This story is published at Pregnancy Choices Directory.
I am 18. I have been with my partner for two years now. We are in a stable relationship. When it comes to sex, usually I make sure there can't be any slip ups. But that one time I don't use another method of contraception with my pill, I get caught.
I have gastro oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) so when my symptoms of morning sickness started I thought I was just having one of my GORD episodes.
Never did I think I was pregnant. I was in a lot of pain and discomfort, my breasts were really sore, I went to see my GP three times over my tender breasts and it still never clicked, until I just had this overwhelming urge to take a test.
Me and my partner went round to my local Tesco and got a pregnancy test, and I was in absolute shock to see that it said positive.
We both said we thought it was too early for us to bring a tiny human into this world. Financially we would have struggled and we didn't want to put any unnecessary pressure on our parents. So we chose to go for an abortion.
My mum came with me for the scan.
I found out I was 7 weeks and 6 days, that I was having identical twins. This made everything so much harder than it already was.
I started to become emotionally attached and had to wait 2 weeks before I went in for my surgical abortion.
The time leading up to d-day, as I called it, I started getting feelings I wanted to continue with my pregnancy. There is no doubt that I loved my twins, but at the time I kept telling myself it was better for everybody.
I felt like they were boys. I just had a feeling in my gut, maybe a mother's instinct, not that I will ever know now.
My abortion went okay. The staff where lovely, very caring and compassionate. But as the days and months go on, I find it hard to ease my pain.
When walking down to theatre I knew I was doing what he wanted and what everyone thought was best, but I didn't want to go ahead. However I couldn't seem to get the words out and say no.
Me and my partner are finding the relationship very hard, and all I seem to want these days is to see my babies faces, like they say — you always want what you can't have!
The main reason why I chose to go ahead with the termination was I was starting my nursing training. I feel lucky that I am able to give back, that I can help towards saving/improving an individual's quality of life.
I chose to go to my university's counselling service because I feared that my own personal experience could impact on the care I was providing to patients. They were amazing. They helped me restore the little pieces of me that chipped away during my time over the twins.
I still struggle to get through some days, but that is normal. I believe that everything happens for a reason.
I believe that if you have the strength and faith, you will be able to control the pain. You just have to breathe.