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Me and my spouse have no regrets but we do think about how old that fetus would be now and what our life would have looked...
I’m religious so I didn’t know if this was a sign from God that everything was okay or if I should turn back.
I have never felt so many feelings at once, so many feelings it left me numb.
It’s hard mourning the loss of someone you can’t really tell people about.
A friend had told me: if this was a dream and you would wake up, would you want it to be true?
I wanted to hold him in my arms more than anything‑ but I couldn’t risk him being in pain.
My abortion made it so I was able to be there for my little family, hopefully for many more years to come.
We asked his soul to move to someone desperately seeking a child and find us when we're ready...
I believe having that abortion was a blessing in disguise.
I made a choice that I believe both my grandma and mother desperately wanted access to when they found out they were pregnant
One thing that stood out to me most right after having the abortion was how simple it was.
that is what choice is and that is what choice means and I refuse to feel shame.
I am glad that both of us were able to get the procedure when we needed it, but I wish everyone could have my experience instead...
My body didn't even feel like my own anymore. It felt like I had to walk around with a ticking time bomb in me.
I couldn’t carry this baby. It just wouldn’t be fair to myself and my family, but most of all my children.
My mother fiercely protected me from the invasive protestors. She is my hero.
I want to share my story, not only to raise awareness on HG but to provide another perspective to those going through it.
I had made a truly irreversible decision that changed the course of my life forever.
I never got to grieve in the way that I would have liked to be able to.
I did have a home. I did have an income. And I could raise a child. But I didn’t want that then.
All abortion is, in some way, to save the life of the mother.
I will never know if my decision was really mine because I didn’t have the information I really needed
only because of my earlier decision were we able to create a thriving, healthy, happy family of four
There are countless health issues that arise during a pregnancy that constitute medically necessary grounds for terminating a pregnancy
Abortion shouldn’t be shamed, we need to stick together and be able to talk about it.
I think I wanted to be a mother more than I wanted a baby
I thought all I would feel is relief. But I feel sadness too.
Prior to this, I often would say that I was pro‑choice but it was not a choice I could make.
For the longest time, I felt like I didn’t deserve to mourn you, because I made that choice.
I begged him to pay for the majority of the abortion and held my tongue at all the horrible things I really wanted to say
I've seen a lot of things, but I saw the best and worst of humanity that week and I am not the same because of it.
I believe no one should be forced to birth a child that they don’t want or aren’t prepared to care for.
Shame works like a self imposed gag order.
Turns out they weren’t even licensed, and they lied to me about how far I was.
I have discovered that if all this played out again I would have made the same choice.
My abortion has allowed me to feel like a whole person again.
I knew why I was doing it and I knew I felt no connection to the blur of cells on the screen.
I remember when I gave the note to my gym teacher...she was angry at me and I got angry right back and said to mind her...
I needed a hip replacement if I were to walk again. They also informed me that hip replacement surgery could not be done while pregnant.
Purity culture made me believe that my body was not my own.
it took this experience to open our eyes to the fact that we weren’t in fact ready emotionally or financially
I have always been thankful for that compassionate doctor.
I did choose life. I chose my own. I chose to put myself first.
The most basic gift we can give children is to be wanted and loved. Every child should have that starting out.
In order to prevent sepsis and preserve my fertility for future babies I would need to have a therapeutic abortion.
Carrying the pregnancy full term meant that I would be taken off my medication
i realized that i wasn’t special, or alone. that amazing people make this choice every day.
to my surprise the whole experience felt like bad period cramps...
My abortion was essential to my health and well being and I am the only human on earth that decides that.
The physician who cared for me held the space for my grief and pain, supporting one of the most difficult times of my life.
I walked out with no bleeding, no discomfort and with a huge weight lifted off of me
I didn't have enough money to care for myself, let alone a baby.
I learned later that antibiotics for strep throat weakened my Birth Control although no one told me that was possible.
My first reaction was happiness because I had the right intuition and because my body was able to create a human being...
