USA
Dear reader,
Today I want to tell you something about my story. It’s not often that people talk about such things, but I feel it’s important.
It happened about five years ago. I was in a committed relationship and I loved my partner. I was using continuous hormonal birth control. I wasn’t getting my period because of the pill, but I could tell something was off. Turned out I was eight weeks pregnant. I knew I wasn’t ready to become a mother. I believed then, as I still do, that bringing a child into this world, is a tremendous, unspeakable, important act. I didn’t feel ready to commit myself fully to that act five years ago. So, I opted to end the pregnancy. It was a sad, strange experience. And, while I don’t think back on it with fondness, I do not regret my choice one bit. Some years later, I was pregnant again, and this time I chose to give birth. It was the right time and I felt ready. As a mom, I know just how hard and brilliant and intense motherhood is, and I’m proud to have exercised my right to choose twice. Once, it ended a pregnancy. Once, it brought a beautiful boy into the world. No regrets.
And now to you, how would it feel to be in my shoes?
Yours truly,
This story was drawn from the 1 in 3 Campaign, a project of Advocates for Youth. To read other stories from North America, visit http://www.1in3campaign.org/ 1 in 3 U.S. women will have an abortion by the age of 45. Access to abortion in the U.S. varies from state to state. In the last four years, lawmakers have introduced over 200 restrictions on abortion country-wide.