Post abortion syndrome

Grace Ojiambo, Executive Director of Crisis Pregnancy Ministries, Nairobi examines Rahab’s feelings about her abortion.

RAHAB’S situation has happened to countless couples; when one faces a crisis pregnancy, they are so stressed that they can’t think objectively. At that point, the crisis pregnancy is the Goliath in their lives that they must kill. Usually the thinking is that after this Goliath has been eliminated, all will be well. For a while, it may seem so.Several observations can be made from Rahab’s story that are usually not discussed as one is making the decision.

These are:
Physical pain
Depending on how it is done, abortion can be very painful and may last for a while. Rahab talks of screaming and howling.

Bleeding
This too can be very severe. Some women have actually died after an abortion because of excessive and uncontrollable bleeding.

Initial relief
Rahab felt better because the pregnancy was gone and nobody knew. Almost always, there is that initial feeling of relief.

Production of milk
Immediately a woman becomes pregnant, the body organs begin to prepare for the baby. When the baby is out, the body presumes there is a newborn needing to suckle, hence the production of milk begins. Some drugs may be prescribed to stop milk production.

Nightmares
These are very common after an abortion, They may be a consequence of emotional and psychological pressure.

Crying
This is very common because of the sense of loss and mourning for the lost child.

Regret and remorse
This is common after an abortion. Religous, social and individual beliefs with the loss of life, may cause a feeling of helplessness. Coupled with guilt, these feelings could lead to suicidal impulses.

Preoccupation with becoming pregnant again
In many cases, abortion may lead to the urge to carry another pregnancy. This is some kind of atonement for what one has done. Sometimes it may be caused by anxiety to determine whether one can still conceive after the abortion.

Despair and helplessness
This comes from the feeling that one cannot undo what has been done. It is usually assumed that only young unmarried women go for abortion. However, from Rahab’s story, two out of ten women were elderly.Rahab and Julius should go for counselling and if they still love each other they should legalize their marriage.

Conclusion
Rahab’s reaction to her crisis pregnancy is very common. It is called Post-Abortion Syndrome (PAS). Some of the symptoms of PAS are guilt, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Effects include sadness, sudden and uncontrollable crying, loss of self-esteem, lack of sleep and appetite. Others are reduced motivation, flashbacks of the abortion, preoccupation with becoming pregnant again, eating disorders, self-punishing behaviour such as alcohol and drug abuse and promiscuity. Not every woman who has an abortion experiences all these. Rahab experienced only a few of them.

Some women have reported feeling nothing; others have not experienced PAS immediately, but years later. One client sought the help of Crisis Pregnancy Ministries six years after she had an abortion. She had felt nothing until then. Abortion affects one psychologically, physically and spiritually. If you have gone through it and begin to experience any of the above in increasing measure, please seek help.

Such help can be found at Crisis Pregnancy Ministries, or from any other trained counsellor.

END:PG 07 /06