My Abortion Story Isn’t Tragic

As read at Listen To Your Mother Denver, November 2023

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Obvious content warning, this one is about abortion.

Photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash

I never wanted to be a mother.  

At 23 years old, I tried to convince a doctor to let me have my tubes tied because I knew then I definitely did not want kids. I was told I was “too young to make that kind of decision” and “you’ll probably change your mind when you’re older.”

A few years later, I was at the doctor complaining of digestive issues that had bothered me for a couple of months. At best, I figured I’d leave with a suggestion to boost my probiotics and increase the fiber in my diet. At worst, an autoimmune disorder.

“Alas,” the doctor declared, “you’re just pregnant.”

Delivered in a this-should-be-a-massive-relief-and-you-should-be-extremely-grateful-to-be-with-child kind of tone.

‘Just pregnant’…shit.