Shared by: Cessybee from the US
Age: 36
Did you have a pregnancy test? Yes
How was the pregnancy ended? Herbal Abortion
Is there anything that clued you in that the herbs might be working before bleeding started? Not sure, I did feel very very toxic, like I was poisoning myself, but that could be due to other meds I take. I have Bipolar Disorder as well.
Is this your first pregnancy? Yes
How many weeks pregnant were you when the herbs were started? between 2 and 3 weeks
Were you using birth control? No
Did you experience any symptoms or signs of pregnancy? I felt bloated and my nipples got more ripply, they looked different.
Please include a summary of dosage information.
Side effects: Vit C made me feel very bloated. My stomach became so swollen that I looked many months pregnant which totally freaked me out.
Black Cohosh or Parsley made me toxic with my other medications and I got twitchy legs and back and side pains. Parsley, I later learned, was a diuretic, and that's not good for the amount of water I need in my system as I take Lithium.
My body really was screaming no more black cohosh, but I did it anyways and I felt really sick afterwards, lots of leg and back pain.
How did the herbs affect you? At first I felt great on the Vit C, and then the combo of DQ and BC REALLY wore me down. I felt like I was being poisoned. Again, this could have been the other meds I take interacting with the herbs.
Any positive effects? My skin looked really good on the Vit C. Or maybe it was just that preg glow.
Where there any negative effects? drug interactions
Do you have any health problems or issues? yes, I have bipolar disorder and hepatitis b
How did the herbs make you feel physically? tired, bloated, worn down, grumpy
If the herbs caused miscarriage -- how did you feel just before bleeding began? like my body was breaking down, I was tired, and I felt like I was being poisoned. very bloated, very fat feeling. also my back and legs hurt a lot.
When bleeding started - How was the bleeding, cramping, etc? Many women would like to know more about this part. If you can describe what it was like for you it would be helpful.
First it was spotting, then light bleeding then it would stop, then bleed more, then stop. after a week of this, the bleeding completely stopped. it never seemed like I was bleeding up a storm. I've had periods which I thought were heavier. nonetheless, I did expel lots of jelly looking blood, clotts, and big plops of it. I had light cramping. I usually don't have much cramping anyways. I did have some side pain where my left ovary is but I get that pain a lot when I am stressed out. I was too scared to look for the sac.
SZ- this website totally mentally prepared me to herbally abort. there was no way I could have done it without at first visualizing it. when I first read about seeing clumpy, clotty blood, and then the sac, I was totally freaked out. but because everyone talked about it so much, it became common to me, and then when I experienced it, I wasn't scared.
this support group and your site were so incredibly informative and helpful. I can't thank you enough. you changed my life.
I was never one to use herbs and alt medicines. I always went to the dr. and did whatever they told me to. but with my pregy I was too ashamed to do this. I‘m asian american, my dr.'s asian, I don't know, I just couldn't deal with this going on my record. also because I am not married. and I‘m 36 and shouldn't be wasting an egg like this anyways. oh well. my relationship with my boyfriend, now exbf, was not good. I also have bipolar disorder and hepatitis b. for bipolar, I take lithium, lamictal, and wellbutrin, for hepatitis b nothing as I have a very low amount of that in me.
along with being super diligent about taking the herbs/vitamins, I did all these extra things which I detailed in an email labeled "tips" in the support group. this included:
taking hot baths with lavender essential oil
LITHIUM and parsley should not be used together, I believe.
brushing my teeth with lavender and mint toothpaste
going to a korean spa and sitting in a very hot mugwort tea bath and sitting in some awesome saunas to detox. (this was awesome)
talking to my embryo, apologizing and telling her that she'd have to go one way or the other and to please make this easier on us all by sliding out herbally. I felt her stop responding to me after awhile and I think that was a sign I knew that this was going to be over. I did not feel the life force in me after a few days of popping Vit c.
daily masturbation
constantly getting support on the board. Sharon was incredible and so was Christy, me and gabby were going through it together.
This whole experience was very physically draining, but now a week after aborting, I feel just great. I don't feel like I killed anybody. It all just felt very very very natural. This is the way to go. I know that if I went to get a clinical abortion, I probably would have been traumatized as I had no support for me. with the herbs, I had the support group, my bed, and my bathroom. I can't believe it all worked out. I really can't. I thank you so much SZ, so much! this experience has changed how I think of my other meds.
I also won't be having risky sex anymore. I‘m also going to keep better track of my cycle when the time comes and I have a new boyfriend. as much as I value this process, I hope to NEVER have to do it again. the 9 days were brutal, but worth it.
Submitted: May 29, 2006
Weight: 125
Height: 5'4"
What was the result. Positive
If more than one test was taken please include info for each one. Took it twice on May 3rd, poz both times.
Were you successful in using the herbs? YES
Would you try herbs again, or recommend them to a friend in the same situation? YES
For how many days were the herbs used (total)? 9 days
What was the date bleeding started if herbs were successful? 8th day spotting began
What kind/method of birth control/contraception were you using? Rhythm
Do you know how/why it failed? Miscounted days, not paying attention.
If you were not using birth control, please share why not. I take psychiatric medication (lithium, wellbutrin, lamictal) so I didn't want to put any more pills inside my body as far as birth control. Also, my partner and I didn't really have sex that much unfortunately.
When did they start? Around the time I expected my period
Vitamin C, 500 mg/hour for 9 days, then popped a few in every now and then while bleeding. Woke up 2-3 times a night to dose, especially diligent the first 6 days, then got kinda lax as my body started saying "no more"
Dong Quai capsules 1100 mg/four hours for 4 days
Black Cohosh capsules 540 mg/four hours for 3 days
How did being pregnant make you feel physically? well at first I was a little happy because I did not think that at my age -36- that I would be able to conceive. I was surprised. I talked to my embryo and I was very sad that I could not keep her. the meds in my body would most likely cause birth defects. also my bf and I had a tempestuous relationship and I thought we had broken up.
Your Story -
rubbing lavender and primrose lotion on my stomach
washing with mint essential oil soap (basically I was trying to surround myself with every detoxifying oil I could find)
massaging acupressure points
using parsley pessary and drinking parsley broth, until I realized it was making me sick with my other meds.
jogging a little
