I read an article a few weeks ago on Refinery29 about abortion and grief. It articulated the feelings I have always had about my own abortion so clearly, feelings that I have never been brave enough to share. A grief I felt I had no right to. Having had a miscarriage I know the grief of losing a very much wanted baby, the overwhelming sadness that pervades every pore. There was nothing quite like my miscarriage for me, it leaves you feeling inanely hollow; desperately in need of something that has been taken away from you by your own body, feeling like a failure, inexplicably angry but without a place to vent that anger on. A miscarriage is often no one’s fault, it’s medical and beyond control. When you have a miscarriage, if you are brave enough to tell friends and family about it, or you were unfortunate enough to be far enough along that telling them your baby hasn’t made it into the world is something that is often met with a series of revelations, but almost always support (in my experience anyway). I remember likening miscarriage as the maternal club you never wanted to be a part of, the club that no one of sound mind would wish anyone to be a part of, but one that the majority of women seem to be a part of at some point or another in their lives. Friends and family will rally around you, they might offer misguided words that give no comfort (You can always try again, for example) but I think you can talk about miscarriage without the fear of judgement.
My abortion was a different kind of grief, but equally overwhelming and all consuming. It’s not a position I ever wanted to be in or a situation I ever expected to find myself in as a financially secure, happily married mother of three. The media tells us that women like me don’t have abortions, it’s all teenagers trying not to ruin their lives and callous women frivolously using it as a means of contraception because they can’t be bothered to use anything else. On a logical level the majority of people know that isn’t true, they know it isn’t something that most women would willingly go through and they know that the statistics provided suggest the media portrayals of abortion are a load of tosh. Even knowing this, on a logical level, we always think it will happen to someone else. We discuss it amongst friends and declare that “if I was ever in that position” we know what we would choose, always one step removed from the reality. Always from outside and across the window. You never know what you will choose until you’re faced with a pregnancy test and a decision to make – in my case it was a pregnancy test, a breastfeeding baby, a couple of toddlers and a husband that didn’t want another baby at all, never mind another baby at such a difficult time. There was the false sense of security provided by a progesterone only pill, my active decision not to get pregnant and my failed attempts to avoid it. So the decision was made. Not once, but if you know my experience with abortion you will know I had to make the choice twice after the chemical abortion (abortion tablets) failed me, despite losing a fair amount of blood, clots and a normal period for a week, I still had to have a D&C when we discovered I was still pregnant at 13 weeks, 7 weeks later. The damage done by the tablets couldn’t be deciphered until 20 weeks and I couldn’t bare the thought of feeling this baby grow, knowing I may have made a decision that damaged it.
In all of my life, I have never know a loss or a grief like that of an abortion. It was a grief so isolated, so shrouded in guilt and self flagellation, that I’m not entirely sure I have ever or will ever be the same person again. I think about the abortion often, far more often than I would care to admit to myself. Knowing the decision was the right one for me and for my family at the time means very little when faced with the reality of it. As I said, abortion is an isolating experience, it’s a decision that you and you alone can make, whether you are pressured and you feel backed into a corner or not, the decision will always rest at your feet like an unwanted gift from a cat. It’s yours, but you don’t want it. Not only is the decision yours but the judgement is too. You’re never far aware from someone who will judge your choices and subsequently your guilt and grief. I read a few comments on a Facebook thread a few weeks ago, a couple of men (go figure) discussing their thoughts on abortion and what a “tough one” it was. I wanted to scream at my phone that it wasn’t and never would be a tough one for them, it would never be a burden that they would shoulder, their opinions on the matter weren’t relevant or required. That’s the thing with abortion – it’s not the guilt but the grief that I found most isolating. It’s the grief that choked me, still chokes me. You can’t express the grief of an abortion to anyone, the feeling of loss but there is a huge, secret club out there in much the way there is for baby loss; filled with women who have made the choice to have an abortion and are grieving because it’s not something that ever would have chosen under different circumstances, however this is a loss you chose, a loss you sort out, and you are alone with it, because how could you possibly share the grief of someone who didn’t choose, would do anything to avoid that loss? You can’t and to do so would be insulting.
Women do not discuss grief and loss as well as we may think we do. We have societally approved grief, and then we have grief that is still pushed aside, still hidden. After I had my abortion I grieved, I grieved desperately because I felt a loss. I hadn’t wanted to be in that position, I had taken measures to avoid that, and yet there I was, holding my baby as she breastfed, drowsy from the general anaesthetic and wondering how I had come to this point and why it couldn’t have been a year or so down the line when things might have been different. Wondering if I had made a mistake. Wondering what it would have been like if things were different.
