All tagged United States

"He really did a number on me emotionally, and I was terrified of ever having another child because of it."

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Four Abortions, U.S.

“I lost custody of my child for a year even after I worked my way off of public assistance! My child’s father dragged me through a custody battle and raked me over the coals as public assistance made it hard to stay in one place. Not dealing with the emotional abuse caused me to fear having another child and then having the baby taken away.” Read more.

"We have decided that now is not the right time to expand our family."

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Two Abortions, U.S.

“So in summary, I was in lockdown, not talking to anyone, and burying myself in my thoughts. I felt super super alone and this went on for a VERY long time. Fortunately, I broke down in front of my partner and he helped me stabilize my emotions. After that weekend, I essentially started on a journey of self love and self care. I’m very grateful and fortunate that my experience led me down that path.” Read more.

"Abortion saved my life. It gave me the time I needed to grow up and fix myself."

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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.

"His texts would slut shame me for sleeping with him and getting pregnant."

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Three Abortions, U.S.

“My third abortion happened after my divorce. I meet a guy and we were talking. We seem very compatible and we discussed everything before we even got intimate. This including children and if I get pregnant he would want to be part of the baby’s life. We both had good jobs, income and we were mature. I was 33 and he was 36. There were some yellow flags that turned red in the months I was dating him. I tried to break up with him, but he would ask me to give us a chance.” Read more.

"If I could go back, I would tell my 19-year-old self that it’s okay, and that I was not doing anything shameful or wrong."

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Two Abortions, U.S.

“When our child was around two years old, I got pregnant for the third time. We simply knew we did not want any more children, and it was quite honestly an easy decision for me to choose a medical abortion. I still didn’t have a lot of emotional support, but I was fortunately in a safe living situation this time around, and had learned a lot more about sexual health through social media.” Read more.

"I was married, the mother of two girls, and found myself with another unplanned pregnancy."

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Two Abortions, California, Texas

“We had a very emotional conversation that day, and my mom had the ultimate courage on telling me about her two abortions. My mom was 17 when she had her first abortion, she had me when she was 21, and she had her second abortion at 26. This was something I never knew about, and it was something she never talked about, but that conversation helped me in making my choice.” Read more.

"He never once thought about how this could affect my mental health."

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Three Abortions, California

“All he cared about was how he wanted this second child. He wanted a playmate for child number one, who is on the spectrum, which within itself is a lot of work with them being a toddler and having that disability. So once the second abortion was done, he really went overboard and in some ways is trying to trap me, though I have been using a birth control that works for me and happy that I was able to have such.” Read more.

"Due to my troublesome childhood I had decided years ago that I would never want to be a mother."

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Two Abortions, U.S.

“Lucky for me, the procedure worked, even though I was so early in my pregnancy. I was relieved and thankful that I had the privilege of having the option to terminate. Fast forward to now. I haven’t been nauseous but my breasts have been extremely tender. I woke up this morning, 1 day before my expected period, knowing I needed to take a test. Sure enough, pregnant again. The appointment has been made, I will be terminating this pregnancy as well.” Read more.

"Growing up, abortion was only ever discussed by my mom in very hushed tones- as though just speaking about it was shameful in itself."

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Two Abortions, Florida, New York

“A friend recently reminded me that shame dies in the light. So many of us have either had or know someone who has had an abortion and yet we still struggle and keep our stories in the dark. Sharing this isn’t easy for me either, but I hope my story might help someone else cast off that suffocating shame or stand taller, speak up and speak out.” Read more.

"I think of the damage those children might have experienced with me as their mother."

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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.

"To the woman that I judged in high school for having 2 abortions, I am so sorry."

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Three Abortions, Texas, U.S.

“Not once did I entertain having a baby. Sometimes I think about how old they would be now, but not much more. Those 3 abortions were not difficult decisions for me. I have also yet to encounter someone that doesn’t sit with me while I open up and talk about it. To anyone feeling alone, like I did during my first abortion, you are not! You have thousands of people in your corner.” Read more.

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