Wednesday's Words from Women

As a single mother of five, it is hard to make ends meet. The assistance that NAF provides is greatly appreciated for women in my situation. I was married eight years when I found out that my husband was a pedophile. He hurt my little girl and I had to remove him from the home, which took away our income. Since then I have been struggling to get by. I am in no state to care for another child on my own. For these reasons I made this decision and I do not regret it.

--Submitted by Xana through a member clinic


I found out at 24 weeks that my baby had severe Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) and some brain issues. I did additional testing at a university hospital and all confirmed the original findings.

I was brought to my knees by the diagnosis and to add insult to injury, the hospital staff was very emotionless and unsympathetic to my condition and my options.

After two weeks of back and forth with my doctors and insurance company, I went out on my own to look for help. Thankfully someone at a local clinic put me in contact with a doctor that could assist me. I was scared and I had to drive two hours from home and was going somewhere I had never been before to see someone I had only spoken to on the phone a few times.

I was treated with compassion and care. Although I was tired, scared, and heartbroken, I know did what was right for my family and for my mental well being. I feel I did the most compassionate thing I could for my daughter. I said goodbye in my own way on my own terms and did not allow her to die slowly in my womb.

My choice was difficult to say the least and I will never be the same after this experience. These are some of my darkest days and I am saddened that it was so extremely difficult to get the care that I wanted. I am so grateful that there are brave people out there who provide this kind of care. I wish all women in my situation, who are faced with these issues, have the option to get the top notch care that I did.

--Submitted by Ariel through our website


Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we feature real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.

Wednesday's Words from Women

I’m 21, without a job, and I wish to go back to school. My pregnancy was unplanned and I was unsure of what to do. The man involved and I came to an agreement that this isn’t what we want right now. I called NAF and got the assistance that I needed and I just want to say thank you for helping me.

--Submitted by Pearl through a member clinic

I had an abortion and I have no doubt in my mind that it was the correct decision. Most of my family and friends are very religious and against abortion. I have a hard time being a part of any church because of this. My abortion came at the end of a difficult relationship. My fiancé at the time was very controlling, insecure, and abusive. I was in the process of getting out of the relationship when I found out that I was pregnant. His parents wanted me to continue the pregnancy. I considered adoption but I knew that I would not be able to go through with it. I feel that a person needs to look at their emotional and financial situation when they are considering having a child. I wholeheartedly thank NAF and their member clinics for being there for me.

--Submitted by Bailey through our website

Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we feature real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.

Wednesday's Words from Women

I have always been pro-choice and I have always kept myself informed about my options when it came to reproductive health care. I never thought I would have to use the information until I found out I was pregnant.

I am a 22-year-old college student and I live with my parents. I work as a waitress, nowhere near finished with school and my boyfriend works at a grocery store. There was no way we could have supported a child.

My parents didn’t know that I was pregnant and if they had found out, I would have been disowned and thrown out of the house. My boyfriend and I discussed our options and came to the conclusion quickly that I was going to get an abortion. He was there every step of the way during the whole medical abortion procedure. I am so grateful to him.

It scares me to think that there are congressmen in Washington D.C who are trying to take my reproductive rights away from me.

I sought abortion care because I was concerned that I would not be able to raise a child and give it everything it needed.

This was not an easy decision. However, in my heart I know I did the right thing.

--Submitted by Alexa* through our website


I have two children and two step children that I support financially. My boyfriend and I were laid off from our jobs and we’ve been overwhelmed. His children, who also live with us, are victims of abuse and have special needs because of it. I was taking birth control pills and using condoms, but I still became pregnant. Although I’m disappointed to have this happen, I’m so relieved I have the option.

--Submitted by Calleigh* through a member clinic

Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we feature real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.

Obama Administration Rejects Indiana Law to Defund Planned Parenthood

The Obama Administration sent a letter this week notifying Indiana that its plan to bar the state Medicaid agency from contracting with Planned Parenthood is illegal.

The administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Donald Berwick, said the Indiana law, which is already in effect, violates federal Medicaid law by imposing impermissible restrictions on the freedom of Medicaid beneficiaries to choose health care providers.

If Indiana continues to bar federal funding for Planned Parenthood, the state could lose more than $4 billion in Medicare funds.

In February, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to eliminate all federal funding for Planned Parenthood health centers. Senate Democrats blocked that bill from becoming law, but states could partly achieve the same goal by following Indiana's lead.

According to a New York Times editorial published today, “The Obama Administration’s opposition to the Indiana law could help deter other states — including North Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin and Tennessee — from moving forward with similar measures….”

Wednesday's Words from Women

Twelve weeks into my pregnancy I began bleeding and having complications. My OB/GYN put me on bed rest for two months and I went to the doctor’s office once a week to be monitored. I ended up having to go to a specialist who told me that my baby had no fluid to survive. Due to the risks associated, the doctor recommended that I terminate the pregnancy. I called several clinics and I was told the price of the abortion, which I thought would be impossible for me to come up with. The last clinic that I spoke with said that I might be eligible for funding because I had been out of work. I was so grateful to hear that I could get help.

--Submitted by Karrie Ann* through a member clinic


I had an abortion 32 years ago. When I had the abortion my goal was to get away from my abusive husband and get my life together. I also suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which involves all kinds of fears including the fear of harming children.

Years after my abortion, I was driving to work and there was a huge billboard with a baby on it, which read, “CHOICE or CHILD". The billboard stuck in my head and made me question whether I was a bad person for having an abortion. However, I know I am not and that I ended something so I wouldn’t have to bring a child into an abusive and unhealthy environment.

The so called pro-lifers, who are really just anti-choicers, caused me years of misery with their name calling, signs, and their ‘sanctity of life’ obsession. I am firmly pro-choice, and believe that forcing a girl or woman to carry an unwanted pregnancy is an act of violence. The stigma of abortion needs to be removed so that no woman ever feels ashamed of her choices. I hope my story will be able to help other young women.

--Submitted by Marliee* through our website

Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we feature real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.