Gemma

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The best decision for me.

2015 United Kingdom

I am thankful to live in a country where I can exercise rights & choice over my body. I was in a position where I could not only decide to have an abortion, but it was actually accessible to me too.

Horrendous - my partner and I have been together since June 2014. I had been using The Copper IUD initially, however, it caused me numerous problems so I removed it. I decided to start using Natural Family Planning, for two reasons: to prevent pregnancy (we were both STI tested) and; to track my cycle (I was being investigated for Endometriosis). However, over a year in, I miss calculated and I ended up getting pregnant. My partner commented on my period being late, so a couple of days later I tested. It was positive. I was pregnant. I went to work. Overwhelmed. Not believing it. I took another test at lunch time. Still positive. Still pregnant. I went to the doctor, I tested again. Still positive. Still pregnant. I booked a termination there and then. I went home and told my partner. "I'm pregnant. I've booked an appointment at the clinic". The scan confirmed I was 4 weeks pregnant. I booked a medical for a week later. I went in for the first tablet and two days later for the second set. "It'll be like a heavy period" they said, "go home and rest they said." I went home. I rested. 36 hours later I was fitting on the floor, diarrhea, vomitting, pain, bleeding. An ambulance was called and I was taken into accident and emergency. I was given gas & air, codeine, diclofenac, morphine and a paracetamol & fluid drip. I was screaming in pain. Left on a gynae ward with (visibly) pregnant women - who assumed I was having a miscarriage - I had to suffer in pain. Scared, lonely and like I was to blame. The termination hadn't worked, and I had to wait for 3 days nil by mouth waiting for a D&C. I was eventually taken into surgery and the nightmare was neasr to ending. I woke up from my surgery, feeling lighter. Both physically & emotionally. I was fucking elated. I wanted to go home that night, be away from the judgement I felt and be in my own bed. I do not regret my abortion. Having my abortion was the absolute best decision for me. My partner. And the foteus. There is no way we are in a position to continue a pregnancy. I in no way regret my abortion, I regret the unfortunate circumstances in which it happened though.

How did other people react to your abortion?

Supportive

M

At first i didn't know i was pregnant until i noticed i was vomiting a lot, but…

An

Stosowałam pigułki i nie zwróciłam uwagi na to, że problemy żołądkowe mogły…

M.

Nie chce się rozczulać. Każda kobieta sama podejmuje tą decyzję ale powinna…

Eunji A

낙태 당시에는 신체적으로 힘들었지만 지금은 컨디션이 평상시로 돌아왔습니다

Dawn & Kevin

I had two abortions

Lea

Kobieto, jeśli zaszłaś w niechcianą ciążę, to nie wahaj się ani chwili. WOW…

Sierra

I had to get an abortion after my Skyla IUD was placed improperly or slipped. I…

enfermera

Antes de hacer cualquier cosa infórmate muy bien para tomar la decisión…

A.

Pomimo zastosowanej antykoncepcji, zaszłam w ciążę. Brałam tabletki.

Louise Harper

I have had two abortions. One at the age of 22 which I paid privately for at 9…

Urszula

Po porodzie miałam postanowienie, wiecej dzieci nie chcę, mój ginekolog dobrze…

noname

Miałam aborcję.

Abbie

I had an abortion and don't regret it.

Leah Frida

Yo aborté! porque es mi derecho!

Estka

Mam dwójkę wspaniałych dzieci- 9 lat i rok. Nie chcieliśmy z mężem już więcej.

SD

I had an abortion. It was in October of 2008, when I was 21. The guy I was…

Gina

Porque no era el momento indicado y los anticonceptivos fallaron.