It was so appalling to get no support whatsoever from anyone, even from medical professionals.
I got a tattoo to remember what I lost but also to help me cope and forgive myself.
He manipulated me by saying that if I got rid of the pregnancy that he would stay and love me
I wish I didn’t feel like such a bad person for wanting to go through an abortion this far along.
I feel a sense of loss for the baby I will never have, even though I didn’t want a fourth child.
I had my second abortion yesterday. I had my first abortion 8 months ago.
My abortion did not trigger my mental health decline, but I think that the experience did.
I believe I was met with angels that day.
I didn’t choose abortion because I hate babies
He wanted me to spend the rest of my life coping with the consequences of a choice I didn't get to make for myself?
I knew I did the right thing, but so many people were trying to persuade me I didn’t.
As a nonbinary person, being pregnant was extremely traumatic physically and emotionally.
My wish is that someday no one is led to parenthood because they simply had no other choice.
I felt comforted by the staff and even the other women who were waiting with me. I realized that abortion is normal and I was not...
That abortion wasn't just about me, it was about my family.
I thank God for abortion and for the choice I was able to make to stop my child's suffering and also to make the right choice...
No one ever talks about the nuance of emotion that comes with abortion.
Anytime we would argue or fight, which was even more constant, he would hold my abortion over my head.
I came out of the surgery and was hit with a wave of gratitude and pure happiness.
I knew having an abortion was the only way to make things right, but I still felt shame.
I felt shame for thirty years. I absorbed the message that it was my fault I’d gotten pregnant.
For the first time in a long time, I experienced the feeling of hope.
I don't feel guilty in the slightest.
I got the chance to live and do what I want to do to make my future better.
The fact is, IT IS NORMAL TO NEED MORE THAN ONE ABORTION.
I didn’t want to bring another child of his into this world that he didn’t support
I didn’t have to force myself to do something I knew deep down I didn’t want to be doing.
a child that came from abuse that would forever tie me to my abuser
My husband and I are pro‑choice BECAUSE of our faith
I was the preacher’s daughter, and I had an abortion.
I always thought I would feel joy, and jubilation, but for some reason I just didn't.
You have nothing to feel shame about. You have nothing to apologize for.
I decided to share my story because reading others' stories here gave me strength when I was making my own decision.
Having a baby in my arms throughout it all, has been the hardest and most hurting part.
To me, the abortion was a wake‑up call. For my life!
To this day, my SO and I have frequent conversations on reproductive rights, mental health, and bodily autonomy.
I chose to save my own life and I’ve never regretted it.
through the process of the abortions, I learned that “everything happens for a reason” can mean many things.
I found it extremely hard to let go afterwards. I followed a pregnancy tracking app and would check it weekly
It made me feel better to see other women my age there too, going through the exact same motions as me.
All I was thinking was, “I can’t be pregnant again! I JUST had a baby! I can’t do this.”
I’m not healed‑ How can I do this?
I am currently in a country where abortion is illegal except in the case of the mother's life being at risk
Some of the most compassionate healthcare providers I’ve ever interacted with were at that clinic.
I just want to say that you are strong and you should not feel ashamed for your decision
After realizing he couldn't manipulate me with shame and guilt, he proceeded to victimize himself and say how hard this was for him...
...like a beacon of light in the dark, she made me feel like I wasn’t stupid, or alone.
The main qualms I felt were about having no qualms
I was beginning to be able to look at my abortion less with regret and more from what it taught me.
I feel so much guilt for this because I want to be a mom so bad. But I know the time isn’t right.
Grief, because even though I didn’t want this, I somehow still feel love and respect for what could have been.
I got an abortion because my babies needed me to be mentally sane and present more than they needed another sibling
I wish people acknowledged the emotional toll it takes on us, and didn't jump to assuming that the emotion is regret, because it isn't.
I definitely have days where I am more upset about it, but definitely better than I was
I need to be realistic, as hard as it is.
We had literally had sex ONE TIME the previous month.
