Readers Respond: Why Did You Choose Abortion?

Because of the 1973 Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade, when facing an unplanned pregnancy, one option available for you to choose is abortion. Even though abortion is the most common surgical procedure performed for women in the U.S., it is also the most stigmatized. The decision to terminate a pregnancy is a topic that is rarely openly discussed.

If you have made this decision, why did you choose abortion? Share your story in making this difficult and complex decision as well as your emotional journey throughout the experience. Please know that your privacy will be upheld, and your choice will be respected and not debated here. By sharing your reasons for choosing abortion, you are putting a personal stamp on an issue that many do not understand. Revealing your abortion story may help other women who are considering whether or not to choose abortion as well as helping to decrease the stigma and misunderstandings about this sensitive issue. Share Your Choice

unsure

I am 23 years old and I have 2 daugthers i love very much (one 7 an the other 3). I have had 2 abortions already in my life due to being young and unsafe with sex. I just found out i am pregnant with my 3 baby. I am a single mom and am struggling evey day to keep afloat. I have made appt to end my pregnancy. But for some resson this decision has become very hard. I don't know if I am going to keep it or abort. I don't wont to live with regrets but i don't wont to regret the child either...I am so unsure but I pray i make the right choice.

—Guest ashley

In the end...

I am a 22 year old college student. My family falls into the 1% of America. The 'wealthy'. Due to this, I was never required to work nor support myself. As long as I was doing well in school, my family told me they would care after me. Two weeks ago, I found out I was pregnant. The first words out of my boyfriends mouth was "When is the abortion?". My mother told me that if I decided to keep the child, I would be forced out of the house and written off as dead. I have no way of supporting myself in this world yet and while I know I could get onto welfare, that doesn't seem like the right thing to do. It just hurts everyone. With a heavy heart, I went into an abortion clinic yesterday; protestors screaming at me for being a horrible person. I wish I could have found a way to keep my baby. But in the end, I cannot force my boyfriend to be a father if he doesn't want it, and I cannot survive without the help of my family. I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I hope I chose right.

—Guest Here's to hoping

No regrets

I am a 49 yo woman who had a safe, legal abortion almost 30 years ago and have never regretted it for a moment. I encourage each woman to make this decision based upon her individual circumstances. Had it not been legal I would have gone to a back alley butcher.

—Guest Thinker

Mistake

I will always wish someone had told me that adoption was a responsible and admirable option. I was far too young to have a child and in a brand new relationship. Ten years later we are still together and still childless, having been unable to conceive since the abortion. If I had adopted out my child at least they would still be out there somewhere, living with a chance of happiness. And maybe I would still be able to have other kids- but even if I couldn't, that knowledge that my child lived would at least be there. Even though I justified the decision at the time, tried to convince myself it was in the baby's best interests as well as our own, now all I have is sorrow and regret and the guilt of knowing I prevented a beautiful life from entering this world. As someone who now wants to adopt I know the pain of the couples who desire to care for the children whose parents can't, but I feel too guilty to care for someone else's child when I didn't give the same gift to someone else.

—Guest Friend

Not the Right Time

I am 22 loving at home with parents. My boyfriend has ended our relationship after finding out I'm pregnant. I am on a gap year and returning to university in September, I have student loan debts not a stable work schedule as I will be a student Teacher which means no income. I cannot financially support a family, my parents are unaware as I will be kicked out? The pregnancy was a accident, and I do not feel ready to be a parent. Think I will have to terminate - this is not the right time to have a baby.

