Oct 17 Oct 17 "We have decided that now is not the right time to expand our family." Sharing Truth 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.
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.
May 9 May 9 "I felt the same liberation and relief at my options as I did the first time." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, U.S. “The first one was as a young college student and there was no question in my mind about what I wanted to do. My second abortion was 13 years later, and while I knew I wanted a child with my partner, I also knew I needed to finish grad school, and I couldn’t have a baby in the middle of that.” Read more.
May 6 May 6 "I just wasn't ready or in a place where motherhood was a thought I could even entertain." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, U.S. “Abortion is the ultimate gift. I wouldn't be here without it. It's the most impactful thing that's happened in my life. It allowed me and my husband to have our daughter. Having a baby when we were ready was the best thing that has ever happened to us and we're in a good place now, because it was the right time and a healthy pregnancy.” Read more.
Mar 10 Mar 10 "His texts would slut shame me for sleeping with him and getting pregnant." Sharing Truth 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.
Nov 27 Nov 27 "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." Sharing Truth 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.
Sep 6 Sep 6 "I was married, the mother of two girls, and found myself with another unplanned pregnancy." Sharing Truth 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.
Jul 7 Jul 7 "He never once thought about how this could affect my mental health." Sharing Truth 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.
Jul 3 Jul 3 "Due to my troublesome childhood I had decided years ago that I would never want to be a mother." Sharing Truth 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.
Jun 23 Jun 23 "I grew up in the church and that’s where all of my shame resided." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, Delaware, U.S. “Although making the choice to not be a mom each time was by far the hardest decisions I’ll ever have to make, I don’t regret them. I’m here to tell you that there is light at the end of those dark tunnels.” Read more.
Jun 22 Jun 22 "Growing up, abortion was only ever discussed by my mom in very hushed tones- as though just speaking about it was shameful in itself." Sharing Truth 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.
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.
May 7 May 7 "The timing of this was just not correct for us." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, U.S. “Despite being on consistent birth control, a pregnancy test — let’s be real, 6 pregnancy tests — confirmed I was pregnant. After a few days of going back and forth on what to do, we finally agreed that we did not have the bandwidth to raise a baby. It was a difficult but necessary choice that I still have no regrets about. I think my body knew the pregnancy was wrong for me.” Read more.
Apr 10 Apr 10 "Until recently, I shared a 'preferred version' of my abortion story." Sharing Truth Four Abortions, U.S. “I shared one that I felt was more palatable, and socially acceptable. Specifically, that I had had one abortion in my early twenties, within a long-term relationship, while I was pursuing my first degree. I am now learning to embrace the messy edges of my story and challenge the heteropatriarchal narrative that there are “acceptable” abortion stories.” Read more.
Jan 9 Jan 9 "The positive part to choosing abortion is that it gave me a wonderful life." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, California “My marriage and my children never would have existed if it wasn't for that first abortion. The reason why I had a second abortion is because I was taking care of a baby who wasn't even 1 year old. My third abortion was because I was taking care of three children and I knew I couldn't handle another. I don't regret any of my decisions.” Read more.
Dec 15 Dec 15 "To the woman that I judged in high school for having 2 abortions, I am so sorry." Sharing Truth 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.
Nov 20 Nov 20 "My clock is ticking at 36, but I would still rather have a child with someone I love and want to be with." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, U.S. “The first one, I was 20 and had a one night stand. I wanted to keep it and was set to, but the guy was set on convincing me otherwise. The winning line was, "Don't you want to have a child with someone you love or at least know?’ “ Read more.
Nov 7 Nov 7 "My abortions saved me." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Texas, U.S. “He routinely told me he wanted to get me pregnant and that he couldn’t wait until we could have a baby. And one day it happened, my period was late and I took a pregnancy test and it confirmed my fears. I was pregnant. I told my boyfriend at the time and he blew up at me. Incredibly angry and volatile, telling me he couldn’t have a baby right now.” Read more.
Oct 26 Oct 26 "I don't feel ready for a baby." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, U.S. “My first abortion I was 21 and had to do it cause my ex was so abusive. My second I was 24 and I had to do it cause I was in college and the guy couldn't afford to take care of me and the baby.” Read more.
Oct 6 Oct 6 "I hope to have children when I am better and stronger." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, California “The 1st one because I was young and wanted to travel more. The 2nd one during the time my mama was sick and I needed all my focus and energy on her. And my 3rd one just recently. Unfortunately my mom ended up passing and my mental health is not there yet.” Read more.