Jun 21 Jun 21 "Seeing that positive sign made my stomach drop." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Location Unknown “My first was the summer going into my senior year of high school. My boyfriend & I had been together for 3 years & we both knew right away. We were too young and we were NOT ready to bring a life into this world. My 2nd was about 3 years later. With my same boyfriend.” Read more.
Jun 13 Jun 13 "I was still in college, broke, wouldn’t have a good household for this child to grow up in." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Location Unknown “We ended up getting married three years later, and once again I found myself pregnant. We had a home, jobs, but we didn’t want children yet.” Read more.
Jun 1 Jun 1 Podcast ~ "The decision to have an abortion was easy for me." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Ohio, Louisiana, U.S., Audio Listen as Amy tells of her two abortions. She explains that she was raised by a single mother who had two children at the age of 21. “It was always a struggle. I was clear — that was not going to be my path.” Listen.
Jun 1 Jun 1 "I could barely support myself financially, and when I have children, I want to be able to give them the world." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Canada “My period was a week late and I truly thought it was just stress. My boyfriend and I had been EXTREMELY careful, except one night. I took Plan B within an hour of having unprotected sex. We broke up two weeks after that night, and another two weeks later I found out I was pregnant. I really struggled with the decision since I had already had an abortion. The women at the clinic were extremely understanding and explained that some women are incredibly fertile and it isn't uncommon for situations like mine.” Read more.
May 29 May 29 "In patriarchal societies such as India’s, women are often taught motherhood is their life’s main calling, and therefore any choice that detracts from the path is automatically denounced." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, India “The most difficult issue with it is that you fall into this section where you barely have rights. You do have access to abortions and you can go get one, but nobody is going to support you, and if something goes wrong, you won’t get justice. Herein lies the crux of a lot of bad memories people associate with abortions. They don’t necessarily stem from the abortion procedure itself but instead arise from the impossible difficulties society has lined up for those seeking to exercise their reproductive rights." Read more.
May 22 May 22 "She asked me to get up on the kitchen table, where she tormented me for what seemed to me forever with all kinds of sharp metal instruments she kept boiling on an ancient stove." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Bucharest, Romania “She took great precautions not to let me make any noise by putting a rag in my mouth and asking me to bite on it when it hurt. I left that place with the conviction that I was never going to have sex again. I was worried because I continued getting morning sickness despite the ordeal I had gone through. Someone else took me for a secret check-up, which proved I was still pregnant. I was lucky I was taken to a real doctor this time, who finished the job on another kitchen table.” Read more.
May 13 May 13 "Fue porque las dos veces me falló el método anticonceptivo." * "It was because both times the contraceptive method failed me." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Mexico, Spanish/English “Estoy segura que no quiero tener hijos pronto y por eso usaba esos anticonceptivos, pero no sé si fue mala suerte o si hago algo mal o qué.” Lee mas.“I'm sure I don't want to have children soon and that's why I used those contraceptives, but I don't know if it was bad luck or if I do something wrong or what.” Read more.
May 9 May 9 "My abortions brought me joy and relief and sanity when I needed it most." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, West Virginia, U.S. “My second abortion was a procedural abortion. I remember drifting off to sleep in the feet-holders, and then waking up once it was over. I didn’t feel any of it. The clinic staff gave me soda to drink and let me rest for a bit. I remember walking out of the clinic and into the sunshine, feeling elated and relieved once more. I felt overwhelmingly free. It was beautiful.” Read more.
May 7 May 7 "Now? 34 weeks pregnant in a happy marriage and know what a disaster it would have been to keep either of my previous pregnancies." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, U.S. “The trauma felt around my second was ALL of the bullying that was done by the dude to make sure I was going to get an abortion. That one was in a clinic. My girlfriend came with me, and he ignored my texts and calls all day. THAT was traumatic. That is what was upsetting. I had loving care through the whole process and afterwards. And I’m so grateful I didn’t have a baby with someone who was so god damn manipulative, again at a young age.” Read more.