—Guest Star

I miss my Angel; Mommys so sorry baby

To any young girl who is confused or scared please read our stories before you make your choice. Im 18 and I chose medical (oral) abortion 6 months ago. I was always pro-life, the type that couldnt even harm a fly, yet here i am confessing the murder of my own child. No body tells you that your heart becomes bitter and cold. Truth is, its the worst decision you live with forever. Its normal to be scared and stressed. But i didnt realize that at the time and i wish i knew then what i know now. I cry all the time feeling sorry for no one but my daughter or son who i named Angel. I dont want to relive the day, April 5th, 9 weeks pg, 5 hours after i took the first pill, I was on the toilet, loosing so much blood and golf balls of clots, soon after, Angel came out. (Sigh) I saw my babys heart, their little hands twitching, I was screaming, crying, apologizing to Angel for the HUGE mistake Mommy and daddy made. I pray everyday to not only God but to Angel, that they forgive me :(

—Guest Misses her baby

Too Soon

I found out I was pregnant in December 2011. I got an abortion because I was only three months pregnant and I already had an 8 month old baby. I could hardly afford all the things my baby needed, so I didnt think it would be fair to bring another baby into the world knowing I could not afford to take care of it. I got an IUD inserted right after my abortion in hopes of not getting pregnant again.

—Guest lala

Never any other option

My (now-)ex and I had been using condoms, but there was a mishap and it never occurred to me to get Plan B (even though we had gone that route earlier in the relationship for a similar incident). When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I did not plan to keep it, but I asked him. He said he was not ready to be a dad. The next day, I scheduled the appt., and a little later (at 6.5 weeks), I was shoving pills up my vagina. It was the worst pain (inc. labor since) that I have ever experienced, and I did it all solo (under the impression he wouldn't fall asleep while I cried and bled in the shower or go to work the next day--ha!). BUT those were the only negatives, as I can see it. If I had let that fetus develop, neither of us would have been good parents (together or separately). I have never felt guilt, except for feeling as though I should not have to hide my story. I know that I am a great mom to my daughter now (who would not otherwise exist) and can give her a good life.

—Guest margaret

My Story

I became pregnant when I was 24 - at the time, I had a 3 year old and was not married. Because of a medical situation, I only had 2 choices... wait until I miscarried (but the drs were concerned that they couldn't control the bleeding when this happened) or choose an abortion. I was told that there was no chance that my baby would survive. I was able to have a safe abortion and have not regretted this choice. Even though I did lose one baby, I am still an alive and healthy mom to my son.

—Guest Opal

2 abortions

I didnt choose abortion. at the time my boyfriend and I had 1 child and he didnt waant to be tied down by kids. He wanted to party at the clubs and cheat and while I was on birth control I became pregnant for the second time. He didnt care at all. all he cared about was me getting rid of baby number 2. Then about a year later came baby 3. He expressed to me he did not want anymore kids. I aborted the 3rd one. I became pregnant a fourth time and my son will be 11 in august. now in my late thirties I realize how i didnt do this for me I did it for him. I didnt know the consequesnses of my ignorance. I am sorry i did it. really sorry. Make the choice for yourself. You have the right to choose no matter what anyone says.

—Guest mistakes I made in my 20

1492

I had a late term abortion and everyday I wish I would have did it different. Boy or girl, I will never know : ( -- it's been 2 years and I still wonder!

—Guest .....

Lost

Im 20yrs old with a 2yr old and a 8 month old. I been on birth control when i got pregnant this time. My baby's father and I are broken up and we fight a lot. I struggle to support my 2children, so this is why I'm choosing abortion. I know for a fact that I can't raise another child. I just can't especially having a dead beat baby daddy. I'm so scared but I know it's for the best for me and my 2 kids.

—Guest Lost and confused

Wrong place, wrong time.

I was in a relationship with another girl when I was 17. Prior to dating her, my best friend and I were sexually involved. Needless to say, it was not okay to find out I was pregnant in this situation. We hadn't used a condom because (he argued) it felt better. Never did I ever think this would happen to me. Considering I was a student living at home, with many peers and my future ahead of me, I decided I could not support the child. I went through with abortion without my family knowing (they remain unaware to this day), and did not tell my girlfriend. My best friend seemed to brush off the idea entirely, he was absent through the whole thing. Despite the months of mental and physical stress, I am happy with the decision I made. It only would've been worse the other way. I am now in a loving relationship and hope to someday have children, when the time is right. >If you are struggling, PLEASE choose what is right for you, your health, and your/your baby's future. You will be ok. :)

—Guest Riley