Early Options

I discovered at my first ultrasound at 11 weeks that the baby had stopped developing around 6 weeks. I did not have any signs of a miscarriage, and so I was as surprised as I was sad to find out that I'd had a missed miscarriage at the ultrasound. The attending doctor at the hospital explained that I could probably take a pill instead of undergoing a D&C, or wait to miscarry naturally. I had read how painful and prolonged a process the abortion pill could be, and I did not want to wait to miscarry naturally, since my body obviously still had not figured out after so many weeks. Really, I did not want to ""wait"" -- already feeling deep loss of my pregnancy, I didn't want to have to endure a prolonged miscarriage process, or wait for it to happen (without knowing when and how it might happen). I thought that D&C would be my only option if I wanted to move on as soon as possible in my own terms.\r \r Fortunately, my midwife referred me to Early Options and to Dr. Fleischman, who performs a procedure called SofTouch. I had never heard of this procedure before, and did not know that it was an option for early miscarriage. I got an appointment for the very afternoon I called. The office staff could not have been nicer or more empathetic. The office is diligent about their patients' privacy and comfort. SofTouch procedure requires no anesthesia; the procedure was painless and quick, with minimal discomfort. There is no down time. As a precaution I took the rest of the day off to be at home, but I did not have any issues with the exception of very very mild cramping from time to time and some tenderness that evening.\r \r I am so grateful to have found Early Options and had their care with my miscarriage process. I felt looked after in a warm, personal and caring way; it was not at all clinical, and this was a tremendous help in a sad process. It also helps me heal to know that, physically, I can get back to my normal life almost immediately, and that I can start to try to get pregnant again without any wait.\r \r SofTouch is an excellent option for women who are miscarrying, and I hope more women hear of it as an option since I had never heard of it. more

Like many, I never thought I would find myself in the position of seeking an abortion. It's a nightmare that's made worse by a lack of clear information and reliable clinics. After researching, I decided Manual Vacuum Aspiration (without scraping) would be the best choice. Deciding where to go was the hard part. Most clinicians' websites seemed unprofessional and didn't inspire a sense of confidence -- including Early Options. I called a dozen clinics only to find that most are assembly lines. Early Options has an all female staff with board certified doctors. However, their website is misleading in the claim that they ""only schedule one patient at a time"" -- they actually have multiple procedures going on at once but stagger their schedule so that each person arrives at a separate time. And they are careful to keep people from running into one, which did make it feel like a personalized experience.\r \r I was terrified the day of the procedure. I had read all kind of things about the possible pain involved -- some people felt next to nothing, others had issues. Fortunately, there were a few studies published which compared MVA with D&C and measured the pain according to the Visual Analogue Pain Scale. It appears that MVA patients range in pain from 0-8 out of 10, with the median being around 4.5. In one study 57% of patients experienced mild pain or less. This bit of information kept me from completely freaking out.\r \r http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22619908\r http://www.revho.fr/professionnels/bibliographie/sources_doctrinales/anglais/surveillance_avortement%20/incomplete_abortion_600.pdf\r http://img.medscape.com/fullsize/migrated/580/952/bja580952.fig1.gif\r \r We were fortunate to have ""Dr. K"" for the procedure. She was warm and empathetic throughout the process. She talked me through the whole thing, letting me know what was coming and how much time was left. Fortunately, because I was so early, she was able to complete the entire procedure in about four minutes from insertion of the speculum to retraction of the actual pump. The pain was not constant, it ebbed depending on what was being done. The most painful parts lasted about one minute total and I was able to have my support person with me at all times throughout the visit. If I had to rate it, I would say the pain was at a 7 for the invasive parts of the process, rising to 8 when the cannula was inserted. The invasive part (dilation and evacuation) lasted about 60 seconds total. After retraction of all the equipment, my cramps actually got stronger, about a 7.5 on the scale. This lasted for five minutes without decreasing and then dropped off quickly to a 4, where it stayed for another five minutes. I was able to get dressed after about 15 minutes of rest. There was moderate bleeding, but nothing more than a period.\r \r I experienced mild cramping for the remainder of the evening, with a few stronger episodes that were eased by a hot water bottle. I didn't take any additional pain medication over the following days and the bleeding was minimal. I took it easy for two-three days afterwards although if I had to go to work, I believe it wouldn't have been an issue.\r \r EO claims to be a member of the National Abortion Federation. We called on two separate occasions and the NAF could not verify their membership. They also don't appear to insist on follow up visits, which would seem important. All in all though, this was a discreet place for such a trying time and they did a great job. more

