Abortion treatment - procedure while asleep |
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important: before you arrive in hospital
If you do not follow these instructions carefully your operation will be cancelled.
Peterborough hospital
On the day of your surgery you may have a light breakfast before 8am, which can be
either:
You may have clear fluids up until 11.00am, either water or diluted fruit squash, black
coffee or black tea.
You must not eat anything after 8.00am (this includes boiled sweets and chewing gum) or drink anything after 11am.
Hinchingbrooke Hospital
You must follow the instructions you are given at pre-operative assessment clinic concerning what you can and cannot have before coming to hospital.
General Information
You will be given a date and time to arrive at hospital:
If you are having surgery at Peterborough City Hospital, come directly to the Day Treatment Unit, level 1 of the main hospital.
If you are having surgery at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, come directly to the Treatment Centre, ground floor reception.
If you are unable to attend for any reason, please telephone the UnitYou may take any regular, prescribed tablets and medicines at 8.00am unless told otherwise in clinic, and bring all your medicines and inhalers to hospital with you.
Please make sure you have a responsible adult, over the age of 18, to take you home after the operation. You also need someone over the age of 18 to be at home with you for 24 hours after your operation, who is aware that you have had a procedure performed. In case of emergencies you need to have a telephone or mobile phone at home. Friends or relatives are not usually able to stay with you prior to - or during – surgery. They will be contacted when you are ready to go home.
You need to bring with you a clean dressing gown and slippers, and you must bring a change of underwear (pants that can be worn with a sanitary towel) and a supply of sanitary towels (not tampons). You must remove all makeup, nail varnish from hands and feet, and all jewellery -including any body piercings - prior to coming to the unit. All acrylic nails or overlays also need to be removed before you come to hospital – this includes nails or overlays on toes. Do not have any new tattoos or piercings before surgery.
We strongly advise you to leave your valuables at home. The Trust accepts no responsibility for lost or damaged property which is left unattended
Peterborough hospital
On the day of your surgery you may have a light breakfast before 8am, which can be
either:
- a small bowl of cereal with minimal milk
- OR a slice of toast with a light scraping of spread of your choice.
You may have clear fluids up until 11.00am, either water or diluted fruit squash, black
coffee or black tea.
You must not eat anything after 8.00am (this includes boiled sweets and chewing gum) or drink anything after 11am.
Hinchingbrooke Hospital
You must follow the instructions you are given at pre-operative assessment clinic concerning what you can and cannot have before coming to hospital.
General Information
You will be given a date and time to arrive at hospital:
If you are having surgery at Peterborough City Hospital, come directly to the Day Treatment Unit, level 1 of the main hospital.
If you are having surgery at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, come directly to the Treatment Centre, ground floor reception.
If you are unable to attend for any reason, please telephone the UnitYou may take any regular, prescribed tablets and medicines at 8.00am unless told otherwise in clinic, and bring all your medicines and inhalers to hospital with you.
Please make sure you have a responsible adult, over the age of 18, to take you home after the operation. You also need someone over the age of 18 to be at home with you for 24 hours after your operation, who is aware that you have had a procedure performed. In case of emergencies you need to have a telephone or mobile phone at home. Friends or relatives are not usually able to stay with you prior to - or during – surgery. They will be contacted when you are ready to go home.
You need to bring with you a clean dressing gown and slippers, and you must bring a change of underwear (pants that can be worn with a sanitary towel) and a supply of sanitary towels (not tampons). You must remove all makeup, nail varnish from hands and feet, and all jewellery -including any body piercings - prior to coming to the unit. All acrylic nails or overlays also need to be removed before you come to hospital – this includes nails or overlays on toes. Do not have any new tattoos or piercings before surgery.
We strongly advise you to leave your valuables at home. The Trust accepts no responsibility for lost or damaged property which is left unattended
before the procedure
You will see the anaesthetist on the day of your operation, who will answer any questions you may have.
You will be asked to get into an operating gown, and your dressing gown and slippers. Your underwear must be removed and your pants will be placed in your dressing gown pocket. Place your belongings in a locker and pin the key to your dressing gown. A wedding ring may be left on and will be taped. If you normally wear contact lenses we advise you to remove them and to wear glasses – if you have them - on the day of your operation.
Under 14 weeks:
About 2 hours before the operation you will have some tablets called misoprostol, placed inside your vagina. These will soften and open up the neck of the womb. This can sometimes cause some period-type pain and occasionally slight bleeding. You will be offered a long-acting painkiller suppository, and also an antibiotic suppository. These will be inserted into your back passage (rectum).
Over 14 weeks:
The cervix (neck of the womb) needs to be softened before the procedure can take place. We do this by inserting small rods (Dilapan) into the cervix 24 hours before the procedure, at your pre-procedure visit. They swell over time, gently opening the cervix. We may also give you Mifepristone tablets in combination with the Dilapan. Insertion only takes a few minutes. As the Dilapan expands it can cause mild crampy pains or light bleeding. Very rarely, your waters can break or the Dilapan can fall out. If you have severe pain and/pr heavy bleeding or fever, you are advised to attend ED, and take your letter which explains the treatment to give to the doctor or nurse that sees you. It is extremely rare that Dilapan causes delivery of the pregnancy (less than 1 in 1000 cases). On the day of the procedure we might also give you some misoprostol vaginal tablets 1-2 hours before the procedure.
