Ada's Story: Woman Glad She Had Abortion

I'm Not Sorry.net ^ | Unknown | Ada

[Keyes2000mt]

I put my co-pay and a small donation on my credit card. It's a lot less than I thought I'd have to pay. I'm relieved, since I have student fees and rent coming up. More waiting. I get very hungry. I wish I had eaten breakfast before coming. I look over the pamphlet and discover NuvaRing. It sounds great and so much more convenient than the Pill. My regular doctor had not mentioned it. I had no idea there was something so easy available. I'm excited to get started with that right away.

Three hours after first arriving, it's finally time. I'm led to a bathroom and told to empty my bladder and put a pad in my underwear. I'm then led to another room where I strip from the waist down and lie on a table. I realize that I'm not even nervous. I feel a little awkward lying on a table with no pants, but nothing too bad. The doctor comes in, introduces himself, and shakes my hand. A woman stands next to me and starts some small talk. It gets my mind off what's going on. I barely feel a thing at first. The woman next to me warns I'll soon hear the vaccuum turn on and feel some cramping. It was still a bit surprising to feel cramps so suddenly. It is uncomfortable, but not painful. More small talk. She's a cat person but her apartment won't allow them. I sympathize.

Finally, I hear the machine shut off, and the woman next to me says it is hopefully over. The doctor confirms. All the important parts have been removed. I'm done.

The doctor reminds me of the importance of scheduling a follow-up exam before leaving the room. As soon as I sit up, the cramps get a lot better. I get dressed and go into the recovery room. I'm still hungry, and a little cold, but am feeling pretty good. The cramps aren't that bad, and I'm relieved to have the procedure done.

I tell the woman I have decided on the NuvaRing. We discuss that and go over my aftercare. 7 days of antibiotics. No sex, tampons, or lifting over twenty pounds for two weeks. Nothing I can't handle. I'm reminded once more to make an appointment for a follow-up exam in three to four weeks. I get a small brown bag with papers describing everything I was told about, a bottle of antibiotics, and my first NuvaRing. Another woman checks my blood pressure and temperature again. My blood pressure has come back down.

I'm hungry, and I want a nap, but I'm feeling good about my decision, and relieved that it's over. My roommate takes me for lunch and drops me off at home before heading into work. I'm hardly bleeding at all.

I talk to my mom on the phone a few hours later. I lie and say that nothing's new in my life. I know she wouldn't approve, but I also know she's not ready to be a grandmother yet.

Feb. 7: After a few days of just light spotting, it's starting to feel like a period flow. I haven't used pads in over ten years. It feels strange.

I make the appointment for my follow-up exam. It will be on February 25, exactly three weeks after the procedure. They'll make sure there were no complications, and I'll get the chance to buy more NuvaRings.

Walking home from the store, I hear a baby wailing through an apartment window on my street. I chuckle to myself and think how happy I am that won't be my window later this year.

To simply say "I'm not sorry" or "I don't regret it" is not strong enough. Having an abortion was the best decision I ever made. I'm glad I did it, and I'm 100% confident that I made the right choice for myself, my lover, and our situation. It's not right for everyone, but it was right for me, and I'll do everything in my power to make sure every woman has the opportunity to decide if it is right for her without legislation making that decision for her.

Any pregnancy will change your life, whether you have the baby or not. It should be up to us how we let it change us.

[stands2reason]

We're looking into it, as soon as hubby gets his promotion.

Now, 2 crazy boys 22 and 16 both adopted as newborns, and out of that 8 months ago the 22 yo just gave me my first grandchild.

How great for you! :-)

[stands2reason]

Thanks, but I don't really deserve it. I'm the one that survived -- but I know what you mean anyway. Thanks again.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

If you blame both females and males equally for a lack of sexual responsibilty, it would behoove you to articulate that more clearly than you have on most of this thread. That's all I'm trying to point out to you.

[litany_of_lies]

I hesitated to respond to your last post, but I will, cuz I'm miffed.

It would be much easier on you, and me, and I would guess all of us if you just assume that I am a person of good will (my 6+year track record here supports that, and the relative civility of this forum in general supports that), and not demand qualifiers or equal time for every person or group any of us doesn't criticize sufficiently in a post.

Just because I criticized the girl, I'm not obligated to give equal time criticism to guys, mothers, fathers, siblings, doctors, nurses, counselors, priests, teachers, or anyone else who could-have, should-have, or would-have been able to affect this girl's life for the better. That would take a book.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Excuse me, but you blamed females for males having sex with them (they're under so much pressure from these girls, and if they don't give in, [GASP] someone might think they're gay!) - but I'm supposed to ignore that, and assume you didn't mean that the way it sounded?

I don't care enough about this to volley on it anymore, but honestly - you need to be more careful. Words mean things.

[goldema]

I think this woman is truly evil. she may nevey regret what she did. You Christians seem to be more forgiving than jews like me. 6 million of my people were butchered-this is no different. Child killers like my mom, the Planned Parenthood counseler are just evil people with little hope of repentance. Even if they do repent, the baby was already killed.