Jun 23 Jun 23 "I am crazy about my children but I wasn’t willing to be a mother again." ~ "Eu sou louca pelos meus filhos, mas não estava disposta a ser mãe de novo." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Illegal, Brazil, Portuguese/English “We were super broke, there wasn’t even enough money to go to the cinema. There were also complications in my previous pregnancies and my life was at risk. But still, that’s not why I had the abortions. I had them because I didn’t want to have another baby.” Read more.“A gente estava super apertado, sem grana suficiente nem pra ir ao cinema, não tinha mesmo! As minhas gravidezes também foram complicadas, eu corria risco de vida. Mesmo assim, não foi por isso que eu fiz os abortos. Eu fiz, porque eu não queria ter outro filho!” Continue lendo.
Jun 16 Jun 16 "After a week, I felt relieved and at peace." ~ „Po tygodniu poczułem ulgę i spokój”. Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Poland, Polish/English “I had my first abortion at the doctor's office. Basically I don't remember anything. What was left in my head was that I was bleeding a lot. There was no pain, no fear. My second abortion, when it comes to pharmaceuticals, I was terribly afraid! There are no words to describe it. I was left alone with this. The partner paid for the tablets and fell silent.” Read more.„Miałam pierwszą aborcję w gabinecie lekarskim. W zasadzie nic nie pamiętam. W mojej głowie pozostało to, że dużo krwawiłem. Nie było bólu ani strachu. Moja druga aborcja, jeśli chodzi o farmaceutyki, strasznie się bałam! Nie ma słów, żeby to opisać. Zostałem z tym sam. Partner zapłacił za tabletki i zamilkł”. Czytaj więcej.
Jun 10 Jun 10 "I found out the hard way that he doesn’t want the baby and isn’t willing to be a part of the baby’s life." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, New York “I grew up with no father and refuse to put my baby through hell knowing me and the father can’t give him or her everything we can offer. I can’t live with my baby’s father intentionally hoping there’s something wrong with the baby, so I won’t be able to do this!” Read more.
Jun 9 Jun 9 "I was so uneducated about pregnancy signs and all of that, that I thought my period being late for more than two weeks was something normal." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Undisclosed Country, Illegal, Location Unknown “I live in a country where abortion is a crime punishable by 25 years in prison. I think the most difficult thing about an abortion is when you have to go through it all alone because you absolutely can't tell anyone because you know no one will understand you.” Read more.
Jun 6 Jun 6 Update: "I sat on that bench just going through the WHAT IF's, and in the end I found myself still extremely grateful that I made the right decision." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Oregon, Update “My second abortion was still a difficult decision, especially after giving birth to a beautiful daughter, but the consequences of not having that abortion would have been far worse. I wish these ‘pro-life’ people could read my story and understand that abortion is a hard decision but can also be a wonderful option. Why make a woman suffer through life because of an unwanted pregnancy?” Read more.
Jun 3 Jun 3 "We are goddesses, we are powerful. May we never forget that." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, Luxembourg “I know that something tells me it could maybe have developed and it wasn't given the chance, I don't know. It’s so confusing. Then another side of me believes, God took it away, so that it served its mission to teach me to look after me and to start again and achieve the type of love I really deserve in this world. I also feel so much love through this love. It is overwhelming.” Read more.
Jun 3 Jun 3 "I gave up babies I have cried for countless times so that I could have the one I was meant to have." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, New York “But here’s the thing that people who oppose abortions never understand. If we had decided to have that baby, there would have been many joys, but also many losses. I wouldn’t have gone to graduate school, wouldn’t have written books, wouldn’t have become a professor. I’m not at all sure our relationship would have survived it, either. But the single most important loss of all would have been the son I did have. If I had kept that baby we aborted, we would never have had the one I know and love. That is no small thing.” Read more.
May 29 May 29 "Till this day I still have a hard time forgiving myself, but I know it was for the best." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, Later Abortion, California “I got pregnant at 19 and had my daughter the same month I turned 20. Her dad and I were really toxic. He’s a recovering alcoholic. Three months after I had my daughter, I found out I was pregnant again. I was terrified, and fought with myself about keeping it.” Read more.
May 15 May 15 "My second abortion was an incredible experience as I felt loved and supported." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Texas, Colorado “My previous abortion helped me prepare better this time around, and it was a pleasant experience. I had a fantastic obstetrician supporting my decision. I hired an abortion doula and tasked my husband with caring for our daughter. My daughter was in the room while I had an abortion, playing with my husband and her toys. I was in a tub of warm water, watching Grey’s Anatomy and eating a sandwich through the pain while my doula supported me emotionally and physically.” Read more.
