'I'm 39 with 2 kids and I just had an abortion. I shouldn't have to explain why.'

This post deals with abortion and could be triggering for some readers. 

The author of this story is known to Mamamia but has chosen to remain anonymous for privacy reasons.

My news feed today from every website and every app, has been filled with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, “a woman’s right to her own body”, legal abortion, safe abortion, and the rights of every American woman which have been taken into the hands of out-of-touch law makers.

Three weeks ago today, I found out I was pregnant. I had suspicions but nevertheless, I purchased a pregnancy test that morning. Just one single test, as I truly did not believe it. That single test confirmed what I was desperately trying to ignore. Positive. I was pregnant. Unwillingly. Unwanted.

Watch: Women who had abortions before they were legal. Post continues after video.

My husband and I have two children, aged six and two, and decided that after our second was born, our family was complete. We have a very active – and good – sex life. We were using contraception, the mini-pill, and we'd been having conversations about my husband getting a vasectomy.

In hindsight, I should have realised. The symptoms were there, and it all started adding up. I was sick, exhausted, irritable. I remembered one morning several weeks beforehand taking the pill and noticed I had missed the day prior. I even thought to myself on that day I feel like that was a really bad time in my cycle to miss a tablet. The doctors give you warnings about “the window,” to not miss tablets, how the effectiveness will reduce, take it at the same time daily. There have been many occasions over the 20 years that I have been on the pill, that I have missed tablets. Not intentionally of course, but sometimes as an imperfect woman, you inadvertently forget. And it had never been an issue. Until it was.

So, what does one do? In between the nausea and tiredness that comes with early pregnancy there was shock. Do we or don’t we? Do we really want another child? My mind was made up almost as immediately as I found out. I had to have the discussion with my husband. At 39, I was not interested in pregnancy, dealing with infancy or the lifelong burden of having a third child. 

But I am also a believer that it is a choice, for both men and women who are in a solid relationship. If my husband strongly believed we should have another child, then I was willing to let the pregnancy continue. And as much as I know he did not want a third child, had my opinion differed then he would have supported my decision too.

Even though it is my right as a woman to choose, in my situation, the decision was jointly made. We would terminate the pregnancy.

Not knowing what else to do, I conducted a search on abortion clinics in Perth. Time was ticking, and I wanted to act as soon as possible. I found one I seemed happy with. I made a booking request online as instructed by the website for a medical abortion and was notified that I would be contacted. And then I waited. Two days – nothing. I called them on the third day and was told someone from the booking team would call me back. Another few days – still nothing. 

Medical abortion is only suitable up to about nine weeks and I was not certain how far along I was, so my desperation was increasing. I thought I would try other places in Perth. I called another clinic – there was over a week wait just for a consultation and multiple consultations were required before any procedure could be conducted.

I called another clinic, one I was trying to avoid as even though they had been in practice a long time, they advertised procedures as “cash only” – a red flag for me given I was wanting a medical procedure. It was this practice that gave me the advice I did not realise I wanted or needed – that surgical abortion was typically more effective and less stress on the body than medical abortion.

Then, I did not know what to do. Go to the cash only clinic that gave very valid advice? Surely there were other options? Surely there were other places? 

I spoke to my mum about my dilemma. As a former scrub nurse, she had been in surgeries at private hospitals where discrete terminations were conducted years before they were legal in Western Australia. Terminations are now legal, and she was certain that a specialist would perform the procedure. It is not something that is freely advertised but yes, in fact, they do.

I contacted a gynaecologist near my local private hospital. I asked the awkward question, but the answer was yes, he did perform the procedure. I was able to make an appointment for a consultation the next week with the procedure likely to take place two days after that. There was a sense of relief that it would only be just over a week left of morning (ALL day) sickness and exhaustion.

Listen to No Filter and join Mia Freedman speak to Marian Keyes on women's choices on their bodies. Post continues after podcast.

It is a daunting experience seeing the GP you have had for nearly 20 years asking for a referral for a termination. And then having to attend the same type of consultation rooms as I visited for my previous pregnancies, only this time wanting a much different result. There are a lot of questions that are uncomfortable to answer. But throughout the entire process I felt no judgement from the people that I saw. The only judgement I felt (and perhaps guilt) was from my own conscience. I had an ultrasound which confirmed I was eight weeks pregnant.

I also made the decision that if it were possible to have a tubal occlusion (“getting my tubes tied”) at the same time as the termination then I would do just that. If I was unable to do that then my husband was going to schedule an appointment for a vasectomy. We wanted to eliminate all future risk of something like this happening again. In my heart, body and soul, with me aged 39 and my husband aged 42, I know my family is complete. The future is focused on my husband and two children. I was able to have both the termination and laparotomy at the same time. 

On the day of the procedure, I was required to fast from the morning. Not pleasant for a nauseous, pregnant lady. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, my husband was unable to enter the hospital and wait with me prior to the procedure. I felt like crying. The nurse who escorted me to my room routinely asked, “How are you?” I answered, “I’m ok,” but the truth of it was I was nervous, tired, lonely, hormonal, a myriad of emotions and just wanting my husband to hold my hand and the day to be over. I messaged my husband, and ever so supportively, he said I could walk out if I wanted to.

I played the waiting game again until it was my turn. I was asked by every nurse and doctor to confirm the procedure I was having. “Sterilisation and evacuation of the uterus?” “Yes.”

Afterwards, I woke up sore, tired and thirsty. I was feeling less of the pregnancy symptoms. Overall relief. Happy that my husband, who is my rock and best friend, could come in, give me a hug and a kiss, and take me home. Two days later we went out for breakfast, and I had THE BEST coffee that came without feeling like I wanted to vomit!

I feel more comfortable telling people about what happened and the procedures I had now that it is over. Prior to the termination I had only told three people – my mum, my sister and a good friend. It is not the sort of thing that comes up in general conversation. For me, the overwhelming feelings were enough to have to deal with let alone repeatedly justifying my point of view to anyone. The people I told were supportive and understanding of our decision.

Three weeks ago today, I made a decision that would affect the rest of my life. And the regrets? None. The idea that many women in the US have had this choice taken away is devastating.

Everyone deserves the kind of access I had.

If this has raised any issues for you or if you would like to speak with someone, please contact the Sands Australia 24-hour support line on 1300 072 637.

Feature Image: Getty.