I think after reading the refinery article, which was written anonymously because like I said, it’s not something you are supposed to admit you are grieving over, I finally felt like I could say it out loud. That I could say I felt my abortion was a great loss, a loss of an innocent part of me that had never been faced with such a harrowing choice – my current family that would 100% break under the pressure of another child so soon (as would my mental health) or an unborn child I knew I couldn’t cope with – and a loss of a future that for a brief moment I wanted to think of as possible, that I wanted to imagine as la-Dee-da and working out for us all. I wanted to say that if you are feeling a sense of loss after you have had an abortion, your grief is not stolen. It’s not something you are disallowed from feeling. You cannot extradite yourself from grief’s clutches because you made a choice. Sometimes we are dealt shitty cards, really really shitty cards, and sometimes we wish things were different. It is ok to grieve. It’s ok to grieve for the loss and to be desperately sad that you felt you had to make the decision, no matter what your circumstances. You don’t have to feel ashamed or alone in your grief.
What we often call ‘post abortion grief’ is incredibly common. Statistics show that as least 65 percent of women feel deep, deep pain, grief, regret and even despair and hopelessness after abortion. Some women spiral into alcohol or drug abuse, some women become depressed and anxious, some women try to commit suicide, some women lose all sense of self-worth and become promiscuous and go on to have more abortions. Women are sold the lie that abortion will solve all their problems, life will go on like normal as though nothing has happened. That does not match with who we are. We are human beings with emotions, spiritual connections and when we create life inside our bodies it is not simple to terminate it and expect to come out intact. We need to acknowledge this and realise that abortion causes so much damage. We need to inform other women that abortion is not a simple solution. It is only fair that women are truly informed about the possible consequences of abortion before they make that decision. Unfortunately abortion clinics are the last place to acknowledge these issues. They still claim that abortion is safe and most women feel relief. They are lying and we as society allow it. Sorry for the rant, but it makes me angry when I see my fellow women being lied to. Who is left to carry the pain? The women! Men do struggle with abortion grief as well, but in a different way. Often they feel powerless because they have no say in the decision. There is healing for abortion grief, so search it out if you need it.
Thank you for writing this. I think about my abortion every day and the reasons I had it. The grief haunts me. X
To every woman who has had an abortion..out of choice.or a dire medical diagnosis.in the baby.you are loved.and so is your baby.There is a wonderful retreat called Rachaels Vineyard.that can help heal your broken heart..I was 13.when I began having sex..then at 15..was pregnant.1969….was taken to hospital..left overnite.alone and picked up the next day…trauma….for sure.When parents picked me up.I was told to tell my brothers.I had been at a cousins.I share this to say..for me as a 63 yr.old.I wonder …if my life may have been different if I had been sent away..to complete pregnancy and give my baby to a loving home.There is hope for today and I know that one day I will meet Luke in Heaven.May God bless each person who reads this.Whosoever calls upon the Name of The Lord shall be saved …kmb… September 13,2019…
Hold up. You and your husband are happily married and have children. You got pregnant and then got an abortion? How will you explain that to your kids one day? Oh, mommy wanted you guys but it’s hard and we didn’t want another one so we killed it? I have To be honest, I have never heard of a woman making a choice like this in your situation. Unwed, not working, sure. A desire to remain child free, ok. But a woman who has chosen motherhood already? You say that a child would have broken your family – but that was never the case before. Your family didn’t break when you went from 1 to 2 children. Your family didn’t break when you went from 2 to 3 children. But somehow you know that this innocent child would’ve been the one to destroy everything? That’s so strange that you’re also clairvoyant. Really really bazaar, and I find it fascinating yet deplorable that anyone would make such a choice
Oh Sofia poppet. You meant “Bizarre”, we’re not shopping in Turkey.
No, I would tell them that mentally and physically we weren’t prepared to take on another life whilst ensuring that they still had all of us that we could give – something we had taken measures to avoid… You’ve never heard of a woman with children in her late 20’s/early 30’s having an abortion? Oh dear. That’s actually the most likely demographic to have an abortion. Perhaps brush up on your facts before you try to troll – and learn how to spell whilst you’re at it. It really does just make you a bit of a wally.
Wow, what a very closed minded way of thinking. Having 4 kids is expensive, i would know bc i have six siblings. I agree with the fact that shes already a mother, and her option to abort is very out of the norm. But we dont know her life and how it rolls. Maybe an extra kid would just be too much for them to handle. So her three other kids that already exist should have to suffer? They have to deal with the stress of another baby as well, not just the mother. It sounds like OP wants the best life imaginable for her kids that are already living. Did you miss the entire point of this article? Think about it, shes a mom whos been through it before, she knows whats best for herself and her family. She wouldnt carelessly abort, Most women wouldnt.
This is an awful comment. A woman is grieving and being honest of her own account. Woman all over the world need to hear more voices like this when feeling alone.,,and you’re just adding on salt to the wound. If you can’t possibly be nice, please keep your comments to yourself.
