Initial Relief then Regret and Sadness

December 6, 2025

Note: The Exhale Pro-Voice After-Abortion Stories collection features people’s stories of their experiences and emotions, exactly as they have written them in. We do not edit these stories at all, and the content that follows this message is exactly as we received it. We know that people’s experiences are complex, and these stories reflect the many emotions they may be feeling after their abortions. From relief to grief, and everything in between, and all at the same time, we’re here for you.


I am a mom of 2 boys, with my youngest going into kinder last year all the feelings came and I felt like I needed another child, a 3rd. I cried for months thinking about how much I wanted to have another child and my husband and I decided to try for one more, we tried for a little over a year with no luck and I had accepted our family with just 2 children.

Last month I felt off and took a test and it was a very faint positive almost a week before my expected period, I had an immediate sense of dread. I told my husband who was trying to be supportive but as the days went on I couldn’t eat, sleep, shower.

I felt like I wouldn’t be able to be a good mother to my older 2 boys having to care for a newborn. My husband also verbalized that he did not want to start over and enjoyed have our kids who are already (mostly independent)I forced myself to make a quick decision, I wanted to have the choice made before I was expecting my period which gave me only a few days.

I decided to have a MA, initially I felt relief but the day after came deep regret and sadness. It’s been about a month now, but I still feel deep sadness and regret for the choice I made. I don’t know how I will ever feel happy again.

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