These are four different comments to a New York Times article detailing the stories of people who had illegal abortions. The article is titled “Before Roe.”
I've had 2 abortions, one in 1973 when it became legal, and one in 1974. Then I had my tubes tied.
Only sadness about the abortions although it was my own stupidity and reckless use of drugs that brought me to it.
My tubes tied? Not one single moment of regret. I always knew I didn't want children; I didn't want to be a mother.
If I was a mother I would be a mother forever, and I would lose the life I wanted for myself. I also would have had a very unhappy child forever.
~Bandylion, North Puget Sound
No matter how many times these tragedies are told, the religious right, who is behind the anti-women's movement, will never turn around on this.
I am lucky. I came of age as Roe v. Wade was enacted. And yes, I'm among the legions of women who’ve had abortions.
One was the result of birth control failure — I failed to use it. The other was the product of a rape.
No woman should have to be forced to have a child she doesn't want. Ever.
This is the last bastion of our independence and they're about to take it away from us.
Why are their ‘morals’ more righteous? Why can't we turn them around -- and say -- take away their guns?
I had no no emotional fallout, no regrets, only relief. I had no trauma, PTSD or any affiliated issues. Nor did I share about the pregnancies with the father — one was a boyfriend, the other was a rape.
Grateful, of course, that they were legal -- 1974, and 1979.
~ Euphemia Thompson
In my adopted family, my great-grandmother gave birth to eight children and aborted four.
Her daughter — my grandmother — was never delighted when she learned someone was having a baby, and committed suicide when she was in her 50s.
My mother — her granddaughter — had multiple miscarriages before adopting me. Strangely enough, my mother became pregnant just after my grandmother committed suicide. My aunt has survived multiple suicide attempts.
While the abortions were not the only traumatic events in the family, the excessive burden of motherhood my great-grandmother carried had plenty of heart-breaking legacy for us all.
~ Blacklight DC
I've had a couple of abortions, always very early on, basically as soon as medically viable.
There was no emotional fall out. I never for a moment regretted having the abortions, and I was super fortunate to have lived in a time and place where abortions were easy and financially viable to get.
I am terrified that women today will not — and in some places do not — have that same choice. The harder it is to get an abortion, the further along in pregnancy they will be.
And many mostly poor women who can't afford to travel to other states will be forced to bear unwanted children.
Many will, for financial or emotional reasons, have to give up their child.
And, this, having to give up a living breathing actual person, is by all accounts hugely traumatic for both the mother and child.
I give money to organizations that help women afford/get abortions so they and the child can avoid this horrible trauma.
Plus, they avoid the danger of literally dying or being injured in childbirth, which is still a thing.
~ BNYgal Brooklyn