Expert: Pat G - 6/17/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I just had an abortion about a week ago.
and today i noticed i am secreting milk..is that normal?.


ANSWER: Hi, Vallari,

Having an abortion isn't normal. However, secreting milk after an abortion does happen. It should subside. Don't let your breasts get impacted; milk just enough to relieve any pressure. Hopefully, that will take care of it.

There are many other problems that may arise as a result of your having had an abortion, so be vigilant. If you would like me to explain what some of the problems might be, feel free to ask.

Please take care of yourself.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey thanks for the reply. it helps so to know that its nothing to worry about too much. Um yea it would be nice if u could tell me what some of these problems might be?.

Thanks a lot.

Answer
Vallari,

You're welcome!

Since you said you are secreting milk, I am assuming that you had a surgical abortion. But I will include information about pill abortion as well.

Not much is known about the long term effects of pill abortion. But we know that the pills can kill a woman within hours. Also, they can lead to uncontrolled bleeding, and without emergency medical care, a woman can bleed to death. Pill abortions can also cause birth defects if the baby survives. This would apply if a woman only took Cytotec, which is not that common in more affluent countries. Usually, if a pill abortion fails, they do a surgical abortion, so a woman is subjected to both sets of risks. And pill abortions don't work well at a point close to 49 days.

Surgical abortion has been well documented, and the problems could fill a book. I have several books that talk about this.

Here are the potential early problems: damage to the uterus (usually shown by excessive bleeding, or by difficulties in future pregnancies). Infection, including sexually transmitted diseases. Damage to other organs. If you observe any of the following, see a doctor right away: fever, weakness, smelly or unusual discharge from the vagina. Also, if you start to bleed heavily, seek immediate medical attention. There are other early dangers, but probably you are past the stage of being concerned about them. For future reference: anesthesia can kill a woman or render her paralyzed or unable to communicate. Anesthesia is often given by people who have not been trained. Excessive bleeding can mean perforation of the uterus, and can make a hysterectomy necessary. Other internal organs can also be damaged.

Also, women who have one surgical abortion may become sterile. About 10% of women will never conceive again.

In a future pregnancy, watch for the following: pain about 4 to 6 weeks into a pregnancy, especially if it is suddenly relieved. If that happens, get to the emergency room immediately! Sometimes scarring across the Fallopian tubes causes tubal pregnancy. The baby won't survive, and it is a threat to the life of the mother. Also, tell your doctor you have had an abortion. Surgical abortion damages the cervix so that sometimes it won't hold the weight of a full term baby. This can lead to miscarriage or extreme prematurity. Extreme prematurity is a leading cause of cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. The remedy is for the doctor to fasten the cervix shut until time for birth.

At the time of birth, a woman may experience placenta previa. This is because scarring in the uterus can make it impossible for the baby's placenta to attach higher in the uterus. Placenta previa can lead to ripping away of the placenta during labor, which leads to hemorrhage. The remedy is Caesarian section. It is possible to tell where the placenta is located by ultrasound. Also, a prior abortion can cause prolonged labor, which may also make a Caesarian necessary.

Abortion makes a woman much more prone to breast cancer. If the woman aborted her first pregnancy, chances are very high, and if she has a history of breast cancer in her family, it is a virtual certainty. I don't recommend mammograms, and there are other good tests at this point, but I don't know the details. I have read that one treatment for breast cancer is relatively high doses of Vitamin D. You should do some research on the internet on these questions. A good place to start is http://www.drmercola.com . But also use search terms "breast cancer" "vitamin D".

I hope everything will work out for you. Please take care of yourself, and don't take any more risks! Feel free to write back any time.