All in Two Abortions

Podcast ~ "I was too young to understand that it's both a personal choice and a big deal."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Michigan, Louisiana, U.S., Audio

Listen as Bess talks about her four pregnancy experiences — two abortions, one miscarriage and the birth her beloved daughter. She shares about how her experiences led her into a career in women’s healthcare so that she can support other women. “People are not talking about pregnancy, abortion, sexuality, and reproductive health,” she says, and the silence leads to fears and shame. Listen.

"I was too young and irresponsible and I would not have been a good mother."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, U.K.

“I was in a very dysfunctional relationship. My boyfriend was a heroin addict, although he hid it from me. I had finished with him when I found out I was pregnant. I was in second year at university and having a child at 19 was not in my plans. I did not want to have a relationship with that man afterwards. I was angry but could not talk to anyone about how I felt and bottled it up.” Read more.

"It’s considered to be my fault, even though he secretly removed the condom." ~~ "Se considera que es mi culpa, a pesar de que secretamente se quitó el condón".

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, El Salvador, Spanish/English

“I do not regret it. I will be eternally and wrongly judged a slut and murderer in my country, however the guy who raped me is out there raping others. With my second abortion, I never took a pregnancy test, I just aborted without having proof that I was and I don't care, I don't care. It’s love for myself, and my neighbor. I will not bring children to suffer in this dire world.” Read more.

“Cuando mi hija tenía 2 años, volví a quedar embarazada. Le dije a mi madre de inmediato. Mi madre me ayudó. Así que todo volvió a la normalidad. Sentí un gran alivio. Pasaron unos años y en 2016 volví a enfrentarme a esta situación con mi actual novio. Había cambiado el anticonceptivo y el otro todavía no estaba funcionando, creo. Para mí fue el mismo sentimiento de hace cuatro años. Me asusté por completo, pensando Dios mío, mi universidad, mis planes, mi situación financiera en esta crisis. No perdí el tiempo ". Lee mas.

"I felt relief and sadness at the same time." ~~ "Senti alívio e tristeza ao mesmo tempo."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Brazil, Illegal, Portuguese/English

“When my daughter was 2 years old, I got pregnant again. I told my mother right away. My mother helped me. So everything went back to normal. I felt a great relief. A few years passed and in 2016 I faced this situation again with my current boyfriend. I had changed the contraceptive and the other one was not working yet, I think. For me it was the same feeling of four years ago. I totally freaked out, thinking My God — my college, my plans, my financial situation in this crisis. I didn't waste time.” Read more

.“Quando minha filha tinha 2 anos, engravidei novamente. Eu disse a minha mãe imediatamente. Minha mãe me ajudou. Então tudo voltou ao normal. Senti um grande alívio. Alguns anos se passaram e em 2016 enfrentei essa situação novamente com meu atual namorado. Eu havia trocado o anticoncepcional e o outro ainda não estava funcionando, acho. Para mim foi a mesma sensação de quatro anos atrás. Eu surtei totalmente, pensando Meu Deus - minha faculdade, meus planos, minha situação financeira nesta crise. Não perdi tempo.”

"Unfortunately we are stuck with this system that forbids us to own our own bodies." ~~ "Infelizmente, estamos presos a esse sistema que nos proíbe de possuir nossos próprios corpos."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Brazil, Illegal, Portuguese/English

“I slept peacefully all night after the abortion happened. The next day a friend came to my house and we went for a walk and distracted ourselves and I didn't feel any pain! Super quiet and fast. The trauma is not the procedure, it is the stress of the moment you discover the pregnancy and when starting the abortion. Then, I found out that I am pregnant again. 3 years later.” Read more.

"All I knew was that I didn't want it and at the same time I had no other choice."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Poland

“Probably if I were posting this post at the time I started writing it, I would have added that I would never do it again. As it turned out in the meantime, although I was always a woman with great temperament, my fiancé sometimes liked to call whores. To make matters worse, he impregnated me again in the first cycle after the abortion. This time I didn't hesitate for a moment. After the second procedure, the biggest pain for me was that I was not able to sacrifice any tears. If you are hesitating, wondering what to do, remember that it is YOUR life and the decision is yours.” Read more.

"I knew that these were the best choices I could have made."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, New Jersey, U.S.

“At the time, I suffered a lot of trauma from being bullied, therefore I searched for attention in male companionship, as some of us do. I allowed myself to give into his manipulation, which eventually led me to becoming pregnant because I trusted myself with him. I knew I could not keep the child, because if I had, it would have suffered. Two months after that abortion, I confided in a male best friend of three years. He lured me into his garage, which led to myself being raped.” Read more.

"As much as you could wish for a different scenario, you’re in this one now, and the best way to deal with it is to stop thinking of all the stereotypes ever heard about abortion!"

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Middle East

“Abortion hasn’t been at all what I feared about it before experiencing it. Abortion is probably one of the most misconceived things in the world and this misconception impacts women and their physical and mental health, for no reason. For one thing, pregnancy made me realize I’d be ready for it when the right time comes. It removed the fear of pregnancy I had once. And abortion allowed me to decide that this year wasn’t the right time for me. Both times.” Read more.

"Pude seguir un plan de vida que probablemente, no es el que los demás esperan de mí." ~ "I was able to follow a life plan that is probably not what others expect of me."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Mexico, Spanish/English

“Mi conclusión fue que probablemente jamás querría ser mamá, me preocupó el hecho de que esto decepcione a mi familia (todos mis hermanos y hermanas ya tienen hijos), pero la verdad es que yo no quiero.” Lee mas.

“My conclusion was that I would probably never want to be a mom, I was concerned about the fact that this disappoints my family (all my brothers and sisters already have children), but the truth is that I do not want to.” Read more.

"No fue una experiencia traumática, ni dolorosa ni indeseable." ~~ "It was not a traumatic experience, neither painful nor undesirable."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Uruguay, Spanish/English

“Negué el aborto con pastillas pero la ginecóloga encontró restos dentro mío así que ahí entendió todo. Me ayudó, me aconsejó y pude terminar de realizarlo sin problemas. Todo "fuera de ley" pero fue posible. “ ~~ Lee mas.

“I denied abortion with pills, but the gynecologist found remains inside me, so she understood everything. She helped me, advised me and I was able to finish doing it without problems. Everything "out of law" but it was possible.” Read more.

"I could barely support myself financially, and when I have children, I want to be able to give them the world."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Canada

“My period was a week late and I truly thought it was just stress. My boyfriend and I had been EXTREMELY careful, except one night. I took Plan B within an hour of having unprotected sex. We broke up two weeks after that night, and another two weeks later I found out I was pregnant. I really struggled with the decision since I had already had an abortion. The women at the clinic were extremely understanding and explained that some women are incredibly fertile and it isn't uncommon for situations like mine.” Read more.

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