All in Two Abortions
“I had a very unstable upbringing — absent father, constantly moving, in foster care whilst my Mum was depressed and suicidal for long periods — and for me I do not want to bring a child into the world without the security of having a stable, permanent home.” Click the green title to read more.
“Me, a lifelong Christian, living in ultra conservative, small town USA, surrounded by people who think abortions are the work of the devil, had two and never told a soul. I didn’t take time off work and carried on.” Click the green title to read more.
“I had just met my husband in the summer, and that fall I found out I was pregnant. It was far too early in our relationship. He has three children from a previous marriage. Neither of us could find work at the time, and I suffer from bipolar mood disorder and anxiety attacks. It was bad timing really.” Click the green title to read more.
“The hardest part for me to come to terms with is the fact that both times I had taken the emergency contraceptive pill, which doctors have told me fails only one time in every hundred.” Click the green title to read more.
“Before I was completely affected by the sedation, my nurse grabbed my hand and smiled at me and that made everything great because I wanted my mom there so bad.” Click the green title to read more.
“Never wanted children, but had healthy, heterosexual relationships. Was a great pill taker; then my gyn told me women need to 'give their bodies a break,' that I shouldn't stay on the pill for a long time, and took me off it.” Click the green title to read more.
“He explained he would not be helping me pay for the abortion, so I had to reschedule my appointment for the day I get paid and deal with being pregnant an additional week and a half.” Click the green title to read more.
“I had no idea how I was going to handle a miscarriage with nowhere to have it in peace and privacy. It was then that I decided to abort. My boyfriend was supportive. I took a friend with me and we drove 2 hours away to the nearest clinic that would perform one that far along.” Click the green title to read more.
“I could not see a point anywhere in the future where I would want children in my life. The realization shocked me. Children had always been part of the plan. I began to realize that that plan belonged to somebody else. It was everyone else’s expectations of me as a woman.” Click the green title to read more.
“I did not at all want to have a child at that time of my life. I want kids in the future when I am maybe 30 years old. My boyfriend did not want children either. I would never have a child I didn't want.” Click the green title to read more.
“Two different experiences make the list of emotions confusing. My first abortion was one I had to travel for and lie for and could not share with people at home, so the emotions were primarily negative. Yet I was sure it was the right decision.” Click the green title to read more.
“I gravitated towards medication abortion as it would be the most intimate way to experience this decision at home with the least amount of medical intervention. So it was decided—I would be pregnant on vacation then take medication to terminate the pregnancy once back home.” Click the green title to read more.
“I feel thankful that I live in a country where I had the choice to decide about my pregnancy. I feel very sad for the women that do not have the same choice or do not have the money to visit a proper medical center.” Click the green title to read more.
“I had to go to Baltimore at a certain corner downtown, at a certain time, by myself with cash. This big car pulled up, and I think there were two other girls in there. I got in, and they put something over my face to cover my eyes.” Click the green title to read more.
“They say we took the easy way out, to avoid dealing with a medically complex child. They say we are cold, uncaring women, throwing away our child the minute there is a problem. They say we are not allowed to mourn our babies, because we had an abortion.” Click the green title to read more.
“These two vastly different experiences demonstrate why access to safe legal abortion – such as through Planned Parenthood – is vital for our health.” Click the green title to read more.
“I was so scared. But they didn’t judge me. Or push me. They helped me weigh my own options, and held my hand when I came to an informed conclusion on my own.” Click the green title to read more.
“Part of me wants to be very quiet and forget this, make sure it never happens again, and part of me wants to carve this story into stone, because it’s mine, it’s yours, it’s all of ours.” Click the green title to read more.
What is it like to have two abortions as a teenager? Listen to Gail tell of her experiences. Click the green title.
“There seems to be no coming together of women in solidarity over abortion. Women unite to help when a battered wife leaves a husband or a wife and mother is abandoned by a husband or lover, but on the issue of abortion there is a resounding silence.” Click the green title to read more.
