Shared by: Christine living in London
Age: 25
Did you have a pregnancy test? Yes
What was the result. Positive
How was the pregnancy ended? Surgical Abortion
Is this your first pregnancy? Yes
How many weeks pregnant were you when the herbs were started? I thought 4 weeks, but when I got my termination 1 month later, they said I was 9 weeks, which would make me pregnant before I had fertilizing intercourse
For how many days were the herbs used (total)? 12 days
Were you using birth control? No
Did you experience any symptoms or signs of pregnancy?
Name of the herb: Vitamin C
Name of the herb: Dong Quai
Name of the herb: Black Cohosh
Name of the herb: Pennyroyal
Name of the herb: Blue Cohosh
Side effects.
How did the herbs make you feel physically? The first 6 days I felt fine, just drank lots of water. I really thought they were working. Sometimes I'd get little stomach pains and I kept thinking I had started bleeding.
How did being pregnant make you feel physically? Had bloated stomach, enlarged breast, got cravings for cinnamon and maple syrup. Couldn't stand the smell of leeks, onions or anything burnt or strong smelling.
I really felt like the herbs were working. I really wanted them too. I released the spirit within me every night until I felt like she had a new family to go to. I drew pictures to aid the release. I took hot baths, massaged my Achilles tendon, did visualizations, had reiki healing, took all the herbs in a regimented schedule and even drank parsley, ginger and valerian teas. I found no one who would discuss herbal abortions in London. All of the herbalists said it was illegal and sounded freaked out when I told them my method. One said that the herbs definitely wouldn't work. After 10 days of the Vitamin C (and Dong Quai/Black Cohosh), a friend recommended that I try Pennyroyal Tea and Blue Cohosh, so I went out and bought those and gave them a try. The tea made me feel so ill, I just couldn't continue with it. I was so confused by the fact that I hadn't started bleeding by day 10, I felt like I was doing everything right. After the two days with the tea, I was too ill to continue, my body needed a break, I came down with the flu and stopped using the herbs.
I made an appointment to get a surgical abortion for free on the National Heath Service, but there was a waiting list for 3 weeks. That's when I properly freaked out. I had no idea there would be such a long waiting list and didn't feel like I could be pregnant for 3 more weeks. Somehow I made it through though. I had my surgical abortion 2 days ago without sedation. It hurt horribly for 5 minutes, it was awful, but then it was over and I stayed nearly an hour in the clinic was a warm lavender pillow over my stomach. They use manual extraction over here, so thankfully there was no awful noise from a machine. It was not pleasant, but it was free and over very quickly. I've had some light bleeding since then. Now I mostly feel relieved that its all over.
I would try herbs again and I would still recommend them to other people. I think that I probably didn't start them early enough, or I was one of the people they just didn't work for.
Anyway, thank you Sister Zeus and everyone else for their stories, they were very comforting.
Submitted: Feb 3, 2006
Weight: 107lbs
Height: 5'3"
Were you successful in using the herbs? No
Would you try herbs again, or recommend them to a friend in the same situation? Yes
What kind/method of birth control/contraception were you using? knowledge of my cycle, usually withdrawal near fertile times
Do you know how/why it failed? I haven't been charting for a while, but day 8 was always still a safe day to have intercourse, so I must have ovulated early.
When did they start? started feeling ill after eating rich foods. Then felt dizzy everytime I stood up, then breasts got big and tender
Form or method taken or used: Pills
Amount taken: 500 mg
Frequency: one on the hour during the day, 1000 mg every two hours at night
side effects: Got constipated, was always thirsty, so I drank 2 litters of water per day
Form or method taken or used: Tincture
Amount taken: 16 drops
Frequency: 16 drops every 4 hours
side effects: slightly headachy
Form or method taken or used: Tincture
Amount taken: 16 drops
Frequency: 16 drops every 4 hours
side effects: None
Form or method taken or used: Tea
Amount taken: Large Cup
Frequency: one cup every 4 hours
Duration (dates are useful) : 2 days
side effects: Made me feel very sick all the time
Form or method taken or used: Tincture
Amount taken: 16 drops
Frequency: 16 drops every 4 hours
Duration (dates are useful) : 2 days
side effects: None
How did the herbs affect you? Made me feel really awful by the end, incredibly toxic and I had to stop them.
Any positive effects? Vitamin C made me feel less pregnant, made my breasts hurt less.
