Content warning: child abuse “So, I had to collect change from my couch and car to buy my pregnancy test. I was working a job I loved (and eventually helped me move up in my career), but it didn't provide health insurance or very much money. My boyfriend (now husband) and I had been together for almost a year. At that time, I was still struggling with my relationship with sex. I had been abused as a child. When it came to sex, my body, and protection I was completely checked

“Reading these stories helped me, so I wanted to share my experience too in the hopes that it will help other women. I'm 39, happily married with 2 beautiful children, ages 2 and 4. In my last pregnancy, I had a TIA (mini-stroke) when I was 8 months pregnant. I ended up ok, as did my son, but it was very scary, and as a result my doctor will not prescribe me birth control that includes estrogen since it could increase my chances of another stroke. My husband and I have used c

“It happened yesterday. I'm 29 years old and already have a five-year-old son. Although my son’s father is in his life every other weekend, I’m a single mom. My son depends on me and his father pays the state MINIMUM in child support. I have a caring boyfriend of a little over a year, however, we broke up a few times through last year due to mostly my indecisiveness regarding commitment. He took the last break up pretty hard and went "back out " (we are both members of alcoho

“I was 18 years old and a mom to my three-year-old little girl when I found out I was pregnant. I knew how different it was going to be from the moment I found out. I didn’t get the same feeling as when I found out I was pregnant the first time. With my oldest daughter, I was scared yet excited and loved my precious baby instantly. With this one I felt shame and disgust. I didn’t have feelings for the dad, and he was living a not so great lifestyle and I just remember sitting

“On a Tuesday in December 2018, I terminated a much-wanted pregnancy for medical reasons via dilation and extraction. That Friday, Governor Kasich signed Senate Bill 145 into law, making dilation and extraction procedures illegal in my home state of Ohio. My husband and I were thrilled to discover we were pregnant again in September of 2018. We had miscarried our first pregnancy earlier that year and were lucky enough to get pregnant again quickly. At eight weeks pregnant we

“I was never ready for kids. I've never really experienced the ‘motherly’ urge or find myself wanting kids. All of my sisters have kids but I just could not see myself going down that road. At the age of 26, I was advancing in my career and I enjoyed my independence. I was always on birth control since I was 22. But, that one time that I had no medical insurance to get my birth control and the one time my boyfriend did not wear a condom, is the time I got pregnant. He and I t

“‘Bitterness does more harm to the vessel in which it is stored…than the vessel on which it is poured.’—Unknown Why am I writing this? Perhaps to help heal the bitterness, the anger and the rage I still feel, and which very recently keeps making itself known. Things I’ve tried to lay to rest, to forgive. Am still. I've had two abortions. They are years past now, but like any loss, it can be readily called back. I am dealing now with never having children—a great regret—and on

“My surgical abortion at 9 weeks: When I decided my best, and really only option was abortion, I was terrified to have the procedure done. I typical knew nothing about it, because up until I found myself in the situation that I did, I have always been pro-life. So of course I started to research. I could maybe find 3-4 other stories that slightly helped me. So, I told myself after I had it done I would be sharing mine, as to hopefully help someone decide for themselves. So, h

“I was driving to Boston Market when I decided I wanted to write this. It took a gentle shove from a journalist friend, the echoes of angry protestors in my mind, and a heaping pile of mashed potatoes to convince me that writing my story down would serve some greater purpose for someone, somewhere. Someone, somewhere, like me. Today, on Halloween, I had an abortion. Before I tell you about it in full detail, know this: I have no regrets. Yes, I was emotional. Yes, I felt the

“I do not remember the exact point in time when I realized what abortion was or when I decided to be pro-choice. But I do remember early in high school, my best friend and I started to talk in depth about abortion, and birth control, and why we believed in choice. By junior year of high school, I was extremely passionate about the issue. I lectured my friends in the cafeteria, attended pro-choice rallies at my state’s capital. I publicly challenged the white, male, Anti-Choic

