things, so I added some commits of my own. Much of the information can be applied to all abortion situations, herbal or clinical abortion, miscarriage or menstrual extraction.

1) Make sure the abortion is complete. Check the tissue removed to determine as best you can that all was removed. {In clinical abortion, the doctor will do this} Beyond 12 weeks, look for a placenta attached to the fetus. This will look like a flat, thick, meaty piece of tissue attached to the umbilical cord of the fetus. If this is missing, you may pass it later separately. It should be expelled by 24 to 48 hours after the abortion or it can cause a uterine infection.

2) Contract the uterus back to its normal size. The uterus will usually do this on its own. However, this is very important, because it helps to expel any remaining tissue. It also helps stop bleeding and closes the os to prevent germs from getting up into the uterus. One of the best ways to help the uterus contract is direct uterine massage. Using herbs like Angelica {but not dong quai}, Cotton root bark and pennyroyal can also help the uterus contract down to its normal size. Make sure the uterus is small as a plum and hard. If not, have a pelvic examination one week after the abortion to make sure it was complete; possibly you will have to do the abortion again.

3) Avoid strenuous exercise if possible for a few days. Strenuous exercise can make you bleed heavier which could make you weak and anemic. {Herbs can help combat this}

4) Avoid putting anything in the vagina for 2 to 3 weeks. This includes water from sitting in a bath tub (shower or sponge bath instead); intercourse; tampons (use a pad instead); swimming; douching; etc. Any of these things could get bacteria into your vagina which can enter the uterus after an abortion, because the os is more open. Wait until the os is closed. {Note: Once bleeding has stopped the os should be closed, this can be verified by checking with a plastic speculum. This is of particular concern for women who have had a clinical abortion where the cervix has been dilated.}

5) Antibiotics can be taken to prevent infection. This is not always necessary, but it is better to prevent an infection than to have to treat one after you get it. Antibiotics in the U.S. used to treat infections are: penicillin, ampicillan, tetracycline, and erythromycin. THey are usually taken about 4 times a day for several days. Antibiotics can cause gas and temporary digestion problems as well as vaginal yeast or "candida" conditions. {Note: taking acidophyllus after antibiotics helps to replenish the bodies good bacteria. Yeast infections occur when the bad bacteria repopulate faster than the good bacteria can.} Sulfa drugs are also given to treat infections. Antibiotics are available in the U.S. by prescription only. {Note: Instead of antibiotics which destroy your internal flora, cause side effects and suppress your immune system, there are safer herbal alternatives. Echinacea in particular, activates your immune system, rather than killing all the bacteria in your body both good and bad, it stands ready to kill any infectious invaders.}

6) Your next normal period may come in 3 to 8 weeks, or even 10 weeks. If it has not come by that time, see a doctor, nurse or midwife. Tell them you think you miscarried (around the time of your abortion) {If you had a menstrual extraction or used herbs to end pregnancy} and they can do a pelvic examination to see if you are still pregnant. However, by this time, an incomplete abortion could make you very sick. {Note: My assumption is they are referring to uterine infection, which would not only make you sick, but could lead to sterility and untreated maybe even death.}

7) Check your temperature to see if you have a fever. If it is higher than 100.5 F, it can mean an infection.

8) It is OK to bleed up to 3 weeks after an abortion. Some women bleed very little. Bleeding can start and stop and this is OK as long as it is not extremely heavy bleeding. If you feel tired or weak from bleeding, you can take iron pills to prevent anemia. {Note: there are herbs like yellow dock and nettles which can be used to safely replenish iron and minerals lost during bleeding, without worry of iron over-dose.}
{Note: Item #8, I don't necessarily agree with, but then not knowing exactly what form of abortion whomever was writing about maybe bleeding for 3 weeks is ok. In my own experience with menstrual extraction bleeding lasted for about 10 days each time. The one instance I know of where someone bled for 3-4 weeks the abortion was not complete. Also, in herbal abortion bleeding rarely lasts more than 10 days. Also if using herbs for abortion, bleeding only a small amount, starting and stopping or spotting would imply that the abortion is not complete and thus is not acceptable. If bleeding lasts for more than 2 weeks get it checked out.}

{And something of my own...} Following the ending of pregnancy, be it by abortion, miscarriage or by herbs, it is important to be extra careful to avoid pregnancy. Women has ovulated at a time they do not expect and have found themselves pregnant twice in a row. Don't let this happen to you!! Use a reliable form of contraception, until you are sure your cycle is back on track. Also, following pregnancy it might be time to reassess your current birth control method. Maybe it is time to improve upon it to prevent future occurrences of unwanted pregnancy.

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