Surgical procedure at Marie Stopes Sandton

<p>This review is being placed here for the eyes of every single woman who's on her journey with facing an ********. May my experience and review give you some form of comfort and at the very least help you prepare for the procedure.</p> <p>To keep thing short and sweet - after a lot of crying, feelings of guilt and anger and indecisiveness, I made peace with the fact that I was going to terminate my pregnancy. This was a very tough decision to make and what made it all so much worse was the fact that I had decided to not share my choice with anyone else but my partner. This is difficult - not having the support from the people you are close with but that is exactly why, when you make this decision, you need to be ready to support yourself by all means! Do not go into the clinic when there is doubt in your heart and mind. Before you make a booking and before you go - MAKE peace with the process. What I did to accomplish this peace was to be as involved as possible. I figured that it will be best for me, in the long term, to allow myself to feel and experience everything. I did not want to brush it off and get it over with to eventually forget it forever - no. I made a conscious decision to somewhat embrace the morning sickness, to hold my tummy and smile, to eat after my cravings and most importantly - to exchange energy with the life growing inside of me. Becoming pregnant was a big shock - it was not that I could not afford it, or was not ready to be a mother - it was that the time and place for this was simply not fit. My body was not fit and my psyche was not fit - so during the process of allowing myself to feel, I came to a conclusion and agreement which put me at ease. I've asked the energy within me to come back to me when my body is stronger and my heart is softer and this I feel is utmost important. Communicate with yourself and your growing fetus. Be aware and be present - that is very important in the process of acceptance and letting go.</p> <p>So to describe my experience at Marie Stopes Sandton...<br />I made a booking telephonically which was very convenient and instant. I decided to go through with a surgical ********, without sedation - my reason for this was because like mentioned above - I WANTED TO BE PRESENT. I had an appointment for 9am, so I arrived on time and at about 9:20am myself and my partner were called into reception to finalise the procedure and give them my details. From there on it was a loooong waiting process. I had to wait in the waiting room, which is rather small and dull looking, so take a book and some music for yourself. After a while the nurse did an ultrasound - which confirmed 8 weeks of pregnancy. I looked at the ultrasound as I wanted to see it and be present. It was wonderful to see and my partner was allowed to look too. After the ultrasound there was some chatting with another nurse about contraception, my blood pressure was taken, blood group tested etc. She was friendly and kind BUT there was sadly no form of counselling. I was not once asked if the decision is mine, how I feel, etc. So that was disappointing and is something you must prepare for as counselling obviously helps one calm down, but there was none of this over there. Then after a lot of waiting I got an injection in my butt for pain - it was weird how I was given the injection, 2 hours before the actual procedure... Did not make sense to me. Then I had to sign papers of consent. It was strange because these papers clearly stated that one must only sign once the nurse has explained everything etc - but she explained nothing, She put the papers infront of me, and that was it - so clearly they are not very on point with that side of the procedure. I read everything and signed though as I felt ready and knew that it is my decision. Then I was given 2 antibiotic capsules to take prior to the procedure, which made me feel very sick for a while but it subsided eventually. Finally I was called to wait in the recovery room, was given 2 pills to dissolve under my tongue - they soften the cervix. Had to sit and wait there for 1hr 40mins though which was a long time, but anyways. The procedure itself then took place. It was very quickly done, and it is important that you realize that you determine how quick it will be. Do your best to lie still and take the pain, then it is done in 3mintues! The cramping was bad when the suction was app**** - like a constant, period pain BUT ladies, it really was okay and manageable. Just lie there, breathe, do not tense up and tell yourself that it will be over very soon. The hygiene of the procedure worried me a little bit as it does not seem very sterile in there, but I seem to be fine afterwards so do not stress too much. You can do it - I promise. I also got a free Copper IUD placed directly after, which was cool as they are free if you do it on the day of procedure or within 2 weeks after. The doctor did a wonderful job. He spoke to me, hurt me as little as possible although he did say some insensitive things and made inappropriate jokes - I went along with it because I knew that I was there to support myself and nobody could change that. The pain was bad, for 3 minutes but once it was over, it was over. The most painful part for me was the insensitivity that the procedure was dealt with - which again is why YOU MUST Be READY AND SUPPORT YOURSELF! The nurse did not even hold my hand, which sucked, but I held my own hand :) <br />Afterwards in the recovery room, myself and another lady waited sooo long that we just got up and left without even being seen again. <br />So overall - the service was not great and it was not conducted in a very sensitive manner at all BUT the procedure was done and that is what I went there for, so I am satisfied with that. <br />Take a heat pad with for yourself, as they do not give you one. <br />Best of luck with your journey. It is an unpleasant experience but take someone with you to keep you company and make sure that your heart and mind agree with what you are doing before you do it. <br />The total cost for my procedure was R3000, which is not too bad, I'd say, considering I got medication and an IUD too.</p> <p>May you find peace with your decision, and realize that you can control the energies that you attract.</p>