Aaron Women's Health Center
Dallas, Texas
972-385-1333 / 800-942-7774
Abortion 12 through 19 weeks LMP
- Please be advised that your abortion at this stage is not a simple one-step act, but a series of steps which lead up to a complex medical procedure and is not to be taken lightly.
Our counselors, nurses and physicians as well as general office personnel and administrators are all involved in the process to insure your safety and well-being.
Upon signing the "Consent for Laminaria(s) Insertion", it is understood that you are aware of and fully understand and agree to the following:
- Insertion of the laminaria will begin the abortion procedure.
- Laminaria insertions/removals will be performed by: Enrique Pinkusiewicz, M.D. and/or Associates.
- Following the laminaria insertion(s), you will return to the Aaron Women's Health Center at your appointed times. Failure to do so may lead to serious medical complications. Laminaria tents must be removed within 24 hours following their insertion.
- You must stay in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area until your abortion procedure is completed.
- A voluntary termination of pregnancy will be performed on the second day upon removal of the laminaria tent(s).
- All medical procedure fees are determined by uterine size, based on pelvic examination and/or sonogram testing.
- Removal of the laminaria tent(s) at the request of the patient and against medical advice may lead to bleeding, cramping, fever, spontaneous abortion and/or other minor/major medical complications for which hospitalization may be required. Refunds to patients at the time of the laminaria removal will not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the collected fee.
- Insertion of the laminaria(s) will be done in the office on the day prior to the abortion procedure. You must:
- Stay in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area during the day prior to your abortion procedure.
- Have someone come to the office to pick you up on the day of the abortion. No one will be permitted to leave the recovery room unaccompanied.
- Laminaria tent(s) are inserted into the cervix where they absorb fluids from the uterine cervix. The absorption of fluids causes a gradual swelling of the laminaria. As a result, the cervical tissue is softened for the abortion procedure. Insertion of the laminaria takes approximately 10 minutes.
Day 1
- Following the insertion of the laminaria, you may:
- Eat normally.
- Take a shower.
- Take prescribed medications.
- Eat a normal supper. However, do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
- You Cannot: Insert tampons into the vagina. You may experience some light spotting. Use external sanitary pads only.
- You Cannot: Take a tub bath.
- You Cannot: Douche.
- You Cannot: Have sexual intercourse.
You may experience mild to moderate cramping. Application of a heating pad, bed rest and/or Aspirin, Tylenol, Nuprin, Advil or Midol should alleviate the discomfort.
If you should experience any of the following at any time:- BLEEDING which is heavier than a normal menstrual period.
- TEMPERATURE 100 OR ABOVE (take your temperature if you feel warm)
- CRAMPING which is not relieved with heat, bed rest and/or medication
- Call the clinic immediately at: 972-385-1333.
- Day 2
- The procedure will be performed following the removal of the laminaria tents. It will take between 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the length of your pregnancy. So you may be more relaxed during the procedure, 50 mg I.M. of Neucalm and 45 mg. I.V. of Talwin will be administered. These doses may vary, depending on the individual patient. The cervix will then be anesthetized by injecting 10 cc 1 percent Xylocaine around the opening of the uterus. Your cervix will already be dilated (this is the function of the laminaria). The physician will clean the uterus using a suction tube and forceps. You may experience some discomfort during the procedure; you may not. Some women experience cramping during and/or after the procedure as the uterus contracts. The cramping experienced is similar to those of light to hard menstrual cramps and usually lasts approximately 20-30 minutes. After the procedure, you will rest in the recovery room for a minimum of 30 minutes. However, no patient will be discharged from the recovery room until she feels well enough to leave. The tissue extracted from your uterus will be examined by the physician. You will be notified if an irregularity is present.
