Paula

Share your story

i had an abortion

2010 United States

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

Pippa

I had 2 abortiona in the space of a year...

was 20 nearrly 21 i hadnt had a…

serena serena

Yo aborte. No culpo por haberlo hecho, sino por no haberme cuidado. Desde el…

Macarena

Yo aborte , con oxapros en Buenos Aires tengo 24 años

Sam

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

F. B

Vivi 2 meses em um pesadelo

Marcella

Aos 18 anos tive minha primeira experiência com meu namorado,Como tdo…

Magda

To była moja decyzja!

K

Medical abortion is easy, provides instant relief

Yvonne

My abortion was what needed to be done at that time. Deep down me I know I…

deedee

한국에 계신 분들 걱정마십쇼!! 낙심하시 마시고 자신을 믿으세요!

Alice

Bom, há algumas semanas eu já vinha desconfiando de uma gravidez, embora não…

VIcky

Yo aborte

Emily

It isn't and shouldn't be as taboo as it is made out to be.

thya thya

hari ini harusnya usia kandungan sy menjelang 12 minggu , sy gagal pertahankan…

ana maria Duque

I had an abortion but this wasn't easy I was very afraid, but i never regret…

Letícia

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