This isn't something I talk about however I would like to prevent more women in future generations having a similar experience I did.
had an abortion 3 years ago. The pregnancy was unwanted and unexpected. My boyfriend at the time - and now husband - and I were shocked. I was on the Pill, Diane, and had thought to be shielded. I was about to turn 24 and I was in not to be a mother. When I found out about the pregnancy I was roughly 5 weeks pregnant. My first move was to tell my partner. We discussed the idea of keeping the baby but quickly decided against it. It was a mutual decision and I couldn't be luckier to have such an understanding man in my life. He was a fly-in fly-out miner and intended to stay in that job for a couple of years yet to make some good money. I was thinking about going back to school and studying online so that I could start my own business; I was working in a hair salon at the time. Neither of us were in a stable enough position to start a family and we had only been together for 10 months. My sister had just had a baby and while I adore my niece I could see the huge amount of effort it is to raise a child. Once this decision had been made I went to my Dr. I had been seeing him since I was a child and was confident that he would direct me to a service provider. I had no idea what an abortion was really, only that they existed and that they were safe. I didn't know of anyone else who had, had one. I was shocked when my Dr told me he and his practice (two other male doctors) didn't perform abortions, didn't know about abortions and also that they would not direct me to anyone else who knew or felt differently to me. I was also informed that if I had an abortion I would be committing a crime. This information was most mortifying. I went home, called my boyfriend and burst into tears. I had never felt so insulted in my life and couldn't believe what had just happened. I had no idea that abortion was illegal and I didn't know that doctors could just turn you away like that. I sat on my couch crying for hours until I felt anger and went to my sister's house, got on her computer and researched. My sister and I found out that I would have to travel to get my abortion and that it would pretty much wipe out the last two months of savings for me when I added up the travel costs and the costs of the abortion. I hadn't even thought to discuss with my boyfriend about how we were going to pay for it. He was making good money but I was making a lot less. Plane tickets were an expense for me. I decided Brisbane was the best place to get my abortion as there were more clinics there than anywhere else in the state. I booked flights for the following week and arranged to stay with a friend. She knew what I was there for and didn't ask questions. She booked me in with her GP and I went to her the day after my flight. The closest abortion clinic to us was in Bowen Hills and luckily I was able to make an appointment there for three days after my appointment. I had to have an ultrasound which I was able to do the day after my Dr appointment. I was now 8 weeks pregnant. I had a surgical abortion and the whole process took half a day. My friend dropped me off and picked me up and I went home and slept. I went home three days afterwards. When I added up how much the abortion cost me financially the figure came to $1500 including plane tickets, the procedure itself, the Dr appointments and the loss of the extra money I made from work when I put in extra hours. I split the cost with my boyfriend but $750 was a huge sum. I don't really think about my abortion now. But I know my life is better as a result. I could not have become a mother at that age and I would have been a rotten one. I don't see my decision as selfish or cruel and I definitely don't see it as a criminal choice. But I feel guilty when I talk about it, because I might insult someone which cause them to lash out at me. I know that I did the right thing by me. I still haven't met another woman who has said she's had one but that doesn't mean that there aren't women who also live in remote towns that haven't needed one. I had to fly somewhere to get the medical care I need. But that's pretty common for people who don't live in a capital. It shouldn't be the case though. I am a happy woman who doesn't have kids. I'll have them some day when I'm ready to start a family. Maybe someday I'll really think about kids but for now I am happy with my life.
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#myabortionstoryA blog dedicated to telling the stories of Queenslanders.
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November 2017
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