Chapter 2

The next morning they both sat in the waiting room at Dr Wilson's surgery. A frosty receptionist announced, "Dr Wilson will see you now."

As they both rose to enter the doctor's consulting room the receptionist tilted her glasses and frowned.

"Er, I'll wait here for you Lisa" said Joe sheepishly.

"I want you to be with me" demanded Lisa.

The receptionist frowned again.

"You'll be OK " assured Joe, "I'll be just outside."

Lisa looked at him and wasn't reassured. Reluctantly she walked to the door and tentatively tapped the door.

"Enter!" came the voice from inside.

Lisa walked in and closed the door behind her. "Now then young lady, what seems to be the problem?" said the doctor in his best bedside manner.

Lisa gave him her story of an unwise night with a stranger fuelled by a lot of drink. "Ahh, you're not the first young lady" he proffered " Go behind the screen and remove your lower clothing. I'll examine you now."

Lisa did as requested and walked back to the doctor "Please get up on the examination table and put your legs in the stirrups." he said in a matter of fact voice.

Seconds later she lay on her back with her nether regions exposed to the world. She smiled at the scene and began to wonder why she and Joe hadn't thought of this variation. She watched as the doctor stretched a pair of latex gloves over his hands...

Gently inserting two fingers into her vagina he fiddled within her for a few moments, looking at the ceiling in a very gentlemanly way. He inspected her breasts for a few moments and asked her about her periods.

"Well, I'm afraid that you appear to be definitely pregnant." he said as if Lisa would be surprised. "do you want this baby, or shall I arrange a termination?"

"What does that involve?" asked Lisa.

He explained how they would gradually stretch the opening of her cervix with a series of instruments called dilators. Once her cervix was opened wide enough, he would be able to insert a small plastic tube, about the size of a drinking straw, which would then be attached to a suction machine. The tube would be moved along the inside of her uterus to remove the foetal material. After the suction was complete, he might gently scrape the uterine walls to make sure the abortion was complete. The entire procedure would last less than 10 minutes.

Lisa liked the sound of that but not for the reason the doctor thought. She felt that another way of achieving orgasm was assured. "What do I need to do now then doctor?"

"Well, I' m afraid that the National Health Service won't fund your operation" he replied, " You will need to come up with a thousand pounds to have it done privately."

"Oh" said Lisa, "when do I need to make a decision?"

"I wouldn't leave it for more than a week in your situation " he advised, " after that a much more expensive and difficult procedure would be necessary. If you leave the pregnancy and allow it to move into the 4th month we have to..." The doctor then began to explain...

He began to fascinate her with a description of the Second Trimester D&E Abortion Procedure. He explained that the D&E procedure for second trimester abortion is done in two stages. First, sterile seaweed sticks called laminaria would be inserted to dilate her cervix. After the cervix is dilated, the uterus is emptied.

But if she allowed 14 to 20 weeks to elapse since her last menstrual period, the laminaria are left in place for about 24 hours. If the last menstrual period was more than 20 weeks ago, laminaria would be inserted on the first day, then additional laminaria are inserted the second day, and her abortion would be performed on the third day. During this time she would have to stay in a nearby hotel.

A PAP Smear would also have to be done. The doctor would then insert the laminaria. The purpose of these sticks is to dilate or open her cervix far enough to remove the contents of the uterus. He explained that in normal pregnancy, the cervix (mouth of the uterus) remains closed until labour begins. In order for pregnancy tissue to be removed, the cervix would be opened gently and gradually with the dilating sticks. The sticks look like little bamboo shoots (about the size of wooden matches) when they are inserted. After 18-24 hours, they absorb water from her body and expand 2-3 times their size. Not only would the sticks mechanically open her cervix, they would also soften the cervix and make it much easier to dilate should further dilation be necessary after the sticks are removed. Usually 2 to 10 sticks are inserted, depending on the size of the pregnancy.

He warned that cramping may occur after laminaria insertion. He reminded her that if she had never had a pelvic examination, the important thing to remember is that she should relax. If she tightened up and squeezed her legs together, it wouldn't make the procedure any easier or more comfortable for her; but it would make it a lot harder for the doctor. It would also be important to remember this during the actual abortion procedure. A speculum would be inserted and the cervix cleaned with cotton balls and iodine, as was done before the laminaria insertion. Carbocaine, which is like Novocaine that the dentist uses, would be injected to her cervix. It would feel like a stick when it is injected, so she would have to try to relax. The Carbocaine would begin to numb her almost immediately. During the procedure, it would be important for her to relax. She would have to breathe very slowly, trying to hold her breath for a few seconds if she found herself getting warm, dizzy, or tingly. If any of these things happened, it would be a sign that she was breathing too rapidly. After the Carbocaine had been injected, the dilating sticks would be removed.