Having an abortion isn't easy to talk about - especially if, like me, you've had more than one. It shouldn't be anything to be ashamed of, yet there's always a fear of judgement from family and friends. Even if people say nothing, the silence after you say the dreaded A-word speaks volumes.
Those unspoken questions: How could you be so careless? How could you get rid of it? Why wouldn't you want a baby? That last question is actually one that plenty of people feel comfortable asking. There's also the assumption that abortion is something we go through when we're younger and something we will inevitably regret one day. But the thing is, I don't.
When I was in my mid-20s and had been with my now-husband Jamie for a short period of time, I got pregnant accidentally.
Jamie was using contraception but, with me unable to take hormonal contraception due to its effect on me physically and mentally, we were one of those couples for whom an accident happened.
NOT READY
I wasn't far along when we found out, about 10 weeks, and it seemed obvious to us that we weren't ready to have a baby. Unlike what Britney Spears said when she revealed she'd had an abortion aged 19 while with Justin Timberlake, it certainly wasn't something that came more from my partner than me.
In her book, The Woman in Me, Britney wrote: This would just be much earlier than I'd anticipated. But Justin definitely wasn't happy about the pregnancy.' Thankfully, we were equally sure that it wasn't the right time.
This story is from the March 02, 2024 edition of WOMAN'S OWN.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 02, 2024 edition of WOMAN'S OWN.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Is it ever OK to lie about your age?
Kaye Adams has done it, and even Mel B jokes that she doesn't believe friend Geri Horner is 51. We ask...
‘I DIDN'T THINK.I'D SEE MUM AGAIN'int ICAT AFAR
MelB on rebuilding her life rebuilding her life after her abusive’ marriage
8 WAYS TO BECOME A MORNING PERSON
Improve body and mind with just a few simple tweaks to your daily routine
WHY YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST LOVE
(laire Dore, 50, learnt a lot from her first serious relationship
WHAT'S THE NAKED ATTRACTION ?
After a host of celebrities admitted to stripping off behind closed doors, Natalie Brown, 43, decided to bare all to find out just what all the fuss was about
MY FURY AT BEING A GRAN AT 52
Shona Sibary was far from excited when her eldest daughter welcomed her first child
A YEAR IN THE MAKING
Many of us shy away from drastic change but for these three women, it was just what they needed
I LOST 6ST AND FOUND THE REAL ME!
Shay Al-Ajami May, 32, was fed up pretending to be happy, so she decided to make it a reality
WHAT DO YOUR FEET SAY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH?
From heart disease to arthritis, here’s what they might be trying to tell you…
HOW CAN WE HELP OUR CHILDREN?
With more young people facing mental-health crises, we investigate what needs to be done