After having any type of medical procedure done, it is important to follow up with your healthcare provider. This is especially important if you have had an abortion, regardless whether it was surgical or medical. Without the post abortion assessment and follow up appointment, undetected complications could be detrimental to their current health or future fertility.

Post Abortion Care at Advice & Aid – the Physical Assessment

Four to six weeks after your abortion, a Registered Nurse will meet with you and assess your health, completing 1) a questionnaire, 2) a set of vital signs, 3) a finger stick to measure Hemoglobin levels, and 4) a pregnancy test to determine if HCG (the pregnancy hormone) is still present in your system.  You will also be given the option to have STI testing at that time. One of our physicians will be consulted by the nurse about the post abortion assessment to determine whether any further actions are needed to ensure your health and well being. If the physician decides you need further evaluation, an appointment will be scheduled with the physician.

Post Abortion Care at Advice & Aid – the Emotional Assessment

After your physical assessment, you will meet with a member of our Awakenings Team for the emotional and spiritual assessment.  (Awakenings is Advice & Aid’s program to help the healing process for those who have experienced infant loss through abortion, miscarriage, still birth or early infant death.)   

The Awakenings assessment is a time for you to share about your abortion experience in a safe and confidential environment and share how you are doing with the pain of your loss in a healthy way.  You may or may not be experiencing any side effects right way, you may still be in denial or may experience many years later.

Things to Watch Out For

In our post abortion assessment, we are looking for unhealthy behavior like suicidal thoughts or attempts and or self-destructiveness. At this time, we may do a referral to a professional counselor.  

We are serving the whole person, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

We have an article on our website that deals with post-delivery care – that article contains valuable information pertaining to post abortion care as well. It’s information that every woman should have.