Mifepristone usually does not start the miscarriage before taking Misoprostol, although some women may experience light bleeding or nausea after taking Mifepristone.
After using Misoprostol, the miscarriage starts and you should expect bleeding and cramps. Bleeding usually starts within three hours of taking the Misoprostol tablets, but it can start later.
Bleeding and cramps become more severe in the first few hours. Bleeding is often heavier than a normal menstruation, and it is normal to have clots and pieces of tissue. You may also see the pregnancy sac come out, which white and fluffy with brown-red tissue around it. The longer the pregnancy has developed, the heavier the cramps and the bleeding will be.
The heaviest bleeding typically occurs 2-5 hours after using Misoprostol and usually slows down within 24 hours. The most intense cramping and bleeding generally lasts for 3-5 hours, but these times may vary. Some women bleed heavily for up to 48 hours and may pass clots days or even weeks after taking Misoprostol.
If during the abortion you soak through more than two maxi pads per hour for 2 hours or more, or you pass clots bigger than an orange, you should seek help from hospital.
You will continue to bleed lightly from one to three weeks after the abortion, but times may vary. Your normal menstrual period usually returns after four to six weeks.