May 6 May 6 Podcast ~ Listen to actor Alyssa Milano and artist Amanda Palmer talk about their experiences of having more than one abortion. Sharing Truth Audio, Two Abortions, Three Abortions, U.S., Scotland "The hardest part of that whole day wasn't the procedure,” says Amanda Palmer, “it was actually the walk from the car to the clinic where I had to walk the gauntlet of angry, rageful, judgmental protestors." Says Alyssa Milano, “I was raised Catholic and was suddenly put in conflict with my faith — a faith I was coming to realize empowered only men to make every single decision of what was allowed and what was not allowed. I had a career and a future and potential.” Listen.
May 4 May 4 "I never imagined I could be pregnant; I didn't even think I was ovulating." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Location Unknown “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.
Apr 30 Apr 30 "A year to the day later, I got pregnant again. I had missed ONE pill." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Colorado, U.S. “We still weren't ready to have a child. I had to go back to the clinic, but I went to a different town because I felt embarrassed that it happened again and that, again, I'm still not ready. Same medicines, just this time I got an IUD. Prior to this, no one would put an IUD in. I had asked a few physicians in different states. I am 30 now. We are married and now getting ready to take the IUD out and plan for a family. I don't regret my decisions because I did what I had to do to feel comfortable/ready in bringing a child into this crazy world.” Read more.
Apr 20 Apr 20 "My cousin suggested that I drink a mixture of ingredients." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Malawi “I recently had the second one. I bought pills from a pharmacist and I bleed out. I was a couple of weeks pregnant and I didn't even need the hospital.” Read more.
Apr 20 Apr 20 "When we found out that I was pregnant for the first time, we were both shocked because both of us we were not emotionally and financially ready for a baby." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Malawi “We are still together today and we have discussions about having a baby now because we’re both grown, feel mature enough and are ready for that responsibility. We are taking it easy as the experience was not easy to go through.” Read more.
Apr 19 Apr 19 "My abortions were with medicines, by myself." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, South Africa “My situation at the time was complicated by financial issues, getting my education, my age, problems with my relationship. Also, I have one son already so I can’t have another baby. With my first abortion, people were supportive, and the second one was my secret.” Read more.
Apr 19 Apr 19 "No woman should ever have to justify a decision on her own body." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Israel “The first abortion in 2010 was horrible because it was illegal and done in a makeshift operating room and with the wrong anesthetics. I ended up trying to scratch my face off and vomiting all over the clinic. The second abortion in 2015 was done legally in a hospital, and it was the complete opposite. No pain, no discomfort. At all. The staff and the doctors reassured me.” Read more.
Apr 19 Apr 19 "I felt no guilt or shame about either and would do it again if necessary." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Australia “The abortions were in a clinic and were as positive as any surgery can be. My situation at the time was that I didn’t want children. I don't want to have children for the simple reason that I just don't want to.” Read more.
Apr 14 Apr 14 "Estoy bien, segura de mi decisión y en paz." -- "I am fine, sure of my decision and at peace." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Mexico “Del primero nadie sabe, porque fue hace ocho años, viví una agresión sexual por parte de un amigo y no fui a denunciar, pero acudí a una clínica "no oficial" o sea clandestina, era lo único que sabía que existía.” Lee mas.“No one knows about the first, because it was eight years ago. I experienced a sexual assault by a friend and I did not go to report it, but I went to an "unofficial" or clandestine clinic. It was the only thing I knew existed.” Read more.
Apr 6 Apr 6 "We went to the doctor only to learn that a medication I take every day causes birth defects." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Location Unknown “It wrecked me emotionally. It was also more physically taxing than I had remembered. We are still recovering. Maybe one day we’ll actively try, maybe not. In spite of this pain and emotional chaos, I am so grateful that I’ve had access to safe and legal surgical abortion in my times of need.” Read more.
Apr 2 Apr 2 "I feel guilty, but also not guilty, because I was responsible and did everything to avoid it. " Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Netherlands “The problem is that I have a disease which will not allow me to take anything with hormones — no birth control pills or anything. I was always really responsible when having sex. Despite that I got pregnant twice. I'm a student, don't have a boyfriend, don't have my own place and don't have any money to take care of another person.” Read more.