“I found out I was pregnant when I was 20. But I already have 3 kids. I remember whenever I found out I was pregnant so stressed, sad, and disappointed. Because between my family and my husband’s family commenting about us not having more kids, and about money and taking care of 3 kids. I was stressed. I remember I told one of my closest friends and she told me ‘don't do it, there's a reason God give you another baby’ all that and also one of my family members. But I didn't w

"I never considered writing about my abortion experience. Maybe because it was traumatizing, maybe because it was personal, but maybe also because it was none of anybody's damn business. However, with the recent discussion around Roe vs. Wade, I thought my story might help to answer the millions of ignorant questions, including but not limited to, ‘Why do libs care so much about abortion?’ My period was less than 48 hours overdue, but I told my friend I had to swing by CVS. O

“I found out I was pregnant fairly early on. I took a test about a day after my period was due. I just felt something was off. It came out positive. I made my decision immediately and never questioned. I told the father and he was on board with any decision I made. Made the appointment immediately after finding out, before I even told the dad. The worst part was actually getting the courage to go into the clinic. Protesters were out front. Not close enough to bother me, but I

“I was a 20-year-old sophomore at a top University. Like any young and naive college girl I fell for a bad boy. We clicked like no other person I’d been with. He made me feel remarkable and everything around us was irrelevant. He then went to jail and two weeks later after being 10 days late and in denial I found out I was pregnant. I was beyond scared and I was so disappointed in myself. I didn’t want to drop out of school and the life I wanted to provide for my child I coul

"I had an abortion last week. I am 34 years old and I have no children. Mine isn't a story about a mother who already has children and doesn't wish to have any more. It's not a story about a woman who can't have children due to health reasons. It's just a story about someone who doesn't make enough money to support a child and who doesn't really want to support a child. My husband and I had an accident a few weeks ago. In the morning, before he left for work, he stopped by th

"I was 20 years old living in Orlando with my roommate, when I had a lot of unsafe sex with my at the time boyfriend that I was only with for a few months, after many times I took plan B, but I soon found out its not always effective. we had unprotective sex june 10th when I took plan b the next day. 2 weeks later I felt like something wasn't right and told him, I took a pregnancy test alone (1 week before my period would be expected) and it came back positive. seeing those 2

“A year after my daughter was born, I became pregnant again. I was happy because I had wanted 2 children. I was only concerned that the 2 children would just be 2 years apart. I may be fatigued taking care of 2 small children. I was 38; I would be 56 by the time the younger one finished high school. My husband, on the contrary, was not happy. He did not want to have the child. He had also not wanted the 1st child either. But we weren’t married then and we didn’t live together

“I keep hearing people tell me, ‘It doesn’t define you.’ That’s fine. I know I am not my abortion, but my abortion is a part of me. I don’t regret my decision. I don’t regret my procedure. I don’t mind that I went alone. I don’t mind that I wasn’t sedated. I don’t mind the pain that I felt or the tears that I shed in the operating room. I don’t mind the scars that leave others wondering. I don’t mind the mixture of emptiness, relief and anxiety I felt afterwards. I don’t mind

“I made some drunk decisions one night and ended up raped. I never told anyone that either. When my friends asked about my bruises, I told them I liked it rough. When my mom drove me to the abortion clinic I told her it was a one night stand. That was in 2007. I had an abortion that year. I don't feel bad about it. I remember everyone who worked and volunteered at the clinic were quite literally the kindest people ever, so thanks for your kindness! The people protesting outsi

"We were always careful, my boyfriend and I. We were happy to be in agreement that we did not want kids and were not in the right mental and financial states of mind to take care of one. When I would think about my body being ripped in agonizing pain for a life I couldn't take care of, I concluded with a resounding NO THANKS every time, no second thoughts whatsoever. If I was going to be responsible for a life, I wanted to do it responsibly. It was dreadful to think of the re