I found early options online, it was the first link that I clicked. I read all the reviews and read through all of the website. I can't possibly recommend or have imagined a better place for a woman to go to during such a tough time. ALL of the staff were truly amazing, caring, patient, kind, and compassionate. I also went to a clinic out of state (this happened to me over the holidays and I was visiting my family in the Midwest). I was mortified when I walked into the other clinic. It felt dirty, the waiting room was full, there were protestors outside, and there was no privacy. Yes, it was cheaper. But I would have paid triple for the experience I had at Early Options. I went three times in total, and saw both doctors on staff- both were incredible. I am almost in tears thinking of how grateful I am. This was the hardest decision of my life, and the toughest three weeks that I can remember. I am 35, and there were so many thoughts going through my head. I am a smart, successful, emotionally stable women. But sadly, the father wanted nothing to do with the pregnancy. So I had a huge decision to make- do it alone, or terminate and hope for a better experience down the road. Ultimately, after 3 grueling, torturous weeks, I finally came to the decision to terminate via the aspiration method. I was between 6-7 weeks. I was given a painkiller and asked for valium (because I was very nervous). It was more painful than I had expected, but I don't think the painful part of the procedure lasted more than 60-90 seconds. I can't really describe the pain I felt, because it wasn't like pulsating cramps, it was more of a persistent/constant very painful cramp that didn't pulsate or contract. Once it was over the pain persisted but on a much, much smaller scale. I used the bathroom afterwards because they said releasing the pressure from my bladder may help. And it did. I am home now and have been on my couch pretty much all day. I have had minimal spotting and barely any pain, just very slight cramps. I was very lucky and blessed because they told me my pregnancy wasn't actually viable anyway. Apparently there was no heartbeat and they said there was minimal tissue so not much was seen and I would have likely miscarried naturally. I can't tell you how relieved I am on so many levels. For anyone going through this, please know that you are not alone, that this happens to all varieties of people, that mistakes happen, that you must do what is ultimately going to be best for you and for your future. This has been quite an experience for me, one that I have learned so much from. I never in my life would have thought I'd have an abortion. In fact, I just had a conversation with a girl friend a few months ago, telling her if I got pregnant at this point in my life that I would definitely have it. You just never know until you are in that position. So please don't let anyone influence you beyond what you are comfortable with. And if you decide to have an abortion, continue to read all oft these rave reviews. Early Options exceeded my expectations and I am sure it will do the same for you. more

This is certainly not an easy thing to write about, yet alone deal with. As a 21 year old college student, I am simply not ready to have a child and neither was my boyfriend. I searched for days on abortion clinics and where to go. Every place had horrible reviews that scared me to death. My mom did lots of searching and told me to look up Early Options because they had lots of great reviews and their method was very different than other clinics. I wouldn't even consider Early Options a clinic, just a normal doctors office. If you are put in this situation, there is only one way to go and that's by using Early Options. \r \r Overall, my visit was about 2 hours. As soon as you arrive there is no waiting, you are brought to your own private room and have your own personal medical assistant. The office is very nice, quiet, and clean. You are offered a variety of snacks and beverages and the entire staff is extremely nice and helpful. There is no paperwork which is a huge plus. My visit consisted of a regular check up (blood pressure, pregnancy test, small prick of blood from finger) and some basic questions. After that, I met with the Dr who was very nice and kind. She answered any and all of my questions. She made me comfortable before starting the procedure. The procedure itself took about 2 minutes, 3 at most. I will say, the pain from the cramping does get bad and hurts very much but I promise, it is bearable. Once it was over, I sat with the heating pad and was brought some juice. Dr came back in to discuss my results and said everything was great and explained some quick aftercare stuff. \r \r I'm so thankful that I found Early Options. I was terrified walking in but with such an amazing staff, my nerves soon left and I knew I made the right choice. If I anyone I know had to go through this, I will 100% recommend them to this place. There are no words to describe the amazing care I received. more

I am reading these reviews while breast feeding my innocent baby. I am so happy for this baby to be alive. He has given me so much joy and happiness even though he was a big surprise!! If abortion is an option, what option does the baby have??? None of you deserves to be a mother. more

