Katherine

Most people were very supportive. It was my parents who actually convinced me to go through with it. My boyfriend at the time was very pro-life and couldn't understand my decision. To him, it seemed like I was destroying something beautiful that we created together. He broke up with me. After having that time alone to really think about it, he realized that we couldn't bring a baby into our situation. From that point on, he was with me every step of the way. I was eight weeks pregnant at the point of termination.

I generally don't tell anyone about my experience unless I know I can really trust them. I have some friends I know wouldn't approve and I don't want them to see me differently.

Terrifying. I'd never had any kind of surgery before. All the nurses knew why I was there and a few of them were very hostile towards me. The whole thing only took a few minutes and I was under a general anesthetic. When I woke up and realized it was all over, I immediately began to cry. I felt horribly guilty. My OB-GYN told me that it was a hormonal reaction, but it just seemed so appropriate.

I suffered from infections for six months afterward and it took me well over a year to mentally and emotionally recover.

When I got pregnant, I felt like I should have been happy. I tried to feel happy, but I just couldn't. I was too terrified. I was a 19-year-old high school drop out with no job and in a rocky relationship. I also was suffering (and still do) from various anxiety disorders and depression. The anxiety was so bad that I couldn't even eat and I was afraid that I would miscarry regardless. It was blatantly obvious that I wasn't ready to be a mother.

Even though I knew I was making the right choice, I couldn't help but feel bad about it. Immediately after the surgery, I experienced most of the negative feelings above. I did also feel relieved that it was over with and I could start getting my life back on track.