When you come to our Bronx, New York surgical facility, you will be greeted and checked in at the front desk and asked to fill our paperwork with your medical history before you are taken to the laboratory for a pregnancy test and blood work. You will change into one of our pretty medical gowns and have a sonogram to accurately determine the length of your pregnancy.
Once we determine how long you have been pregnant, you will meet with a trained female counselor who will discuss your surgical abortion, and make sure you are comfortable with your decision to have an abortion. She will also tell you about your anesthesia, stress the importance of gentle postoperative care, and offer birth control options. She will also schedule an appointment for you to return to the facility in 2-3 weeks for your free follow up appointment.
Prior to your surgical procedure, you will meet our experienced physician and have a chance to ask any questions that you have about the procedure. Your abortion will be performed in one of our certified operating rooms, by a team of warm, friendly healthcare professionals.
Throughout your procedure our anesthesia staff will monitor your vital signs continuously to ensure maximum safety. You will receive either a local anesthetic or a general anesthesia, which will put you to sleep for approximately 3-7 minutes. Once asleep, the surgeon will insert a speculum into the vagina so that the cervix can be visualized. The cervix will be gently opened using a series of thin dilators through which a plastic vacurette can be inserted into the uterus. The vacurette is connected to a suction catheter and a controlled light suction is used to remove the pregnancy tissue.
After your abortion procedure, you will rest in our recovery room where a nurse will monitor your vital signs. Once you are ready to get up, and are feeling alert and steady, you will be given cookies or a light snack to eat and join your escort or companion for your ride home.
It is imperative that you have a friend or companion with accompany you to your home. It is not safe for you to leave the facility after having anesthesia without someone to take care of you. You will be instructed not to insert anything into your vagina for 2 weeks following your procedure. This includes tampons, intercourse and douching. Please refrain from using any Aspirin — it can cause an increase in your bleeding.
You will receive a discharge information packet that includes our HOTLINE number and will highlight all the things you need to know following your procedure. You will also receive several prescriptions; one is an antibiotic and the other is a medication that helps contract your uterus so that it can return to its pre-pregnant size.
We have nurses on call 24 hours a day seven days a week and can answer any questions that might arise following the procedure. When you come to our office for a first trimester procedure, we will try to make your stay with us as comfortable and as brief as possible. You can expect to be in our office for 3-5 hours.
