What Is Meant by Abortion?
Abortion is a process that ends in the termination of the pregnancy by eliminating the embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs spontaneously and naturally without intervention is called a miscarriage or spontaneous abortion. Miscarriage occurs in usually 40 % of cases. About 73 million abortions take place intentionally worldwide every year. It is a simple health intervention that various surgical methods or medications can manage.
Abortion can be performed in two different ways:
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Medical abortion is where medications are used to end a pregnancy. This method is called medical abortion or abortion using pills.
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Procedural abortion is done through a surgical procedure to eliminate the fetus from the uterus.
What Is Meant by Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is essential to provide all the nutrients the baby requires in the initial stages of life. It is a process where human milk is provided to the newborn, from which the baby gets all the nutrients.
What Is an Abortion Pill?
Abortion pill is a form of medical abortion where pills are used to terminate pregnancies of up to ten weeks of gestation. The abortion pills are a combination of two drugs, which are:
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Mifepristone:
This pill plays its role by blocking progesterone, a hormone required to maintain pregnancy during the initial stages. This pill breaks the uterine lining where the embryo is attached, detaining the embryo from the uterine wall.
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Misoprostol:
This pill is taken sometime later after taking mifepristone. This causes labor, which helps to eliminate the detached embryo from the uterus.
These drugs are usually prescribed to eliminate the contents of the uterus.
Is Medical Abortion Advisable During Breastfeeding?
Women who breastfeed babies under the age of one do not use any contraception method, and this can result in pregnancies. Women think being pregnant may cause a hindrance in breastfeeding their elder child, which is entirely wrong. Pregnant women can breastfeed their older child as breastmilk will be produced even if the woman is pregnant. During breastfeeding, the mammary gland gets stimulated, resulting in uterine contraction. This is harmless, but for some, it may lead to miscarriage or premature delivery. This is considered to be a medical abortion, which is safe for the fetus of an age less than three.
Abortion pills are not recommended in breastfeeding women as there is no proper evidence on the effects of these drugs on the newborn through breast milk. Women who are breastfeeding are not recommended to go for medical abortion. Women can hold breastfeeding and take abortion pills and can resume feeding after five to six days once the medication is eliminated from the blood completely.
What Is the Safe Method of Abortion for Breastfeeding Mothers?
If a breastfeeding mother gets pregnant, abortion is not recommended. But in some cases, abortion is still applied. Medical abortion is usually not recommended for breastfeeding mothers. Instead, the traditional method is recommended for nursing mothers. Depending on the health of the fetus and the mother, abortion can be performed at the correct time. Post-abortion antibiotics are recommended to the mother to avoid any infections. During this phase, the mother is asked to stop breastfeeding for a while.
What Are the Effects of Abortion Pills on the Breastfeeding Process?
Many women undergo the abortion process while still breastfeeding their first child. Some studies have shown side effects of abortion pills over breastfeeding, which can affect the child being breastfed.
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Effects of Mifepristone:
This is the first of the abortion pills which are usually not recommended for a breastfeeding mother. But in some cases of medical abortion, the concentration of this pill is seen in the breast milk collected from the mother. The concentration of this pill is very high in the initial 12 hours post-administration and is detected for about seven days.
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Effects of Misoprostol:
This is the second pill to be followed and is excreted in small amounts in the breast milk. This drug is eliminated in a short period of time, in about five hours, when taken orally.
Does the Abortion Pill Enter Into Breastmilk?
As abortion pills get mixed with breastmilk, most nursing women do not go for abortion pills to end their pregnancy. If the abortion pills get mixed with the breastmilk and fed to the newborn, it may cause many problems like diarrhea and other health issues. If proper precautions are taken after taking these pills, the baby can be protected from the side effects caused by these pills. The doctors usually ask the mother not to feed the child after taking these pills and recommend that the mother collect expressed breastmilk and feed the same for a few days. All these depend on the pills taken.
Why Do Nursing Mothers Usually Opt for Medical Abortion?
The mother must decide whether to go for a surgical or medical abortion method. Surgical methods will be even tougher for the woman already caring for a newborn. Surgical methods can also sometimes have side effects on the mother’s health, such as fatigue, sleeplessness, reduced appetite, stress, depression, etc. In such cases, women tend to opt for fewer risky procedures, so many opt for abortion pills. At the same time, surgical procedures may involve a lot of emotional and physical pain, whereas medical procedures where the mother can just pop up a pill are more comforting.
When the mother takes a pill, it will cause the uterus to contract to eliminate the fetus from the uterus. The medical way of abortion is considered to be a more economical method compared to the surgical method.
What Are the Safe Methods to Breastfeed the Baby During Abortion?
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The mother should not breastfeed the baby for a few days after taking abortion pills, as it can get mixed with the milk and can cause many side effects to the baby.
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After taking the pill, the mother should consult the physician before resuming breastfeeding.
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The mother should undertake certain tests to confirm all the ingredients from the pill are washed away from the mother's blood.
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In case of ectopic pregnancy during breastfeeding, the surgical procedure of abortion should only be done.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is a procedure where the mother feeds the breastmilk to the newborn, containing all the nutrients the baby requires. Abortion is a pregnancy termination process by eliminating the fetus from the uterus. This can be done by taking abortion pills, but they should not be taken during breastfeeding as the ingredients in these pills can cause many side effects to the newborn. When these pills are taken, special care should be taken.
