All in Location Unknown

“One of my best friends almost died in childbirth. Other friends of mine have experienced serious complications with pregnancy and delivery. I also have a friend who grew up in foster care and I saw how truly difficult it was for them to live in a world knowing they were not welcome. I chose abortion for my health and the health of future generations who will be impacted by the decisions made by their parents and the intentions behind them.” Read more.

“My mom wanted to have a baby on her terms. She didn't want to doom herself and her children to poverty and deprivation, so she waited to have children. Her body kept trying to change the schedule. So she terminated the pregnancies. She made this decision, evaluating her position and capabilities each time, on a number of occasions, which is nobody's business but her own. When she was ready, she had my brother and me.” Read more.

“I felt lost and scared. I didn’t want to keep the child, but lived in a country where abortion was illegal. I had already had a very painful and difficult abortion a few years ago, and was afraid of having to go through the same process again. I didn’t want to be a mother. My partner at the time didn’t want to become a father either, and we didn’t plan to have a future together.” Read more.

“Fast forward 3 years, my then boyfriend, now husband and I had been married for 3 months, and conceived our beautiful baby boy, planned, and we were ready to parent. When our son was 8 months old, I fell pregnant again. Not ready, physically, emotionally (postpartum depression hit hard) or financially, we decided the most responsible decision for our family was to terminate the pregnancy. This, unknowingly, would cause even more stress on an already stressed marriage.” Read more.

“I was 28 when I had my first abortion. I had just started a new job, fresh out of graduate school and had just discovered I was in a horrible relationship. I couldn't get an abortion fast enough. I felt relieved mostly after it was over . . . At the age of 35 I had grown up a lot and had been dating a wonderful man for about three months while working towards my PhD. The very first time we had sex it happened. He co-signed my fears and stated that we were just starting a relationship, it was too soon, I had to finish my doctorate first. Still unsure, I went along with his strong wishes and had an abortion.” Read more.

“I was already a mother when I had my abortions. I love my children. I believe that my work as a parent is my most important job. When I had my first abortion, I was a single mother. I had just found the courage to end an abusive relationship. It was an incredibly empowering and scary step to try to stand on my own when I had nothing. My baby girl was 9 months old and my income was well below the poverty line. I prayed and lifted all that was weighing upon me to God.” Read more.

“I had my daughter at age 21. She is the light of my life and the reason for so many things I do. Her dad and I split up after a few years and I jumped into another relationship and got pregnant. I was 25. I wanted to be excited and for a few weeks I was but I knew that having a child with this man was not what was best for me or what I wanted. He had three kids himself and I was still in love with my daughter’s dad. Without him knowing, I had an abortion.” Read more.

“I do not feel ashamed to admit that I am pregnant. I do not feel ashamed to say that I am going to have an abortion. Part of me worries whether or not they will think of me differently for it, and quite frankly that anxiety was what was keeping me from realizing that I was letting myself be blinded by them. But their opinions are not mine to harbor. I give myself the freedom to choose abortion and to always do what is best for me. I have an appointment scheduled a week from today, and while I still let myself wonder what it would be like to continue the pregnancy, I remind myself that there is still time for me to have a child in the future. This is the definition of family planning.” Read More.

“I have a long and complicated medical history, much of it centered around my uterus. I've been labelled infertile, and been declared fertile again. I've been pregnant seven times despite all of this, with one living child, who took me years to conceive and carry. Because of my ongoing problems and the insane ability to get pregnant even on several forms of birth control (each terminated pregnancy happened despite being on the pill, condoms, and/or spermicide), this was my last straw. I'm getting sterilized. Read more.

“My second abortion was at 21. I found out I was pregnant again. I had a wave of emotions and this time the decision was not as easy. I’d always wanted a baby and would’ve loved to have been a mum, again I was silly and didn’t use contraception. My mum was so unsupportive and in fact, made my life hell as she thought I’d ruin my life by having this baby. I was so confused and really didn’t know what to do.” Read More.