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Q: What to Do?
asked by: justmemaybe on May 26th, 2007
New User
This is a long one...just looking for opinions. I'm 36, have 2 wonderful kids, 18 & 16, their father and me were together for 20 years, divorced just last year. I was very much looking forward to building a new life and re-discovering who I am. I started seeing a man about 7 months ago who has never been married, had no children and didn't want to have children. Not wanting to have anymore children myself, I couldn't believe my luck. Well, in March I found myself pregnant. We were both in complete shock and as painful as it was and still is for both of us, we felt comfortable with the decision to abort. He was more than I could have ever hoped for in being supportive and open with his own emotions about the entire experience. We talked often about being more careful, and the what ifs about it happening again. I told him that if it happened again, I would have it. I find myself 2 months later pregnant again. The disbelief and shame that I feel cannot be put into words, though I trusted him to pull out, he didn't. In the end, I can't put all of the blame on just one of us, it takes two to make a baby...I know all of this. I had decided that I would just put it out of my mind, not tell him and go through another abortion alone. Though I've been struggling with it, scared if I was making the right decision...I gave him no clues that I was pregnant...in fact we hadn't seen each other for the week after I found out. Then out of the blue he asked me if I was pregnant. The question caught me so off guard that I was not able to hide it on my face. After talking for a while about how shocking it was, he again said that he is not father material.

There is a part of me that wants to have this baby. I can't exactly explain why...everything in my life and this situation makes it feel impossible. I don't make very much money at all, going through a pregnancy and birth alone scares the hell out of me and makes me very sad. The thought of having to put my baby in day care scares me...on top of the fact that I have no idea how I could even afford it. Is it fair to bring a child into this sort of situation?
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trina1
replied on May 26th, 2007
Active User, very eHealthy
What do you in your heart want to do? Pulling out is not birth control....and as adults....you both had to have known that....thus adding to your chances of getting pregnant again. I am not judging you or your actions....I am simply stating that if pulling out was the only way you were trying to avoid pregnancy....then perhaps somewhere deep inside you...one or both of you was leaving the door open to pregnancy.
You speak of being ashamed....I don't think you should be. We all make less than stellar choices, but I would be disappointed in him for not being more of a standup individual. You didn't create this human life all by yourself....he is just as responsible as you....and if having a child was not in his plans....he should have had a better plan than simply "just pulling out." Legally....the choice to have this child or not is yours....morally....the responsiblity is both of yours.
Most people don't find themselves in "perfect" situations when they get pregnant....if we waited for perfection....the population of the world could probably be counted on one hand. However....if keeping this child is not something you currently feel that you can handle(whether it be emotionally or financially) then there are alternatives that don't include another abortion. If keeping this child is what you want....then there are resources to go to if you need them. Finally....if having an abortion is your choice...."legally" that is your right....but I urge you to look over any other options you might be considering first.....before choosing a decision with such finality in its outcome.
I will end this by saying that whatever choice you make.....this man that is currently in your life needs to step up to the plate. He needs to support your decisions and if he is adament about not being father material....then perhaps he should make sure that he never becomes a father again. You deserve at least this much from him....and a whole lot more.
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Tylanas
replied on May 26th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
This needs to be moved off of the debate forum and onto the proper medical abortion forum.

I'm not going to talk about the pull-out method. You should know it's not a form of birth control, and the fact that he didn't pull out makes it far more his fault than yours in my opinion.

You said that if you became pregnant again, you would keep it. If this is how you felt back then, what has changed now?

Just because you carry to term does not mean that you have to keep the baby, you can still give it up for adoption if neither of you want the baby. I really, really think you need to talk to him about this, and the choice of adoption.

If you strongly feel against abortion this time, then please, consider adoption. I'm not saying this because I'm pro-life (I'm not). I'm saying this because you seem to desperately not want to have another abortion, and having one in your mental state is not a healthy choice. Don't make a desicion that you're regretting before you even make it!

I agree with you that right now in your life does not seem like a good time in your life to raise a child. You don't have to. You also don't have to abort if you don't want to. You can have it both ways, if the issue here is that you do not want another abortion.

Adoption is the healthy choice for women who don't want to abort but also cannot care for a child.

Whatever your choice, you need to get yourself on some real birth control. You need something that you as the female can do to protect yourself; you need to take your sexual health into your own hands.
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Birch
replied on May 26th, 2007
Extremely eHealthy
I am sorry you find yourself in this situation. Crying or Very sad

Since you asked for opinions, mine is that you should do what you want; not this man, not this society, not anyone but you.

Remaining true to yourself is the only way to come through this situation and win.

Is it "fair" to bring a child into this you ask?

You are the one who knows best.

I wish you the best of luck!
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Kypros
replied on May 27th, 2007
Experienced User
I'm not judging your actions, but using coitus interruptus (penile withdrawal) is not responsible for a permanant couple. Whatever the outcome of your pregnancy, you need to get on regular birth control, something which can be arranged if you chat with your doctor.

I feel that it wasn't really logical for you to say that you would keep any future baby after your abortion; you can't predict the future or your feelings, although I understand why you made such a presumption. Your partner deserves a worthy say in the whole matter and you should take his views into consideration, although the final decision will always be yours because it is your body that is occupied, not his. The outcome of the pregnancy should be your decision ultimately, after considering the pros and cons of keeping this baby and your and your partner's thoughts.

You have three choices: keep the baby, have an abortion, or give the baby up for adoption. If you are leaning towards not keeping the baby, you need to think which of the remaining two choices (abortion and adoption) you are more comfortable with. Abortion is costly in the US, but keeping the baby is even more so.

I don't think it is fair to bring a baby into an environment that would not be ill-backed economically, loving, attentive, cared for, and dedicated by (a) parent(s) of a sound mental state. Since I don't know the extent to your economic situation, I can't affirm my opinion on your situation, nor would I want my personal morals to affect your decision in any way. Do you think it would be fair to raise a child in the environment it would be in if you keep it?

There is still a lot of social stigma attached to a second abortion when there shouldn't be. I'm not going to pretend I agree with your previous choice of permanant birth control - it was careless - but you are being a responsible individual for wanting to deal with the issue in the best way possible, whether or not that means having another termination.

My final advice to you is: talk your opinions over with your boyfriend. What will he do if you decide to keep it? What is different about the circumstances around this pregnancy than your previous one which was not long ago at all? Can you cope mentally and economically with raising another baby? Where do you see yourself in ten years and where would you like to be in ten years: do either include another child? Make sure your choice is best all round and try not to regret it - you will've opted for it because it's the best thing.

Kypros.
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