I’ve always wanted this, but now that I have it I don’t want it anymore.
I feel like I’m so brave to do what I did.
...deep down I was terrified of my ex becoming a parent
I am sharing because now I am a healthcare worker and I know how vulnerable patients can be sometimes.
I did talk with a few friends and quickly realized that abortions were way more common than I thought.
It was a very rough time for me, but I made it through. I volunteered at the clinic as an escort, and that brought me so...
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...in life sometimes you’re presented with options that are equally weighing the same and no outcome is better or worse.
There will come a time where I want to give my body/life to another being but right now I am being selfish.
At nights I prayed for miscarriage. That sounds awful, but that is how desperate I was.
I kept on going over WHY I didn’t want to continue. What was wrong with me? Why wasn’t I happy?
I never knew how mentally and physically strong I was until this happened.
Sometimes I think about how old my child would be now if I kept it, and I can’t remember without doing the math.
My boyfriend, on the other hand, told his dad. The dad said I was going to ruin his son’s life.
To be honest, I forget about it all the time because it was such a mundane, routine act of self care at the moment.
If you’re here to compare reasons to others, I urge you to consider that you don’t need a reason beyond not wanting a baby.
I’m still scared of having “missed our shot” but from what I can tell, and from what doctors have told me, that isn’t rational thinking.
I wished every day when I woke up to feel different, to want this baby, but it never happened.
It was an eye opening thing that truly changed who I was as a person and the views I had about abortion.
As much as I long to be a mother, having a family with a loving supportive partner is my vision.
I never in a million years thought this would happen to me, even though I know it can happen to really anybody.
Questions flooded my mind, do I tell him? Does my state even provide abortions? Who can I trust?
I’m searching for empathy to counter my shame and it feels like writing this all down is killing some of that silence and secrecy.
I heard that voice, that inner voice, if I can’t say 100% yes to a baby yet, it's okay to take the pill.
Luckily, two very influential people in my life have had abortions before me.
I wanted to keep my baby more than anything in the world.
Find yourself, invest in yourself, love yourself. Take control of your life.
I'm going back and forth on my decision because I feel like I could honestly handle it now, but still is that the best decision for...
I can honestly say that this was the most liberation I have felt in a long time.
I will forever be okay with the choice I am making tomorrow, but that does not mean I am not allowed to grieve it.
I knew like no one else can that I had no ability to be a mother as I could hardly function or even think like an...
I couldn't bring a child into the world that was not wanted by us both. It was not fair to anyone.
I was shocked because it was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be
It was in a way refreshing to do this for ME and my existing kids and not have him trying to make the decision for me.
I made myself miserable for an entire week because I was so afraid, but it wasn't worth even a fraction of that fear.
I guess life has a funny way of teaching you empathy through experience...
even if it was going against all my family's beliefs I had to do what was best for me.
I want to share my abortion story so the next person who needs an abortion for genetic reasons won’t feel so alone
I would have been subject to a 72 hour waiting period, one of the longest in the country, between consulting for and receiving my abortion.
I had to leave to another state to get a procedure done because my home state made it non‑essential.
I didn't feel valid in my feelings following the abortion until recently when I began reading other stories online.
feeling mostly relieved, but also a bit in awe, just thinking about how I had been on the precipice between two very different lives
My mind kept going back and forth between keeping it and not keeping it.
After it was all over I felt mostly relieved but I still sometimes get this feeling of shame over it.
Letting go doesn’t mean I will forget my baby. This experience does not define who I am today.
As I finally remember who I am, and who I was before all of this, I am able to slowly let go of what no longer...
A big factor in deciding to terminate was thinking about all of the progress we’ve made as a family.
Have you ever heard of Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)? I hadn’t until I experienced my pregnancies.
I had never knew anyone that had an abortion before. I had heard rumors, but nobody was ever open about it.
I'd always worried that if I'd become pregnant I'd feel *something* and would have a hard time with the decision.
Yet there I was 18 years old and pregnant. I had never felt more alone.