It's very hard for me to write this review, because I feel like such a hypocrite for even having had an abortion, but I am very thankful for Early Options because even though I was acting like a person who wanted kids, I was not prepared to be a mother to a newborn again. I am 42 years old and I already have 2 older kids. \r \r I just had my abortion 2 hours ago and I am already back at work. The procedure was not painful, but it was a little uncomfortable. If you have had kids in the past, this will be a piece of cake. It kind of feels like the onset of labor or menstrual cramps. I was 7 weeks pregnant and received the SofTouch Aspiration method. After the procedure, it took about 10 minutes for the cramps to subside, but they could have subsided quickly because of the high dose of ibuprofen they give you before the procedure. I am allergic to pain, so I was happy to take it! \r \r Even though I feel that every life is precious, I knew I was not ready for this child. I feel horrible that I had to do this but I am thankful for having this option available. It's safe, quick, and easy with minimal discomfort and you are awake the entire time. There is no need for any type of general anesthesia. They also allowed my boyfriend to stay in the room with me for the entire procedure. more

I had an unexpected pregnancy we weren't ready for, so I found Early Options and am very glad we found such a resource. I tried the aspiration procedure at first, thinking it would be quick and not that painful with Dr. B. Unfortunately it didn't go that well, it was extremely painful and I wasn't able to finish the procedure. We decided for me to use the pill instead, which ended up not working that well for me. I went back a few days later, and saw Dr. F this time. She was wonderful, she quickly took an ultrasound and saw that the pills didn't work, I still had an ongoing pregnancy, and recommended the aspiration procedure again. I didn't have to make another appointment, they were able to fit me in right away for the procedure. This time around it was quick, and although not entirely painless, a LOT less painless than when I tried the first time with Dr. B. I did take extra medication the second time to calm me down for the procedure, but all in all Dr. F was extremely experienced, professional, and made the aspiration procedure quick and easy. We are very thankful and recommend Early Options. Dr. B was very nice, but given my experience I would recommend Dr. F - her experience definitely shows and we are glad that we were able to find this resource as an option. more

I'm 31 and found out I was pregnant, unfortunately the timing was bad and I knew that I had to terminate the pregnancy. Of course its not something any women looks forward to, especially when I had done this when I was 18 and my experience was horrible. My boyfriend and I knew that we wanted the safest procedure and after my boyfriend doing much research he found early options, we read most of the reviews and read up on both of the procedures that are used and felt like this was the place for us. I will say its more expensive then most, but it is worth every penny because the treatment and care that you get from both the staff and the doctor is amazing. What I loved most is my boyfriend was able to stay by my side through the whole procedure which was a huge plus since I can remember being 18 and all alone and scared with my first abortion. He sat next to me and held my hand the whole way while the medical assisant was on the other side talking to me during the procedure and keeping me calm, it was great. I chose the aspiration procedure and it lasted all of 2 minutes and alls i felt was intense pressure but no pain and cramping afterwards. I dont want to compare getting an abortion to getting a spa treatment because its a very hard time in any womens life but i will say the treatment and care you get was much like you would get at a spa, they make you feel at ease. What I also thought was great was after your procedure the doctor takes you in her office to have a chat with you and get to know you and once again comfort you in the decision you made and even going as far as taking your email address and emailing me that same day asking how was I was feeling and to contact her if I had any concerns or questions. I just want to say Dr. Fleischman, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making one of the hardest decisions in a womens life easy and what you've done with early options is amazing and i'd be happy to share it with any women I know that is in need of good and safe care. Please never stop doing what you do!!! more

