We just celebrated my son's first birthday when I found out I was pregnant with baby #3. I had tried to have my tubes tied when my son was born but the hospital was unable to schedule the surgery while I was there. During my 6 week follow up, the OB recommended an IUD which was inserted before I left the appointment. A year later, I found out I was pregnant for the 3rd time. The only time I cried was when the ultra sound tech told me the fetus was viable. I was hoping it was a tubal litigation or that when they took the IUD out, I was going to have a spontaneous miscarriage. I had just made it through the first year for the last time. The waking up every two hours, the throw up, the crying, the constant exhaustion. I did it twice gladly but at 37 years old, I couldn't do it again. My husband couldn't watch our older two children suffer - less attention, less money, less of everything. Neither one of us could take me being pregnant again - vomiting, body changes, and exhaustion. I had the abortion at 6 weeks. The abortion was surreal. The only odd part was they really pushed birth control. I laughed. My husband and I have used protection every time - except for the two planned pregnancies. It was not my fault we were where we were; we did everything possible to prevent it.
I never really considered myself pro-choice. I never wanted to have an abortion. I also never thought that with a 99% effective rate, I would be that 1%. I do not regret having an abortion - I only regret that the IUD failed.
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