Safety Exit
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Exhale

Exhale

Listen | Support | Validate

  • About
    • What is Pro-Voice?
    • Exhale History
    • Leadership Team
    • Anti-Oppression Policy
    • Press
  • Get Support
    • After-Abortion Textline
    • Support Groups
    • After-abortion Resources
    • Self-Care
  • Volunteer
    • Become a Counselor
    • Work Behind the Scenes
    • Join the Board of Directors
  • Community
    • After-Abortion Stories
    • Exhale Blog
  • Contact
    • Request Training
    • Outreach Materials
    • Contact Exhale
Donate

8 years and counting

January 4, 2019 By Exhale Leave a Comment

Submitted by: Ashley

In January 2011 my boyfriend and I became “official”. It was a bit awkward for our families because my blood uncle is married to his blood aunt. We snuck around for a while and in that time had unprotected sex. I was on birth control pills, but every once in a while I missed a day.

I started feeling nauseous and feverish around February, but I’ve always had irregular periods and get sick very easily, so I didn’t think much of it. I went to urgent care, took some blood and urine tests, and went on my way with a prescription for cold symptoms. Two days later I got a call while I was at work. It was a Friday afternoon, and an incredibly busy day. The doctor left a voicemail saying these exact words, “…Your urine sample came back and tested positive for pregnancy, so you are pregnant…”

I was in shock and felt cold all over. Tears started to roll down my face. I tried to finish my shift as quickly as possible so I could go home and call my boyfriend to tell him about it. I couldn’t tell my mom. She was probably the one person I should have told, but I didn’t. She would’ve been angry and judgmental.

I called the baby’s dad and I told him I was scared and wanted to have an abortion. He was sad, but supportive throughout the entire thing. I went to planned parenthood and found out I was 6 weeks along and that I could do the oral form before the 8 weeks, but after that I would have to get a surgical abortion. I didn’t even think about it. I consulted with the doctor, took the pills, and had the abortion exactly one day before the 8 weeks.

When it was over, I felt relief and guilt…It’s been 8 years and I still think about it every day. I think about what my baby would look like, how old they would be, and how our lives would be day to day.

Eventually my boyfriend and I broke up. I recently saw him on New Year’s Eve and I got sad when I saw him with his two babies. They’re beautiful. He has a two year old and a 1 month old. It brought back old feelings about my baby and I realize I still haven’t had closure. I feel like I should talk to him and get closure, but I’m afraid he’ll say no or that it will make things worse.

Filed Under: After-Abortion Stories

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Support Exhale

Help us continue to provide this imperative service.

Give Now

Footer

Contact

P.O. Box 14562 San Francisco, CA 94114
  • Amazon
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Twitter

Navigation

  • Privacy Policy
  • Give Now
  • Terms of Use

Join our Mailing List

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 · Exhale

Exhale is a 501(c)3 organization (EIN/tax ID: 94-3393719)