The first time I was pregnant I had a tubal pregnancy and thankfully caught it early on and didn't have too many complications from it. Thank god from then on it has been pretty smooth sailing as far as my pregnancies have went.

I felt worse than I have ever felt, but at the same time, I didn't have a choice. The baby would not have developed, and it put me in danger as well. less

Thank you. I didn't really feel that conflicted about it. I was just scared. My family situation was really really messed up and my mother kept kicking me out of the house and then refusing she had done so.

Abortions aren't fun, there is a lot of fear, involved. A lot of confusion, and second guessing, and guilt. It is a loss you feel in your heart. Physically there is almost always vomiting involved, cramps that rival early to midstage labor contractions for up to 10 days, and up to 21 days of constant heavy bleeding. The physical symptoms are worse the further into the pregnancy you are. less

I went into premature labor and our son was born at roughly 24 weeks term. He was tiny (duh!) with underdeveloped lungs, but he lived, and he grew into a healthy adult. So forgive me when I say that the thought of women having late-term abortions turns my stomach in a major way.

That being said, our next child miscarried, but our next died in the womb at 12 weeks and didn't miscarry. We opted for an abortion rather than to "wait and see" if it would expel on its own. They sent us to state hospital's abortion clinic to have it done, and that was probably the worst experience I've ever had in my life. The place was filthy, the nurses treated me like crap, and I got a very rude and opinionated birth control lecture by the doctor DURING the procedure. Hey dumbass doc... we were TRYING to have another baby! And then when it was over we had to walk through the gauntlet of radical anti-abortionists in the parking lot who were yelling at us for being baby killers. They knew nothing about us and the fact that we were actually mourning the loss of our baby. They were just playing the good judgmental "Christians". I hope that anybody who stands with those groups will think about that.

After that I was so terrified of getting pregnant again that Alan got a vasectomy. I highly doubt if abortion is an easy choice or an easy thing to endure for many women, because it's NO cakewalk physically or mentally. My hands are actually shaking just writing about it.

Would I do it again if I somehow wound up pregnant? No. But do I think that women should be able to make that choice? Yes. less

I went into premature labor and our son was born at roughly 24 weeks term. He was tiny (duh!) with underdeveloped lungs, but he lived, and he grew into a healthy adult. So forgive me when I say that the thought of women having late-term abortions turns my stomach in a major way.

That being said, our next child miscarried, but our next died in the womb at 12 weeks and didn't miscarry. We opted for an abortion rather than to "wait and see" if it would expel on its own. They sent us to state hospital's abortion clinic to have it done, and that was probably the worst experience I've ever had in my life. The place was filthy, the nurses treated me like crap, and I got a very rude and opinionated birth control lecture by the doctor DURING the procedure. Hey dumbass doc... we were TRYING to have another baby! And then when it was over we had to walk through the gauntlet of radical anti-abortionists in the parking lot who were yelling at us for being baby killers. They knew nothing about us and the fact that we were actually mourning the loss of our baby. They were just playing the good judgmental "Christians". I hope that anybody who stands with those groups will think about that.

After that I was so terrified of getting pregnant again that Alan got a vasectomy. I highly doubt if abortion is an easy choice or an easy thing to endure for many women, because it's NO cakewalk physically or mentally. My hands are actually shaking just writing about it.

Would I do it again if I somehow wound up pregnant? No. But do I think that women should be able to make that choice? Yes. less

I see my post on this issue was flagged as offensive. Like you I find the practice abhorrent - but it's a fact. Can one take offense at the simple statement of a fact?

Supporting 'choice' ends up making you a supporter of the taking of a human life for the sake of convenience.

My intent was not to offend - but to motivate people to take into account the real life consequences of the decisions they make and the causes they support. less

Convenience? Is that why you think women get abortions, really?

Most Planned Parenthoods accept volunteers as do most hotline that deal with grief counseling. Perhaps you should consider volunteering for either.

Having an abortion is not a decision that most women equate with convenience. Supporting choice doesn't mean you don't value human life anymore than not supporting choice means you are callous to the suffering of others... less

I will concede that convenience may not be the best characterization.

Can we agree that the grotesque practice of late term abortions should not be allowed?

At some point a woman's right to choose is lost - even now it is not legal after a certain point. This limitation is based on the decision at some point the fetus also has rights.

A person or killing a pregnant woman will face 2 counts of murder - doesn't this suggest that fetus is a life? You can't murder a 'ball of cells' as some describe the child. less

I would say that at one point laws said that it was ok to beat your wife, that teacher should be children, the women can't vote, and many many many more things that the law was frankly wrong about.

I would not consider getting a late term abortion but I don't want ANYBODY, from lawmakers to forum posters, to make my choice for me or anyone else. I don't go around saying that organ donation is the only ethical choice and that is what you should do with your body. I make a choice for me and expect my government to uphold my rights to my body. less

Hey, guys:

Just stepping in here to say that I hope this thread remains civil. There have been some strong opinions posted here, which is absolutely fine, I just ask that you all remember that what you say can be hurtful. We're all human beings with real feelings. Let's not forget that. Thanks, guys. less

True.

I think people should remember that we are not in each others shoes so can't know what the best decision for others is. What we think is okay is not necessarily what others think is okay. What we find disturbing is not what others find that way. This is no different then any other debate. There will always be pros and cons but the final decision comes from what each individual feels, needs and wants. Life is the most amazing thing in the world and should be respected but tolerance is required to live so there has to be give and take in all parties.

Do they honestly do late term abortions in the USA? I thought that was something people talked about when referencing other countries. Regardless of where I don't agree with them at all. The first trimester abortions are hard enough to accept but necessary for reasons I've already stated but once a embryo can support its self it's simply wrong. If there were a medical reason for it I suppose it's necessary but if it's because of a personal choice - late term abortions shouldn't be allowed. They have had enough time to make their decision already. less

Hey, guys:

Just stepping in here to say that I hope this thread remains civil. There have been some strong opinions posted here, which is absolutely fine, I just ask that you all remember that what you say can be hurtful. We're all human beings with real feelings. Let's not forget that. Thanks, guys. less

True.

I think people should remember that we are not in each others shoes so can't know what the best decision for others is. What we think is okay is not necessarily what others think is okay. What we find disturbing is not what others find that way. This is no different then any other debate. There will always be pros and cons but the final decision comes from what each individual feels, needs and wants. Life is the most amazing thing in the world and should be respected but tolerance is required to live so there has to be give and take in all parties.

Do they honestly do late term abortions in the USA? I thought that was something people talked about when referencing other countries. Regardless of where I don't agree with them at all. The first trimester abortions are hard enough to accept but necessary for reasons I've already stated but once a embryo can support its self it's simply wrong. If there were a medical reason for it I suppose it's necessary but if it's because of a personal choice - late term abortions shouldn't be allowed. They have had enough time to make their decision already. less