Abortion Speakout Stories

NMRCRC Admin January 13, 2012
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I was very sick with almost non-stop nausea and terrified when I had my illegal abortion. I had two children and was distraught to think that I might not survive to care for them. I was equally certain I could not care for a third child. The tremendous feeling of relief and well-being after

I returned home is one of the brightest memories in my life. I am daily thankful that I was able to find and afford an unlicensed, highly capable provider.

My children are adults now and I have never doubted that my decision was the right one. Coerced pregnancy benefits no one.

Politicians and community leaders who play politics with women’s health care need to have public exposure wherever they go.

Mic Check: SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.

I am in California. If someone wants to read my story, my name is Jean Richards

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I first refer to myself as a mom, it is my favorite title, I hold it as my first and most prominient position in life.  I am a single mom of two healthy, smart, and outspoken children.  I take much pride in the job I have done, not only as a parent, but as a single parent, and as a teen parent, birthing my oldest at 19.  
When I was 16, I had an abortion.  Despite all the concern, worry, and back and forth debating I did with myself, I knew in my gut that I was not ready to be a mom at that time. It was a very difficult decision to make.  It made me question my own values, the stand of my spiritual beliefs and made me really take a step into holding myself and my partner accountable for our choices.  While this was possibly the biggest decision in my life, I contine at the current age of 35 to live without regret about my abortion at 16.  I often think about my pregnancy, I honor it often in my prayers and reflections.  And I am consistently thankful that I had access to a safe procedure, that preserved by ability to be a mom when I was ready.  Given that right over my body and my future has made me a great parent.  It is hard to often live out the shame of having an abortion, but I speak out today, not because it is easy to talk about, or because I want everyone to know my business.  But I speak out because I know that at 16 I knew what I wanted and would have went to different lengths to achieve an abortion. I took for granted at the time that I had access to a safe medical procedure, now I know that wasn’t always and may not be the case in the future.  So I share my story so that others can hear, how important it is for women such as me to have self determination, over our bodies and our future.  
thank you
Adriann Barboa
 
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I am a Quaker member, who was raised Episcopalian by a very progressive anti war minister.

Anyway sometime in 1979 80 I became pregnant when my IUD became dislodged without me knowing about it. I was in school and had no interest whatsoever in continuing the pregnancy,  and would have been upset if my boy friend had been interested.  I was a feminist (and still am) and am very grateful that this was before abortion stigma really took hold.  Of course I had heard of the protestors, but really my decision to have a private abortion came from the fact that I am a doctor’s daughter and was kind of a snob about it.  I wanted use my own personal doctor.

It was about five hundred dollars in those days and I did have to ask my parents for the money. They gladly gave it and never voted Republican again. My mother in particular…to the end of her days spoke about it. 

I wasn’t really that fond of my doctor but will never forget him holding my hand as I went under for the anesthesia.  After tht I was fond of him!  When I woke up I thought it had not even happened. I went home and took a codeine (another benefit of a private abortion,) called all my friends and had a party.  Five of us had had abortions that year:  I guess our periods had synchronized as we lived in close proximity.

Anyway one can never know the future but I do know myself, and my life would have been awful if I had an unwanted child at that time. I would have never met my husband or had the perfect teen who is my chosen child.  May I add that my husband comes from a country where abortion is illegal: even birth control is banned and it is one of the poorest countries on earth.   He still cries about the suffering:  had two girlfriends have back alley abortions in straw huts. Guess what they both had IUDs that fell out too: but at the time they had to self inserted IF YOU CAN IMAGINE. Fortunately both girls survived, which he knew at the time; he has recently found out that their fertility also did. But the experience ws truly dangerous and traumatic and he came to this country for his freedom and met me. now we have our pro choice (perfect student too) teen. I would never have the family I have today if it was not for abortion. And may I add my parents may have continued to vote Republican for years!

in friendship:

pro choice activist

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