As much as I would like to have children, I know that this isn’t the right time for me to continue a pregnancy. I just graduated from college and I am in a healthy relationship. I have a decent job but I struggle to make ends meet. When I found out I was pregnant I knew immediately what my decision would be. My boyfriend and I are nowhere near financially stable enough to support a child. Thankfully, accessing abortion care in my state is not as restrictive as it is in other states. I was fortunate enough to get an appointment within three days of calling a clinic. Throughout the four hours I was at the clinic, I spent the majority of the time with about six other women who were going through the same thing. I immediately felt better knowing that I wasn’t alone.
I have no regrets. I know I made the right choice. I couldn’t be the mother I want to be at this time and I wouldn’t have been able to give a child the life that it deserved.
I will forever be an advocate for the pro-choice movement and I hope my story helps other women who are scared to choose what is best for them.
–Submitted by Joelle* through our website
I would definitely love to give a huge and grateful thank you to NAF for having an open support system available for women in my situation. It makes people feel like they are not alone and that they have a variety of options available. When I found out that I was pregnant, I had no job nor was I getting help from the man involved. I felt like I was going to be “forced” to have a child! So thank you so much for everything you all do.
–Submitted by Fallone* through a member clinic.
Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we feature real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.