"I couldn't imagine myself AND innocent lives being attached to my ex."
This story was submitted to us.
I have had 2 abortions, when I was 16 and 19, same partner both times.
He knew I had a very religious family but neither of us were and he agreed that I shouldn't have a baby I don't want to.
Both times he'd waited for the procedure to be done, me to be recovering and depressed. Then he insisted he wanted the baby, and now I am the person who killed his children.
I wanted to run away and never see him again.
I knew I made the right decision immediately, but that didn't make his comments less hurtful or mean I didn't stay up all night thinking about the words he'd called me.
Four years later, I have my first daughter with a man who I'd used the pill the entirety of our relationship. The universe decided he was the one.
We talked about all our options, considered an abortion and adoption, talked about my experience with abortion. We decided we wanted to keep her and that we were able to give her the life she deserves.
Our number one concern was that, can we give this baby a good life? If not, what should we do?
Having a partner who isn't afraid of talking about abortion and has never shamed me for having had them is not somewhere I'd be if I had given birth before.
I couldn't imagine myself AND innocent lives being attached to my ex. I'm so happy I stood up for myself and did what I needed regardless of the manipulation tactics he'd attempted.