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Opponents of female choice pretend that abortions are irresponsible, lighthearted decisions made my immoral monsters. I think that for most, if not all, these are painful decisions, often with mixed emotions afterward. That does not make them mistakes, even if there are negative feelings later. It means that those women themselves bear the consequences of their actions. It is their business, their problem, their responsibility.

I had two abortions while married to my husband, results of birth control failure. Advised to be off the pill, an infection from an IUD, no cooperation from my husband, the diaphragm proved not reliable enough. From a very large family myself, I knew what can happen when a child's emotional needs are unmet; after the birth of my second, needy child I knew she couldn't receive what she needed if another baby arrived so soon. A year later, another unplanned pregnancy threw me into turmoil. An abusive husband, my own illness from stress, poised to get me and my children away from that situation, another baby would have kept us there, all at risk.
Though I dearly wanted more children, I am very happy to have raised two healthy ones. I do not regret the abortions and can rejoice in the ultrasound pictures of my grandchildren. I want to reduce the need for abortions but always maintain that option. In my view, those who would undermine full access to education and prevention have no moral ground to stand on.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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