May 11 May 11 "My son and I both lost our father, and I want to be very sure that my next child’s father will be my husband and support us." Sharing Truth Four Abortions, Indiana “I’m disappointed in myself because I thought I can do this. I thought I could give my 8 year old son a sibling. He recently lost his father Dec. 18 to gun violence, just like I lost my father. My depression from losing my father consumed me. I knew a new baby would be good for him, but now that my boyfriend and I are going on 2 years, I’m not ready for this commitment.” Read more.
May 6 May 6 "I feel guilty but I had no choice." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, Kenya “Abortion is illegal here and this affected me and made me feel guilty. But I overcame this. It’s not me only —over a million ladies do this yearly. Obviously people can't tell you how they feel about you. But inside their minds they think— she is a whore and such.” Read more.
Apr 26 Apr 26 "We need to honor ourselves and trust our decisions." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, Massachusetts “At age 35, my body was not handling the pregnancy well. My son, now 11, had a stable home and I had a good job. I knew my entire life that I had very strategically and carefully put together would possibly be knocked down like a tower in the game ‘Jenga.’” Read more.
Apr 24 Apr 24 "I can live my life the way I intended to and when I'm ready, I'm sure I'll be a great mom, just not anytime soon." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Washington “When I went in to get the ultrasound they do before the procedure, I started to cry about how disappointed I was in myself about having to get another one. The nurse said, 'this is more common than you think.' That helped a little, then another nurse who did the education part and was going to be in the room during the procedure noticed I was upset and said, 'If I was pregnant right now, I'd do the same thing. Sometimes the timing is not right and only you can decide that.' After that, I stopped crying and started to feel okay about myself.” Read more.
Apr 23 Apr 23 "I had a no-shame medication abortion." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Hungary “To do it in the safety of your home, beside your loved ones, gives you positiveness, strength and empowers you in many ways. No shame at all. I had an abortion once before, in a hospital. I felt I will not survive the shame and depressive feelings that were planted in me by hospital staff.” Read more.
Apr 16 Apr 16 "I’m not financially ready or have my own place to raise a child." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Canada “I’m still trying to get myself together and go back to school. I’m having bad mental issues and anxiety thinking about it. I need to learn to forgive myself for it. I feel something missing from me and I know what it is.” Read more.
Apr 12 Apr 12 "The doctor that treated me was very rude and I felt judged." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Japan “When he would make the ultrasounds for the first visits, he kept on telling me that is an alive baby and his tone was very dry. If it wasn't enough that I was already struggling emotionally, and having to hide it from my family. Having a doctor — who I thought would me more professional about it — that judges you didn't help. The nurses were nice, though.” Read more.
Apr 9 Apr 9 "We took it for granted and never realized that our parents had to fight for this right and that in so many countries it's not available safely." Sharing Truth Multiple Abortions, Netherlands, Men's Experiences, Partner Experience “An abortion means that you let go of possible future. Even when I was very sure about the decision and relieved after the operation, there was also sadness and mourning about it. The sadness about not being able to enjoy this other future, too!” Read. more.
Mar 31 Mar 31 "I was terrified of the fact that something was growing inside of me, and had a fear that someone would inherit my mental health problems." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Finland “I have suffered from panic disorder, general anxiety and OCD from a very young age. In my early thirties I was also diagnosed with depression. I’ve used antidepressants since the age of 20. When we started to try to get pregnant, I lowered my dose of antidepressants to a minimum. In retrospect it was a mistake. One evening I was crying on our couch because I was so depressed and anxious about what our future would look like with a baby. I was really struggling to keep my mind even somewhat normal. My boyfriend then said to me: “You know we still have time to decide if we want to terminate the pregnancy. You are more important than anything and you are the light of my life.” Read more.
Mar 30 Mar 30 "I don’t see myself bringing a child into the world only for them to suffer just because I’m afraid of what people are going to say." Sharing Truth Five Abortions, South Africa “From these experiences I've learnt to live with myself and not be ashamed of the decisions I've made. Societal norms make us believe it’s okay to bear children into poverty. If I feel like I’m not ready for a child, then I’m not ready. I'll never let anyone tell me differently, because when it comes to raising a baby especially with an absent father or without a support structure, you really are on your own.” Read more.
Mar 27 Mar 27 "A whole lot of love goes into whatever you decide." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Utah, U.S. “The Friday before I sent a text about how I felt guilty, but I also would want my child to be able to have a relationship with the father. He finally responded that,it was my choice, but he would suggest abortion, as he never saw himself having a child with someone he didn’t love fully. This gave me some sort of clarity, and I knew how difficult life would be for the child moving forward.” Read more.
