Paula

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i had an abortion

2010 Сполучені Штати

I had the easiest and most gentle abortion that I think is possible. I had financing from the state, compassionate and well-trained doctor and nurses, a freaked-out but well-meaning guy (we weren't together, just friends who had sex a few times), a soft bed to return home to, pain medication, ice cream, etc. Even with all of that, I still had some serious emotions to go through. NOT because I had any doubts as to whether or not I made the right decision. I have no regrets, and when I was just thinking about me and the little shrimp-sized embryo growing inside of me, I felt completely at peace with the idea that I'd be ending its development. I also felt sad, but not ... wrong. It was the right decision. It was my decision. I had to mourn some for unrealized possibilities. That's what an embryo is - a possibility. But I felt then, and I don't think I was mistaken, that a full pregnancy and childbirth would have broken me, whether or not I ended up keeping the baby or giving it up for adoption. Either situation would have simply broken me as a person. It was not a good time in my life. But the world being what it is, I felt everyone's eyes upon. I thought they would know what I was doing, that they would judge or yell or hit me or who knows what. And this is me in my little safe bubble of a (relatively) sexually liberated city in a (relatively) progressive state. I can't even imagine what so many of you have to deal with, and I wish I could make it easier for you. I wish I could make it okay. I hope you are all okay inside at least. At least you know you aren't alone, right? Alone in my home after the abortion, I thought about my life, and how I am able to make choices, to take responsibility for my own actions, to determine (to a certain extent) the type of life I'm going to lead. Getting pregnant, and then getting an abortion, made me a better person. I'm not going to fuck around anymore. I want to have kids. I'm on the road to getting ready. If I were to have an unplanned pregnancy now (the likelihood of which is verrry slim, but you can bet I'll never again assume anything works 100% of the time!), my decision regarding whether or not to abort might be different. I'm so very, very grateful that the decision will be mine to make, whenever it may come again. Thank you so much, women (and men!) of the world who fight for us all.

As smooth as can be expected. Really. It hurt, and I bled, but with pain medication (I think it was just extra-strength Ibuprofen) and hot tea, it wasn't terrible. The worst was over by the next morning. Then I had some mild cramping and some more light-medium bleeding, but not bad at all. No fever, no nausea, etc.

How did other people react to your abortion?

with compassion

Dominika

Aborcja w samotności
Głupia byłam. Mój chłopak zawsze się kontrolował, ponoć…

Ianne

A cry of freedom for all women who are dictated by the mentality of the norms…

Liz Hoffman

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Sunny

To była moja druga aborcja. Jak się okazało, była dużo łatwiejsza, z…

Carol

I woke up in bed, and thought this is a new beginning for him and I. I could…

Emily

10 years ago, at age 32, I had an abortion. The pregnancy was unplanned and I…

squaine123

Not in this alone

julie

My life became changed

chiquiss67

Hola.

Tengo 22 años y aborte en febrero de este año. Me di cuenta de que estaba…

Ivana

I had an abortion and never talked about it with anyone

Maria Victoria

A gravidez é também a morte da pessoa que você foi até aquele momento, para…

Ale

Sin remordimientos

Birdy <3

MY BODY, MY CHOICE!

Valentina

Le pedí que me dejara...

Me había embarazado antes y había abortado, desde ese…

Sam

I was 21 years old. I actually had just stopped using Birth Control due to the…

Francis

Una decisión consciente de vida

Młoda Dama

Postanowiłam opisać swój przypadek ponieważ sama podczas dokonywania aborcji…

Julia

Uratowałam sobie życie

Catarina Fernando

Tenho 18 anos e os meus pais nunca iriam aceitar que eu tivesse um filho com…