May 29 May 29 "Abortion saved my life. It gave me the time I needed to grow up and fix myself." Sharing Truth Multiple Abortions, U.S. “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 adult. In fact the only time I acted with self care in my youth was when I got myself to clinics to get my abortions. After getting free of my addictions, I had two children when I had the stability to care for them and to be a mother. I am proud of myself for knowing when that time was.” Read more.
Feb 7 Feb 7 "I’m not in a good place despite my endless trying to find a new happiness -- a trap that many women fall into with their abusers." Sharing Truth Six Abortions, Location Not Given “The take away of my story? Abortion is stigmatizing to the point women believe that it will cause infertility. I’ve done medical abortions and one in stirrups surgically. All safe and legal of course, so maybe that’s why I’m still fertile? I just want my own life story to hold out hope for others that it is your body. Abortions don’t make you a horrible person. They are safe — unlike right wingers saying. You still get pregnant after! Even if sometimes you’re still with an asshole man that you know you can’t keep the baby with.” Read more
Jul 7 Jul 7 "If I hadn’t chosen those abortions, these two beautiful children I have now wouldn’t be here with me today." Sharing Truth Five Abortions, Canada “I had my first child at 18 years old. I was an alcoholic soon after. I did my best with my child but eventually lost custody of him due to my addiction when he was a year old. Shortly after, I found out I was pregnant again. I had been drinking for months and did not find out until I was 12 weeks along.” Read more.
Jun 2 Jun 2 "I think of the damage those children might have experienced with me as their mother." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, Georgia, U.S. “I know being wanted isn’t a guarantee of a child’s happiness or success, but after I got sober at 25, I went back to school and got a degree in social work. I worked in child abuse investigations for 20 years, and I can’t count the number of children I saw who had been targeted, scapegoated, tortured, and vilified because they were unwanted. The most basic gift we can give children is to be wanted and loved. Every child should have that starting out.” Read more.
Feb 23 Feb 23 "Enduring those hardships was in itself truly hellish, and I try to remember that I deserve to move on and experience happiness and peace." Sharing Truth Six Abortions, Texas, U.S. “He was possessive and supported my addictions, and often he would have sex with me against my will and in humiliating ways. My boss also sexually abused me. I became pregnant four times while I was with my ex, on birth control two of the four times. He enjoyed knowing I was pregnant and felt that this made me in some way more his.” Read more.
Apr 26 Apr 26 "I left him soon after, the violent outbursts turned me into a shell of myself." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, New York “I fell pregnant a second time at 23 when I was with my at-the-time homeless boyfriend. We'd bounce from abandoned house to abandoned house. It was an easy decision to let go. But it still hurt. The shame was stronger the second time around.” Read more.
Dec 21 Dec 21 "Because I was able to have safe and legal abortions, I was able to have children when the time was right." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, Location Not Given “By the time I was in my 20s, I was addicted to crack and heroin, and was essentially homeless, sleeping on friend’s couches and in vacant homes. During this time I had three abortions, which was exactly the right thing to do. I was desperate and irresponsible, but I knew enough to know I didn’t want to bring addicted babies into my crazy world.” Read more.
Mar 31 Mar 31 "I was in a relationship with an abusive man who I knew was bad, but I felt trapped and desperately wanted his love." Sharing Truth Five Abortions, Florida, U.S. “I didn’t even consider keeping the baby. He already had 4 children he didn’t take care of, and I just wasn’t ready. I went to planned parenthood for the procedure. I was poor at the time and didn’t have the money for the anesthesia. I was 8 weeks. I was so scared the whole time I could barely stop myself from shaking. The second time I got pregnant I again knew I wanted an abortion, I was 20 or 21. Same man, and I was less than 10 weeks. Again, I went to planned parenthood, again couldn’t pay for the anesthesia. This time I didn’t want to go to the same location in fear of being judged.” Read more.
