For many years, Clearway has offered pre-abortion services which allow our patients to make the most informed and empowered decisions possible. At times, women considering abortion do not know necessary information about the different procedures and their risks. Without this informed consent, many women may make an abortion decision without ever entering a safe place where they can receive non-judgmental support to process through their current needs, circumstances, and feelings.
For over two decades, Clearway has offered that supportive space. Since 2013, we have also offered free medical services as a Massachusetts state-licensed clinic, including free pregnancy and STI testing and confirmation ultrasounds. As of April of this year, we now have added pre-abortion telehealth consultations to our services.
Why would you want or need a telehealth appointment before your abortion? Let’s walk through three main benefits which will help protect your health and wellbeing.
1. You will receive information on all your pregnancy options.
Whatever your situation, an unplanned pregnancy can cause feelings of fear, confusion, and panic. You may be single, in a relationship, or in some type of “it’s complicated” situation. Maybe you’re in school or working; doing both, or neither at the moment. Your family might be supportive, but not your partner. We all come from different situations, and only you know the challenges in front of you. This unexpected pregnancy may be highlighting all the things in your life that you wish were different, which may be leading you to thoughts and considerations of terminating the pregnancy.
As you are considering your options, take into account your emotional state. If you are feeling panicked, it is very important to allow yourself time and bring yourself to a place of calm before you make any decision. Decisions made hastily or out of fear can often lead to further feelings of loss and regret. Finding a safe place to talk through your circumstances, challenges, resource needs, and options is a great way to orient yourself to make an informed and well-considered decision.
In a telehealth consultation with us, you will have the opportunity to chat with a nurse and learn about all your pregnancy options. You will be able to discuss your abortion options and learn about your other pregnancy options, which include parenting and adoption. If you have not allowed yourself time yet to think about these other options, now is a great opportunity to process through these in a safe space. You’ll get to work through the pros and cons of each option with a neutral party in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
If you are considering abortion, your nurse will offer medical information on the different abortion procedures. Whether you are considering medical abortion (the abortion pill; mifepristone and misoprostol) or surgical abortion (suction or vacuum aspiration; dilation & evacuation), you deserve to understand what to expect with each procedure and also to know the expected or potential effects it can have on your body. You will be educated on the cautions of obtaining abortion pills online, which includes ordering the abortion pill online from an unverified provider. This knowledge contributes to the protection of your reproductive health and safety.
2. You will learn about the possible serious complications of early pregnancies.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, most pregnancies are safe and progress without incident. However, about 8% of all pregnancies involve complications that, if left untreated, may cause harm for mother and/or baby. Some of these are related to preexisting conditions; others happen unexpectedly.
When it comes to early pregnancy, knowing the signs and symptoms of some of the most common complications allows you to recognize when something might be off. This information matters whether you are planning to continue the pregnancy or considering abortion. Common complications of early pregnancy include miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation. Miscarriages are fairly common and usually occur in the first trimester of pregnancy. Some common symptoms of miscarriage include bleeding, passing tissue or blood clots, cramps and abdominal pain, lower back ache, and/or a decrease in pregnancy symptoms. If you think you might be having a miscarriage, contact your pregnancy care provider right away. If you do not have a provider, go to the emergency room for care.
Ectopic pregnancy refers to a pregnancy that occurs outside your uterus. While rare (occuring in about 2% of all pregnancies), this condition can be life-threatening and requires emergency treatment. The uterus is the only place a pregnancy can survive and grow safely. The most common place for an ectopic pregnancy to implant is in a fallopian tube. Ectopic pregnancies can become life threatening if your fallopian tube ruptures, which can lead to severe bleeding, infection, and in some cases, death.
Early symptoms can present similar to normal pregnancy symptoms, or may include vaginal bleeding, pain in the abdomen, lower back, and/or pelvis, dizziness, and/or weakness. A rupture can cause extreme pain, fainting, low blood pressure, shoulder pain, and/or rectal/bowel problems or can cause a sudden, sharp sensation of pain in the lower abdomen. If this happens, seek immediate emergency medical care.
If you are considering a medication abortion, know that abortion pills will not successfully treat an ectopic pregnancy. According to ACOG (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) medical abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol is not effective for ectopic pregnancies. They state that these medications act on the uterus and are not intended for pregnancies located outside the uterus. They also highlight the risk of rupture if an ectopic pregnancy is not appropriately treated (1).
The majority of pregnancies progress normally, and many of those with complications can be treated if caught in time. Knowing the symptoms of possible pregnancy complications can help you make informed decisions and protect your reproductive health and safety.
3. You will learn about what is going on in your body during the early stages of pregnancy.
If this is your first pregnancy, you might feel like your body went from being something you understood to something completely foreign and new. What are all these changes and new feelings? What on earth is happening to me?
During your telehealth appointment, your nurse will review with you early pregnancy information regarding your health, fetal development, and more. Feel free to ask any questions you have! You have the right to understand what’s going on inside your own body. Speaking to a nurse about how you are feeling and any symptoms you are experiencing may also help you determine if it is necessary to see a doctor.
Before 6 weeks gestation, it is not standard practice to provide ultrasounds. However, you can receive your informational telehealth consultation as early as your first positive pregnancy test. You can learn about the signs and symptoms to pay attention to prior to scheduling your free ultrasound.
Your First Ultrasound
After your telehealth call, we hope you will feel more informed, supported, and empowered. Whatever pregnancy decision you are considering, we aim to provide you with up-to-date medical information and support. The nurse will provide you with next steps that may include a free pregnancy confirmation ultrasound. We provide these early ultrasounds as early as 6 weeks from your LMP (last menstrual period). These ultrasounds provide you with the essential information you need to know regarding your pregnancy in order to make a safe decision.
Just found out you’re pregnant? You are not alone. Chat with us today to schedule your telehealth consultation!
Please note: We do not provide, prescribe, or refer for abortion.
