An abortion at 23 weeks
I am just recently turned 18 years old and had an abortion on the 1st of july 2011 at 2:08. It honestly was the worst thing I could have ever done. I was 23 weeks pregnant with a little boy.
I went to all my scans and became so attached to my little boy. I was so happy I was going to be a mum. I never wanted to be a single mum living off the social but when I found out I was pregnant none of that crossed my mind, I just wanted to hold my baby.
I was with the father for 6 years. I got with him when I was 11 and we broke up but were seeing each other again when I fell pregnant. I had no signs of being pregnant so I could easily hide it from everyone.
At 18 weeks pregnant it hit home I couldn't cope with a baby especially with my depression
I was alone without the baby's father and no support from family as they are very religous. So I rang Marie Stopes and was seen the next week.
I went to one of there clinics, I was given a scan, bloods were taken, there were questions and everything was discussed but I still knew that doing it would be the right thing for my son.
Many people may judge me, and you can say what you like about me, but I had a choice to bring a baby where he has only got a mum who might be in and out of hospital his whole life while he is in care, or let him go before he has all that. I couldn't have a child where they will not have been loved or looked after.
On my 23rd week I went to a clinic in Brixton (click for more stories of abortion at 23 weeks) where I sat with a lady who came in for a scan of her baby and was so proud.
I went to get my patient tag done and have a final scan. Then was led into a room where I took all my bottom half clothing off, and was given a skirt thing that looked like a curtain. I then went into the surgical room where I was greeted and was made to feel so comfortable.
A man put a needle in my arm so that later on they could inject my drugs. I then laid back onto the table and the doctors placed 4 tablets in my cervix that would release my cervix ready for labour. I then went upstairs and sat on a chair.
I started getting really bad period pains so I asked for some pain relief.
I was given a hot water bottle which normally does work. The pain got stronger and stronger, I sat up and lent forward and I felt loads of warm fluid coming out. I thought I had wet myself and was extremely embarrassed, but as I stood up a lot more had come out. It had only been 35 mins since the doctor had placed the tablets in my cervix and I was told I wasn't allowed to go to the toilet for 1 hour so I immediately thought it wasn't going to work.
I called a nurse and explained what had happened and she told me my waters had broken then lead me to the toilet and helped me clean up.
I was so drowsy, I passed out in the toilet for 2 hours woke up and stumbled back to my bed. More fluid came out, so I got up again, sorted myself out and came back to my bed again.
Then as I was falling asleep the doctor told me to come with him to the surgery room. I laid down and a woman held my hand as I cried, and I was injected with pain killers and the anaesthetic. The last thing I remember saying on that bed was 'please don't let me die, my family don't know I'm here'. The woman giggled and said you will be fine sweetie it will be over in no time, sleep well.
20 mins later I woke up on a different bed back upstairs and they gave me a cup of tea and a biscuit. I was ready to get up and walked around with no pain. I held my belly wishing that it was just a dream but it wasn't because my belly felt empty and he didn't kick like before.
I got back on the train and went home.
It has been 2 month 12 days since the abortion and I still hold my belly wishing I was pregnant
My little baby was in there, he would have been born on the 11th November, but I had a difficult choice and I'm glad I saved that little boy from being brought up unwanted and unloved because his mum wouldn't be there for him.
This was my experience and not everyone's experience is the same. The other woman I was sitting with wanted the abortion because she didn't want children yet, she was laughing and joking the entire time trying to keep me happy.
I had no one to talk to about any of this x