Clothed in strength and dignity

I am 51 and have had three . Many would probably think I used it as a form of birth control , but two of the three pregnancies occurred while on the pill. I was just so grateful I had options.  I grew up in a strict Catholic household, and the ability to freely share my experiences was thwarted as a result of that focus.  I went to Catholic school even through college, and my Catholic friends were the women I knew who were more likely to have an abortion, ironically . They often felt that they would have been as equally maligned for having had sex while unmarried so they needed to end the pregnancy. 

I now have two daughters and I chose to allow them to explore religion on their own terms as opposed to strong arming them into any organization, primarily because of the guilt the church imposed directly or indirectly on me for my legal choice . I remember hearing the line “ain’t no angels gonna greet me “ from a Springsteen song about people with AIDS and thinking that was my fate as well. I was doomed to hell . But the alternative seemed so much worse .

Thirty years later , I’ve become a fervent advocate of Planned Parenthood (PP) and reproductive freedom . I’ve done everything possible to instill that message to my daughters and now as young adults they donate money and time to pro-choice political candidates as well as to PP. It’s very important that pro choice women take control of not only our bodies, but of the spin that anti choice politicians and religious figures have put on a medical procedure that has huge consequences for women’s freedom .

We should not be vilified or stigmatized because of our decision - I know that mine were the right ones - and if there are angels, I’m also pretty sure they will be there to greet us, too.

My Daughter's Abortion

My daughter had an abortion.

We found out we were both pregnant last year, except she was almost 3 weeks ahead of me.

She was a young addict in an abusive relationship. I was the same age when I had her. She didn't know what she wanted in her life but she knew that she couldn't provide. So, I offered to provide in her place.

She grew more attached after having her ultrasound. I grew more attached. 

Then it happened – “Mom, my abortion is scheduled for Thursday. Can you send me money to pay for it?”

I couldn’t sleep that night. I kept apologizing to my grandchild..."I'm sorry. It's not your time." 

I gave her the money and a postpartum pack from my bereavement/birth Doula supplies. I explained the sensations and physical experience she would have after the procedure and what to watch for when she went home. I called the clinic and asked if I could accompany her as a Doula. The clinic refused.

Thursday morning arrived: “I'm sorry little one. I can't save you. You'll come back when the time is right. She's getting her life together. She is my child. I support her. I love her.”

Relief and gratitude

When my daughter was 1 1/2 I found out I was pregnant again. I was in shock because I was still breastfeeding often and I was cautious the rare time I had sex. When I saw the test results I was filled with dread. I was already so depleted and exhausted. The thought of having another child seemed terrifying and impossible. I didn’t want to be pregnant.

I’m lucky. I felt safe enough to share what was going on with friends and family. They supported me and understood that I didn’t want another baby. 

I called a nearby clinic and had an appointment within 2 weeks. I was a bit nervous about the procedure and stressed about the recovery with a little one to care for. My mom came with me and my husband took time off work. I was amazed by how wonderful everyone at the clinic was and how cared for I felt. It wasn’t scary or painful for me. I felt relaxed and relieved afterwards. I kept waiting for the grief or shame I thought I was supposed to feel but it never came. I feel immense gratitude that I live in a city where I can access an abortion with such ease and safety. Everyone deserves that. 

I try to share my story whenever I can because I want dispel stigma. And because I’m not ashamed of my choice.

I never wanted kids

I was with my boyfriend for two years when I found out I was pregnant during hurricane Sandy and there were no buses or trains or any kind of transportation for days, power was out for two weeks, I had no battery on my phone and I had no way to contact my boyfriend and tell him. We were doing long distance for a year and he was in ____ state so I couldn’t even go to his house and tell him, I called from a pay phone and told him and we both didn’t know what to do. 

Me and him always said we never ever wanted kids, he even went as far as going to planned parenthood and getting a vasectomy and I always wanted to tie my tubes but I’m too young.... clearly the vasectomy didn’t work and we were pregnant and both confused. We talked and talked for days and decided we’d keep it, we didn’t know how we would pay for an apt. and a baby and my move to ____ state but we’d make it work. I didn’t know how I would graduate college in my last year and have this baby but we would make it work. I told my mom I was pregnant right away and I had her tell my dad because I couldn’t face him, neither were thrilled about it but said no matter what I chose they would support me and love the baby. 

I was still conflicted over everything because I had a life plan and this wasn’t what I planned, I didn’t even want kids and the more I thought about everything I would give up I started becoming unsure about keeping it. I still decided to keep it until my mom sat me down and spoke from her heart and told me she didn’t want to see me struggling because I chose to have this baby and she didn’t want me to give everything up for this baby I didn’t even want in the first place. It was the hardest decision I ever had to make in my entire life, it was emotional and life changing but I chose abortion because in my heart I knew I didn’t want this life and I didn’t want to give up everything I wanted for something that wasn’t even planned. I realized that I could have a baby whenever I wanted but if I had THIS baby I could never ever take that back.

3 days before my 24th birthday I went to the Planned Parenthood that I have been going to since I was 19 and had my abortion. I thought it would be a lot more emotional and I would feel some kind of attachment but I was ok, no tears, no hard feelings – it felt like I was doing the right thing. My doula was amazing and so was the doctor that performed the abortion and all throughout the procedure they made me feel at ease and never once made me think twice about what I was doing. Fast forward a year later: me and my boyfriend ended up breaking up because he was cheating on me throughout the entire relationship.

I’m so grateful for my abortion because I’m not sure I would be who I am today or where I would be if I didn’t get my abortion.

An abortion is emotional and personal and never an easy decision and no one wants to ever have one but shit happens and you can always have another baby when the timing is right and when it’s on your terms, an abortion is painful but you will get over it and day by day you start to think less and less of it but you will never forget it. 

Every year when November 12 arrives I remember the day I had my abortion and when June arrives I remember the day my child would have been born.