Birth Story: North Dakota
Submitted to Abort73 by a 20-year-old woman on December 15, 2011.
I was 18, just graduated from high school and planning on going to a top Christian college in the fall when I found out I was pregnant. I had big plans and I was going to make them happen. I didn't want my parents or friends to think badly of me. So, I was dead set on abortion. My boyfriend was shocked that I was pregnant, but even more shocked that I had decided on abortion because I had always been a "pro-life" Christian (and a pastor's kid). I hesitate to call myself truly pro-life at that point in my life because it was more of a political belief than a true conviction of how awful abortion really is.
My boyfriend begged me not to have an abortion. I ended up going to a crisis pregnancy center to humor him. I expected them to be judgmental and condescending, however, there I was treated with more compassion than I had ever imagined. They didn't treat me like I was just a host body to the fetus they were trying to save. One of the nurses said something to me that almost made me change my mind. She said that another girl who had chosen to have her baby said this: "I thought about when I'm 80 and what decision I would be proud of when I look back at my life." Like I said, it *almost* got me to change my mind, but it didn't. I made an appointment at the abortion clinic. I wanted to get in the next day so that I could use my full-time summer job as a cover story for my being gone all day (the abortion clinic was in a town 100 miles from my home town). However, because of a mandatory wait law my state has, I wasn't able to get in until the next week.
I'm telling you all of this so you can see what led to me ultimately not having an abortion. That week gave my boyfriend the time and the courage to go behind my back and tell my dad what was happening. That led to an outpouring of love, support and forgiveness from my family. Because of that, I now have a beautiful almost 2-year-old. I married my boyfriend, not out of obligation, but out of love. I came to love him even more after seeing his courage and strength to stand up to me and save not only our daughter, but myself as well. I'm now a junior in college, graduating on time and I have a life full of love. Seeing how God watched over me and intervened to prevent me from a life of regret and hurt when I was so willing to seek sin to cover sin has renewed my relationship with Him. That relationship is now the foundation of my marriage and my parenthood. God is so merciful. My life is more complete now than it ever has been.
For anyone who's considering abortion, I want to reiterate what that nurse at the clinic said to me. I know how it feels to be in that situation. You feel panicked and all you know is that you need to fix the problem now. Abortion clinics feed off of that panic. They fight 24-hour waiting laws that allow you time to think or people to intervene. They know that you can't think further than the next 9 months and they use that to their advantage. If you're thinking of an abortion, please, go to a crisis pregnancy center and let them tell you what your options are. They really, honestly care about not just your baby, but you, too. There's so much support out there. I know its hard when you feel like you have to fix the problem as soon as possible, but really try to think about that 80-year-old you. I know its scary, but try to find the strength I didn't have, the strength my husband did. I guarantee you won't regret it. Don't be another story of regret to add to this website.
I'm praying for you.
Age: 20
Location: North Dakota
Date: December 15, 2011
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