I know it’s 3 years later….but I’d like to share that I was a 38 year old, married mom of 3 (ages 2, 4 & 6) when I found out I was pregnant unexpectedly. Yes, I had already chosen to be a mother and was happily married. But the stress of having 3 children and both parents working full time, during a global pandemic nonetheless, made the idea of a 4th child impossible to bare. I always told myself I could never go through with an abortion myself but I was pro-choice. When faced with the decision myself, I found I had to make it. For my own sanity (I was already barely hanging on with my current 3 kids), for the sake of my children knowing I would have less time to dedicate to them, for my husband (who didn’t even want a 3rd child in the first place) and for my future self. The choice is complicated. Sofia, it sounds like you may not have been a mother yourself when you wrote this comment. I don’t care if you’re the most loving mother in the world, there are times where you miss yourself and your own identity. With each child you have the more you lose of yourself.
Same. 36. Two kids, 4 and 2. Married. I am having an abortion because it’s the best thing for my family and myself and I am incredibly sad. I am struggling to articulate and understand the depth of my sadness while intellectually knowing this is the right thing. I didn’t expect this grief and desire to keep the baby, despite never wanting it and knowing our family will struggle if we kept it.
Thank you so much for sharing this. So powerful and honest when most must secretly carry the pain. You are helping so many women just by talking about this and maybe even easing the sting of isolation.
Wow this is amazingly open and harrowing, you are so brave!
I myself have 3 children and are happily married, although a few weeks ago we were told during a hospital trip for extreme abdominal pain that after a urine test I was preganant?? What?? my husband had had vasectomy 2 years ago, we were shocked, I cried, (and I’m sure I said to the nurse “are you fucking kidding me??”my husband went a shade of grey I had never seen before…….we had to sit in a waiting room full of people with cut fingers and crutches for 2 hours just saying not a word! (We has always had that conversation that is ‘it’ ever happened and we weren’t expecting it of course we would keep it) but now living that moment we were scared and feeling hopeless…….
After that long 2 hours we were taken into another room for blood test results, it was a false positive……….and breath…..
So what I really wanted to say in reply is you never know someone else’s life, choices and situations, people should never judge, no one walks in your shoes , let no one be the judge of you, you are brave and resilient and a wonderful lady, mother and wife!
This is like reading about myself.
I’m so sorry you, me and everyone else in similar situations have had to go through this and become changed by it. I have never, and will never, be the same as I was ‘before and it’s hard to find anyone who understands that, the Men don’t, that’s for sure!
Thank you for being so open and sharing, your words have helped me today ❤?❤
I think for most women who have abortions, it’s far from the easy choice and my heart goes out to anyone who finds themselves in that situation. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to be grieving this way and not feeling able to speak about it for the fear of judgement.
I think this was a really brave post to write and i hope that anyone who is in a similar situation finds it and realises they are not alone.
Debbie
This is a wonderful article, laying your soul bare for all who care to read this. It’s so sad and yet so powerful and you are saying in a clear loud voice not to feel ashamed, because you are not alone in your grief. Many women will be able to recognise these feelings and share your grief, and youwriting about your experience will allow others to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Very well written round to know you and share your feelings.
Absolutely great post! And something I feel should be more openly discussed. I think people do have a sense that women who have abortions don’t really care about the loss of the baby. I know I never really thought much about women having grief after having an abortion if I’m totally honest.
I will say though that I feel a man could still grieve in some sense too. Had my wife and I been in the same position you was, and made the same choice, I feel that I would still be upset by that loss. Maybe not as much as my wife as she’s directly the one doing it. But it would still have a great affect on me too.
Thank you. Thank you for writing this and showing your grief. I’m commenting on here so family on insta won’t see, because it’s so much of a taboo that’s kept hidden and it makes us isolated in grief. My abortion was 5 years ago, 3 days after my birthday. I remember because on the first year after I was asked by a local why I looked so sad when it had only just been my birthday. He couldn’t understand.
I had been on a night out to say goodbye to old work colleagues before I left for a new job in a different part of the country. Alcohol was flowing and I didn’t want to have to go home to my ex boyfriend in our flat (hence the move!) so I stayed at a mates. Booze and condones don’t work kids. Don’t do it.
I had no money saved, was living above my work in staff accommodation and my one night stand guy wasn’t interested in helping out.
I was alone.
Made the hardest decision of my life. Still have the scan picture in a file under my bed. Termination at 16 weeks.
Had to book a week off work. And when I returned I actually heard one of the other girls moan that I had a holiday after only working there for less than 2 months. I wanted to scream, to shout at her for being so damn ignorant. But of course, I couldn’t show my grief.
I still write baby a letter every year, 3 days after my birthday.
I got a tattoo in memory of the baby I never met;
Faith is a bluebird
Because I had faith that one day I’d have a baby, and be in the right place to love and raise my child.
Amazing words and the fact that I’m not the only person who feels this way has helped me. Thank you for being so brave and writing this.
Wow. Thank you for being brave enough to put this in black and white. This is everything I didn’t know I needed. This will help a lot of women.