I chose to go to Early Options as a result of miscarriage during my 9th week of pregnancy. When my doctor officially told me there was no heartbeat I knew there were decisions to be thought about. My doctor immediately told me about my options--a D&C, the abortion pill or to let the fetus miscarry naturally. I had known about Early Options from a past experience, I knew this was going to be the route I chose. I also found it the opportune time to inform my fertlity doctor about this option for other patients who may face a situation similar to mine. When I explained to him the manual aspiration method was a much more natural procedure and you do not have to put under he couldn't understand why I would choose to do this. He said ""why would you want to be awake for a surgical procedure? A D&C is a very routine procedure"". I realized he could not relate to or understand what I was talking about. Later in that day his nurse called me to check in and find out if I would be scheduling the D&C with their office. I thought, how great I have a second chance to get my message through to his nurse about Early Options. She also, had little to no interest about my decision. I am writing this review to get my message to other women who are so misinformed about miscarriage options.\r \r My experience at Early Options was the most positive it could be for this someone who experiences a miscarriage. From my initial phone conversation through the procedure my expectations were exceeded. The staff is highly caring and knowledgeable. Dr. Fleischman and I connected immediately, she was very understanding and encouraging to my personal situation. The procedure itself it less than 5 minutes and the cramping goes away within minutes. Of course, there are many emotional feelings that come with this situation but, physically you are able to resume all normal activities immediately. This is a safe and simple procedure so please consider it if you must go through this. In early pregnancy or miscarriage there is no reason to be put under to have a surgical procedure done to remove a fetus. If you want to have children in the future you do not want scarring in your uterus. Please please take the time to speak with Dr. Fleischman's office before you listen to your doctors recommendations. You will not regret the choice when you decide to use this office. Your privacy, choice and feelings will be completely respected by the entire team at Early Options. I could not have made a better decision to use their practice. I hope to find another opportunity to share this experience with my fertility doctor and/or his nurse in hope they will refer patients to Early Options. Although this is very difficult to speak about I plan to share my story with as many people as I can to spread awareness of Early Options. more

Early options is truly and honestly a light at the end of a dark tunnel. I have been debating with where to go. I have accompanied friends to other places and I was horrified by what I saw. The over crowded waiting room, the insensitive people who worked there, the experience added to a more difficult situation. Early options was a breath of fresh air. From making an appointment until the end the staff was overly gracious. I was very nervous about what to expect, being that this is my first time. They made me feel at home. They set up appointments so that your not running into anyone. The whole time I felt as if I was the only one there and everyone catered to my every need. The staff was EXTREMELY warm, they made me feel at ease. They explained the entire process, answered questions and reassured me. There was never any pressure to do anything I didn't want to do. As for the actual procedure it really only took a few minutes. There was slight cramping and that's as far as any discomfort. The nurse spoke to me the whole time and took my mind off of what was happening. They gave me medications and information to take home with me along with contact information in case anything went wrong, which nothing did. I would highly recommend this to any women who wants to have a pleasant experience. Your made a priority. Your health and comfort comes first. more

I did a lot of research before I choose this clinic. I know it's not a cheap one, but abortion is not something i want to save money on. \r The staff was very polite, friendly and not judgmental. You can bring a visitor with you, as I was by myself, the girl hold my hand during procedure. \r The procedure least for a 2-3 min. It was unpleasant, you feel like something pulling out of you. But it didn't hurt a lot. I felt not that good after, but for not more then 10 min. Dizziness, cramps, nausea, light spinning in my head. But everything gone away after 10 min.\r The rest of the day I did all my usual stuff. Like nothing happened.\r Today is my second day after aspiration abortion. I have just light spotting. more

As I'm sure you could imagine, deciding to get this procedure done is a life altering decision. From the receptionist to the nurses to the doctor, Early Options makes you feel 100% informed and comfortable with your options. The nurse was very comforting and kind, understanding the severity of the procedure. They are extremely professional, experienced and experts in their procedures. The doctor was extremely kind, personable and professional. I highly recommend Early Options to any female in this position. The procedure was quick and painless as described by the doctor and nurse and they worked together cohesively as a team to make sure my comfort and well-being came first. The doctors experience and warm nature will make you feel at ease, ensuring you made the right decision and your health comes first. Thank you to the staff at Early Options for making a tough time as easy as possible! more

I was really nervous about my visit. I watched the WHO video on MVA (I would not recommend that people watch--its my personality, so I did). \r \r When I entered the office, everyone was very nice. I was greeted by an awesome medical assistant. She was very professional, knowledgable and compassionate. Throughout my 6 wks of pregnancy, I never felt as comforted as I did when my nurse 'A' said ""I know that you do not know me, and I do not know you, but my role is to be here for you and to make sure that you are ok."" I felt so good after hearing her say that. I know that she was sincere- she really meant it!\r \r The doctor was also amazing. She was completely non-judgmental, informative, and really made me feel at ease. I felt very comfortable with Dr. M. The procedure was quick and even though pricey, it's worth every cent. Privacy, compassion, respect, and empathy are all worth the cost to me. I don't believe you can find this at other places- I've researched it. \r \r Thank you Early Options staff! more