You will be asked to get into an operating gown, and your dressing gown and slippers. Your underwear must be removed and your pants will be placed in your dressing gown pocket. Place your belongings in a locker and pin the key to your dressing gown. A wedding ring may be left on and will be taped. If you normally wear contact lenses we advise you to remove them and to wear glasses – if you have them - on the day of your operation.
Under 14 weeks:
About 2 hours before the operation you will have some tablets called misoprostol, placed inside your vagina. These will soften and open up the neck of the womb. This can sometimes cause some period-type pain and occasionally slight bleeding. You will be offered a long-acting painkiller suppository, and also an antibiotic suppository. These will be inserted into your back passage (rectum).
Over 14 weeks:
The cervix (neck of the womb) needs to be softened before the procedure can take place. We do this by inserting small rods (Dilapan) into the cervix 24 hours before the procedure, at your pre-procedure visit. They swell over time, gently opening the cervix. We may also give you Mifepristone tablets in combination with the Dilapan. Insertion only takes a few minutes. As the Dilapan expands it can cause mild crampy pains or light bleeding. Very rarely, your waters can break or the Dilapan can fall out. If you have severe pain and/pr heavy bleeding or fever, you are advised to attend ED, and take your letter which explains the treatment to give to the doctor or nurse that sees you. It is extremely rare that Dilapan causes delivery of the pregnancy (less than 1 in 1000 cases). On the day of the procedure we might also give you some misoprostol vaginal tablets 1-2 hours before the procedure.
during the procedure
You will have a short general anaesthetic and will be completely asleep. The procedure usually only takes 10 minutes. The doctor will place a speculum in the vagina to visualise the cervix (neck of the womb). The cervix is stretched very slightly, and the pregnancy tissue is removed from the womb. If you are using contraception, such as an implant or coil, this will be fitted at the same time. Your operation will be performed as a day case. This means you come into hospital on the day of the operation and go home the same day if all goes well.
after the procedure
Once you are fully awake after the operation you will have something to eat and drink and we must check that you can pass urine before we let you go home. We will check your bleeding and pain are under control and that you are not being sick. If all is well you will be allowed to go home about 1 hour after your operation.
If you have Rh negative blood group you will need to be given an injection called ‘Anti-D’. This will prevent you having problems with pregnancies in the future.
You must not drive, ride a bike, operate machinery, drink alcohol or sign any legal documents for 48 hours following your operation. You can’t go home on public transport, and you should have someone to look after you for the first night.
Please make sure you have your choice of contraception arranged before you go home. Ask the nurse looking after you if you need more information.
When you go home you will have some bleeding. This may be for one day, or may last up to 14 days – it varies for women. The bleeding should not be heavier than a normal period and will gradually get lighter. Avoid using tampons and having sexual intercourse until bleeding has stopped, to reduce the risk of infection. You should expect your next period in around 4-6 weeks’ time, unless you have started a hormonal contraception. You will not need a check-up unless you have concerns.
We suggest you take it easy for the next day or so, and take pain killers 4-6 hourly as needed, as you would with a period like pain. You may bath and shower as normal. Use sanitary pads and not tampons until your next period. We recommend you don’t go swimming until the bleeding settles. Most women feel able to go back to work quickly after their treatment, others like to take a few days to recover. It will depend on how you feel, what kind of job you have and when you feel ready.
If you have Rh negative blood group you will need to be given an injection called ‘Anti-D’. This will prevent you having problems with pregnancies in the future.
You must not drive, ride a bike, operate machinery, drink alcohol or sign any legal documents for 48 hours following your operation. You can’t go home on public transport, and you should have someone to look after you for the first night.
Please make sure you have your choice of contraception arranged before you go home. Ask the nurse looking after you if you need more information.
When you go home you will have some bleeding. This may be for one day, or may last up to 14 days – it varies for women. The bleeding should not be heavier than a normal period and will gradually get lighter. Avoid using tampons and having sexual intercourse until bleeding has stopped, to reduce the risk of infection. You should expect your next period in around 4-6 weeks’ time, unless you have started a hormonal contraception. You will not need a check-up unless you have concerns.
We suggest you take it easy for the next day or so, and take pain killers 4-6 hourly as needed, as you would with a period like pain. You may bath and shower as normal. Use sanitary pads and not tampons until your next period. We recommend you don’t go swimming until the bleeding settles. Most women feel able to go back to work quickly after their treatment, others like to take a few days to recover. It will depend on how you feel, what kind of job you have and when you feel ready.
Further information and consent forms
Please read the information leaflet and consent form before your telephone consultation.
| FPH037 surgical procedure under general anaesthetic |
| surgical consent form |
| FPH355 surgical management beyond 14 weeks |
