Sep 10 Sep 10 "The sense of relief washed over me almost immediately." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, U.S. “My second one was right when I found out my Dad’s cancer was terminal. My sister had just announced her first pregnancy with her husband—they were elated. But there was a massive elephant in the room. She wouldn’t have a grandpa by the time she was born. Amidst all this, there I was, pregnant, and no one knew. Not only did I not want to be a mother, how the fuck could this happen NOW? Worst timing ever. I drove myself to that same clinic, a state away.” 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.
Aug 27 Aug 27 "She asked me 'what brings you here?' I froze not wanting to say the abortion words." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Locations not given “She then said “you’re pregnant and you don’t want to be”. I of course said yes and felt finally understood. The right to have an abortion has given me the right to have a life. It’s given me the right to decide who I have children with and when I have them.” Read more.
Aug 2 Aug 2 "I had a bad childhood and have no family, and I don’t want to continue my genetics on to another person." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Canada “I am 24 and with a different long term partner. When I found out, I was upset, but immediately knew I needed to terminate. I’m living in a basement, I’m poor and can barely take care of myself. I found I grew some attachment for a brief couple of days, but ultimately, this procedure was much easier emotionally. I don’t regret it or feel like I made a mistake.” Read more.
Jul 30 Jul 30 "We had a complete birth control fail and there you go." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, U.S. “I’m still spinning over the fact it happened again, despite precautions. That part is hard. There is still pain this time around, and I’m trying not to avoid it. I sit with it and I accept it -that’s something I learned. However, there is no shame. I know that abortion is normal, it is necessary and we need to change society to nurture people as they go through this process.” Read more.
Jul 30 Jul 30 "I am interested in hearing from women in their 40s without children who've had abortions and might be worried that because of their age this might be ‘the last shot'. " Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Multiple Abortions, Locations not given “I had my second abortion at age 42 and did have a moment of pause about it being likely my last chance to have a child. When I considered what I wanted my life to look like, and what I would want a child’s life to look like, they simply didn’t match up. I wasn’t in a place where I was willing to make the life changes needed to raise a child. I think every child born should be an intentional choice. People should be REALLY sure they want to give all that it takes to raise and support a thoughtful, kind human before having a baby.” Read more.
Jul 13 Jul 13 "I got pregnant for the first time when I had just turned 18, I was 2 weeks into my first year at university." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, U.K. “I found out I am pregnant again. I am 19 years old now, 20 in a few weeks. I don't have any hesitation towards it, but at least last time I was living away from home. Now I am living with my parents and brothers, and it is so hard knowing how disappointed they would be if they ever knew. I don't regret anything I have done or am doing, but it doesn't make it any easier.” 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.
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 9 Jun 9 "I don’t want any other human to have to hide in shame for something that’s a valid option." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, Location Not Given “First was in 2013. My kids were 1.5 years and 9 months old. My birth control failed and the condom broke. I felt backed into a corner with no escape otherwise. I walked into the clinic alone and went through it alone. My husband waited in the car with our youngest.” Read more.
Jun 9 Jun 9 "My husband and I used both condoms and birth control pills at the same time." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, Location Not Given “It is a decision that isn’t lightly made and after weighing all the options, becomes the best one for that person. I do not regret having the two abortions even though I am plenty thankful for my child that I have now.” 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 22 May 22 "The relief was grand, knowing at that age I was incompetent of raising anyone other than myself, barely!" Sharing Truth Three Abortions, U.S. “I was living in a ski town and my boyfriend and I got pregnant. I was 19 soon to be 20. We both were in shock and he supported whatever choice I needed. My girlfriends surrounded me and drove me to the clinic. At that time it was very common. All my older friends, and my sister, had all been through it.” Read more.
May 14 May 14 "I was afraid of my ex who I had been with yet again and he scared me." Sharing Truth Three Abortions, Florida “My first abortion was my choice, I agreed with my ex we were in a hard place in our relationship and financially unstable. Less than a year later I was pregnant again. I had told him I didn’t want to abort, we were doing better and could figure it out, but he had other ideas which he pressured very hard for me to have another abortion.” Read more.
May 11 May 11 "Due to my severe fear of pregnancy and birth I couldn’t go through with it." Sharing Truth Two Abortions, U.K. “I have had two abortions and the most heartbreaking thing of all is that they were planned pregnancies but due to my severe fear of pregnancy and birth I couldn’t go through with it. There needs to be more awareness and support around the condition of Tokophobia and often it really does come down to continuing with a pregnancy and letting your mental health drastically suffer, or to terminate and look after yourself.” 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.