The staff members were very kind and comforting. However, the compassion came at a very high price considering not only the $1200 cost, but the procedure was very painful to only be given a strong dose of ibuprofen. Stronger pain medication absolutely should be offered beforehand. If I had to choose again, I'm not sure I would choose this route. I could have been put under for less, or perhaps taken the pill for half the price. I can't imagine that the pill could hurt any worse than this procedure did, wide awake :( more

Such a well run, patient friendly, calm and supportive doctors office. Everything is discreet and SUPER professional from the time you make your appointment. The questions are not invasive over the phone to make you feel like an appointment file and not a person. I called a few other offices and the difference in service was remarkable. When I arrived at my appointment, there was no one else in the waiting room but a lovely receptionist who welcomed me. They had healthy snacks, water, and tea to offset the strong ibuprofen you take - that is all you take, no anesthesia. You are then taken to your own private room which is really clean and surprisingly comfortable. You have your own nurse who takes you through the set-up. She was amazing! So friendly and personable, I felt like an individual person throughout. I was so calm and relaxed that I wasnt nervous about the procedure by the time we saw the doctor. Everyone from end to end was remarkable - I enthusiastically recommend Early Options. The office is lovely as are the staff. It is expensive as they do not accept insurance but if you are able to afford it - there is no other option. more

Upon entering this office, I was immediately put at ease. The doctor and her staff were all very nice. I feel very grateful and lucky to have found such a facility, with a remarkable staff, efficient doctors, and within reasonable distance to my home. more

I've not had other abortion experiences, but my experience here was as good as it could be. From the moment I contacted them I knew I was going to be in good hands - they were helpful, kind, and absolutely non-judgmental on the phone and in person. The doctor and her assistants were thorough in explaining exactly what my options were and in how the procedure that I had chosen would be done. Even better, my boyfriend at the time was allowed to be in the room with me throughout the procedure. What a compassionate and comforting staff to be around in such a chaotic time. more

kbkh\r more

I found out i was pregnant with a guy i just started dating. I knew i was in no position to have a child but did NOT want to go through an abortion, yet I knew I had to. I found Early Options on Google and figured I would try it out. I drove over 2 hours to get there and I could not have been happier that I did. The nurse ""A"" was the sweetest girl. She made me feel very safe and answered all 6 billion questions I had. The doctor was by far one of the most caring, sweet, genuine people I have ever met. I went to the Brooklyn office by the way. The first thing they do to start is give an ultra sound which is no pain at all. They give you the option to see the fetus but you do NOT have to look. Then they numb your cervix with a needle, it was a pinch but nothing major. Then they begin the procedure. I will not lie, it was VERY painful cramps but it is over in 2 minutes. I had NO cramps when I left and i was just spotting. No bleeding really at all. You really feel like you can leave the office and continue on your day physically, but everyone's different so you may want to rest if you are emotional. I was emotional during the procedure but the nurse stayed by my side the entire time and literally held my hand. They offer you tea and snacks and they let you stay in the procedure room for as long as you need until you feel you are ready to leave. And while I was in there the nurse stayed right by me. I am not really all about abortions at all, but I know sometimes decisions have to be made that are difficult, and if ANY girl/woman is put in this situation to make such a hard decision, and you find out early enough because you have to be 10 weeks or less, i PROMISE you, you will not regret taking the trip to early options in Brooklyn. Thank you to all the staff for making such a hard, life changing decision so much easier and more comfortable. more

I was skeptical at first, after reading so many positive reviews it seemed too good to be true. But after going in this morning and having the aspiration procedure done, I am ecstatic to report that this office exceeded my expectations in every way possible. The staff and doctor were extremely patient, comforting and understanding. Being a 20 year old student this was an extremely difficult time for me, finding out that I was pregnant to begin with was traumatizing, the last thing I needed was to end up in a sketchy cold clinic. The main reason why I chose this office is because unlike clinics there is no need for general anesthesia and the aspiration procedure done here is extremely safe and almost painless(aside from bearable cramping at the end) done with 2 manual plastic instruments that aren't abrasive or dangerous in the least. Unfortunately other clinics do not offer this option and require the general anesthesia. Upon my arrival, during my procedure, and after my procedure I felt very safe and at ease. I was happy to be awake during the procedure and to be fully aware of what was going on. I had been anticipating pain and discomfort for the past week and am more than relieved to have chosen such an amazing place. I left the office in a little over an hour, It was quick, safe, easy, accommodating. I'm so happy that I chose Early Options and I would urge anyone in my position to go to this place, wish for everyone to have such a positive experience as I did. more