All of my accomplishments I worked very hard for were thrown back in my face for choosing to have an abortion.
the feeling of relief overcame me as I stepped out of the room and I finally felt like me again.
I went to the clinic and cried the whole time. I was soo annoyed at myself for putting myself through this AGAIN.
I felt like I didn’t have a reason which would be strong enough to justify having an abortion.
They're testing it to see if there's a reason we had anencephaly other than just bad luck.
I was shocked to learn that they both had multiple abortions, after completing their family. We are Catholic women!
I had a personal advocate who was with me for my entire appointment and she literally held my hand through it.
I was not in a position to provide a happy life for my child but I do regret the way I handled the situation.
Why do some people only consider motherhood as something wanted?
Fear. This was the emotion I felt. I was not happy, I was not excited.
I understand now that abortion is a form of loss for me, and it’s okay to grieve this painful loss.
Some days are harder than others when I do wonder if they would still love me and treat me the same if they knew.
I am actually looking forward to the abortion, and thankful to have that right. I do not want to be pregnant.
I think I mistook my general shock and exasperation at the situation as some kind of sadness at the loss of a baby.
Despite the fact that I had been responsibly taking birth control on a daily basis, a small seed of doubt had taken root
I realized I could be in severe physical danger due to the IUD and pregnancy combo.
I didn't want to be pregnant and in school and I didn't have to. I'm so thankful I was able to even have the abortion.
When I had my abortion, I chose life for myself.
I read stories and stories about people’s experiences, so I wanted to tell mine.
If anything the experience taught who I can truly depend on and trust.
If you are reading this and you feel like the world (god) is punishing, please don't think that.
I have absolutely zero regrets about my decision, I do not feel guilty and I hated being pregnant.
I remember being so incredibly angry that day. I felt cheated by my birth control.
It has taught me compassion, sympathy & empathy.
Mi vida you deserved better, much better.
I knew that I didn’t want another baby so close to my other two.
I sat in a warm recliner watching the price is right with a girl who I befriended next to me
I think it’s too complex to put into black and white terms and say it was right or wrong.
I didn’t feel happy, I felt numb. This time around I didn’t feel anything in my heart.
even though my mind was already made up, I was scared because now I really had to do it.
It was the first time in my life anyone had been kind to me.
It was all surreal and happening too fast to even process any of it. But I knew one fact for sure — I was making the...
I am incredibly grateful to have been able to make this choice. I do not take it for granted.
I was so afraid the whole experience would make my anxiety worse but it almost proved to me that I’m much stronger than I thought.
Many women confided that they tell others it was a miscarriage for fear of being judged and ridiculed. Why are we made to feel that way?
Grief and relief seemed a contradictory pairing, yet there they were, filling my heart together
I don't think I've ever felt so lost, confused, alone, heartbroken or uncertain of what to do.
Sometimes I feel guilty of how easy the decision was to make.
I was devastated and felt like I was being victimized for something out of my control.
Life is still very difficult at the moment, but it does get better.
being pregnant in a brand new country without a decent cash flow and support from friends and family makes it 100 times harder
There is no right way or wrong way to feel about an abortion despite what we are told, my two made me feel completely different
I never thought I would get one myself.
It is ok to be nervous but do not let your fear and anxiety consume you.
I’m really doing this. No running away like I usually do. I’m facing it.
I felt so proud of myself for following through with what I knew what was the right decision.
I gotta be honest it was seriously a lot better than I expected
neither one of us was in the mental space to handle a new child when our world was already shaken by a life changing diagnosis.
Every thing that I learned about abortion was false.
This has been hard and not being able to talk about it with anyone other than my boyfriend has been hard.
I wanted the baby to be born into the best possible circumstances.
One thing that I learned through this process is that I was strong.
In my former workplace, a church, abortion was easily talked about as some far‑away concept that only godless sinners would ever consider.
One day when I woke up, I just knew.
At the time it seemed like it dragged on forever but looking back the whole procedure probably lasted six minutes from start to finish.