As we talked about in our last blog, there are many challenges that can lead men and women facing unplanned pregnancies to believe that abortion is the best option for them. Before making this decision it is crucial for you to understand the way abortion can change you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. So many women come to us saying “No one told me this before having an abortion with my last pregnancy. I wish I had known.” We don’t want another woman to have to say that.
Physical Changes
Physical changes after an abortion can be both short term and long term. Immediately during / following an abortion many women experience cramping, bleeding, headaches, and nausea. The most common form of an early abortion is the abortion pill. With the abortion pill many women are told it will be like a period. However, after talking to countless women about their experiences this is far from the truth. The stories I hear about taking the abortion pill go more like, “I was in agonizing pain, while I bled for days and passed clumps and pieces of the fetus. I had no clue I would need to take time off from work. The worst part was I was all alone while I went through this process.”
Another story I heard was from a mom of a toddler who took the pill and then sat in her bathroom trying to hide how much pain she was in while her toddler sat in the other room and watched Disney movies. On top of these immediate side effects there are also long term ones.
Read more about how to prepare before taking an abortion pill
Other Risks
Other risks of an abortion are perforating the uterus, future infertility, and infection. There have also been studies that show there may be an increased risk of breast cancer in women who have had an abortion. I tell you this not to scare you but because we believe that women deserve to know the truth so they have a fair expectation of the process so they can better prepare and make their decision.
Not only do our bodies feel pain physically, our bodies can also feel emotional pain! This is true with many things in life and the abortion experience is certainly one of those things. Oftentimes, well after the immediate physical pain has ceased, many women are just starting to experience the emotional pain. After the instant sense of relief from an abortion wares off, many women begin to experience feelings of regret. Sometimes the circumstances that led a woman to an abortion in the first place suddenly don’t seem as daunting which is what can lead some women to rethinking their decision. Other feelings are often sadness, anxiety, depression, and or shame. If you experience any of these feelings it’s important to seek help. Birth Choice offers a program called after abortion care which is meant to help women find healing. Whether you experience these negative feelings 3 days or 33 years after an abortion it’s never too soon or too late to get help.
Spiritual Pain
Adding to the physical and emotional pain there can also be spiritual pain. Whether you have spiritual beliefs or not, some women feel like God will never forgive them for what they did. This is simply not the truth. God forgives anyone who asks for it and is near to you even in your brokenness. Your decision might have consequences but that does not mean you are being punished by God. There is still hope even in our failures.
All this to say, we’re not trying to say that your other options for the pregnancy will be easy, each decision with an unplanned pregnancy has it’s challenges but it is important to look at them all before making your decision. If you are thinking of having an abortion we hope this has given you more to think about it and if you already had abortion we hope you will seek the help you need to feel peace.
Remember, If you want to talk to someone please don’t hesitate to call. We are here to help and empower you.
Birth Choice Mobile Clinic and Care Center
760-744-1313
