 The Abortion Decision
Especially for Friends
Welcome to Northland Family Planning Center
Yes, you will find us different. Not only do we provide the best medical care possible, we also create an environment where women and men are treated with compassion, dignity and respect.
Here, we make the world a better place for women.
We want to thank you for supporting your friend through this experience. Over the years, most women tell us it helps to have someone to talk to or confide in about feelings. We encourage women to involve a friend, partner or relative in the abortion experience. Your support is important and valued. A woman's choice to end a pregnancy can be difficult for her, but often can also be difficult for her friends and loved ones as well. This time may be stressful for you as well. To help you, here is some information about abortion with Northland and some ways to support your friend.
Although all patients check in first thing in the morning at about the same time, each woman receives individual attention to her specific needs throughout the day. As part of our pre-surgery process, our patients view an informed consent video to help explain the procedure and homecare recovery instructions. This tape is strictly informational and aimed at answering frequently asked questions. Your friend will view the video in small groups in our patient video room with other women also here for abortion. Your friend, and all women, will then speak privately with a counselor to explore personal questions, concerns and feelings about this pregnancy and how she came to this decision to choose abortion as her best option. In addition, all lab work, medical history and vitals, and an ultrasound will be completed before your friend sees the doctor.
Plan on your friend seeing the doctor about 3 hours after she checks in. Once she is called in to see the doctor, you can expect her to be ready to leave in about 1-1 1/2 hours. You may check with the front desk after that time to see her progress.
Support suggestions: Show her you care.
- Check in with her often over the next few days, and even the next few months to see how she's feeling.
- Do something special for her...flowers, dinners, babysitting. During your waiting time, you may choose to visit a store or restaurant nearby.
Flowers or a special dinner you bring over are always good ideas. Check with the receptionist at the front desk when you come into the Center for a list of local area shops, restaurants, florists, etc.
- Be understanding about the symptoms of pregnancy. Nausea, tiredness, irritability and moodiness are all pregnancy symptoms. Most will go away a few days after the abortion.
- Read through the Recovery at Home packet instructions she is given. Have pain medication available and maybe a heating pad or hot water bottle.
- Help make arrangements so she can return for her 2-week check-up, or earlier if she has problems.
Post Abortion Health is both physical and emotional. If you sense she is having coping problems, talk to her and encourage her to call us if they persist.
We have additional handouts for the parents and male partners of our patients that address specific emotional concerns. If you have not received one and would like one, please ask us.
You also may find it helpful to visit other pages of our website for additional information on all services and answers to frequently asked questions.
Thank you for being here.
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Last page update: 9/07 |
