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TW - MC+Abortion does Abortion cause MC

12 replies

SOTHATSHOWITGOES · 11/11/2023 07:36

Am I being punished for having an abortion? Currently MC for the 4th time now.

I had an abortion when I was 16, I'm 34 now. I am starting to feel like it is punishment for what I did.

I'm Irish so when I did it I had to take a flight alone to England. The father was 22 and on a lads holiday and couldn't come with me. I phoned him about 20 times before I did it and he didn't answer

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Lovingitallnow · 11/11/2023 07:41

I'm so so so sorry. You are not being punished. At all. It just happens sometimes. We have such a fucked up way of teaching about God. If it's all true then he's your father and parents love us and help us and want the best for us. You're not being punished by God or the universe or some unknowable force. The people who were in the wrong are the ones who made it so a 16 year old had to travel alone and couldn't get an a legion at home- they're the ones who are wrong not you.

Have you ever spoken to anyone about your abortion? I think it would really help if you did. Have you had investigations for the MC?

inigomontoyahwillcox · 11/11/2023 07:43

Oh love - no you aren't being punished. And it sounds like it was a really traumatic thing to go through at such a young age. But please don't think that you did anything wrong that you're now being punished for.

I'm so sorry you've had so many miscarriages. Are you getting any investigations done? Also, are you getting any psychological support?

SOTHATSHOWITGOES · 11/11/2023 07:46

@Lovingitallnow no I have asked the gp and I think because I am getting pregnant and had 1 successful pregnancy they aren't too worried.

It just hurts a lot. And it's hard not to think I didn't do something wrong.

Dh said he isn't going through thus again so TTC is off

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LyndaSnellsSniff · 11/11/2023 07:49

You are not being punished. Who would/could be punishing you? And why?

I had an abortion in my late 20s then miscarried a couple of years later. I felt the similar feelings to you; that the miscarriage was some sort of punishment. I got very depressed. I saw a counsellor and discussed my feelings of guilt and 'punishment' and the counsellor asked the questions I put above. It really, really helped me.

Please, please speak to your GP if you haven't already. Now is the time to be gentle with yourself.

PinkRoses1245 · 11/11/2023 07:56

As PP said, please consider some counselling. It’s helped me so much after a recent MC. There’s no way medically the two are linked.

Alltheyearround · 11/11/2023 13:17

I had an abortion at 16 too, though I didn't want to really. My DS was born with some SEN (not obvious at birth but later on), and I felt like you. I was raised a Catholic. I'm English but ancestors were Irish.

It's not a punishment, its just luck. The only person punishing yourself is you. Be gentle on yourself. Sometimes we have to make the least worst decision, its not ideal, but that's the world we live in.

I don't believe a loving god would let us get pregnant then punish us for making a probably sensible but difficult decision. If there is god, I can only think they are loving and forgiving of us imperfect humans. Not some vengeful overlord who would punish women with miscarriages. Sadly, this is a line that has been peddled by the church and can be hard to move away from if its been imbibed through family/culture/religious upbringing.

My gran was very much a believer but knew of women who'd been made to give up children for adoption (1940s), she was full of kindness and sympathy and thought that it was a cruel thing to do to a woman. Obviously this was before legal abortion in England.

Anyway, I'm rambling, but no my love, the two things are not linked in any way.
Its just nature, sad though it is. Often miscarriages are a mystery, sometimes it may be the baby wasn't developing right and so it happens rather than the body progressing with the pregnancy.

If you got counselling do you think DH might reconsider in time? What's his reason for no longer wanting to TTC?

Hugs to you. I just have one child too, would have liked more but that's not how life played out.

So many women have miscarriages, including repeat ones, but its just not talked about very much. So don't feel you're alone as you are not. Xx

Alltheyearround · 11/11/2023 13:23

And lots have abortions too, but likewise not talked about.

I often felt as a teen that if society was more woman friendly, then young mothers with no financial or social support would get this - at least until the child was old enough that the mum could go back to work/study. I know there are some benefits but pretty poor. My mum said she wouldn't support me and that I couldn't afford to live on benefits so I felt I had little choice. I didn't have the experience to advocate for myself or know how to find out about support. Really having an abortion was the last thing I wanted and its taken a long time to come to peace with the decision, still am really.

Sadly it's a harsh world when you are 16 and unexpectedly pregnant.

heydorothy · 11/11/2023 13:25

Not linked. You might’ve miscarried the pregnancy that you terminated anyway, you’ll never know. The only thing that might be making any difference is that you’re obviously older now than you were before. You are young enough to still conceive though, so please don’t lose all hope. MC are sadly common. Hope you get your rainbow. I am quite sure you will. Sending love

funinthesun19 · 11/11/2023 14:24

There is nothing to punish you for. You did absolutely nothing wrong by having an abortion.

Lots of women who have had an abortion will also have miscarriages. Lots of women who have had an abortion won’t have miscarriages. It’s all down luck at that moment in time.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this though 😞. But please please don’t think it’s what you deserve because of the abortion. The abortion you went through is nothing to do with the MC you have been through.

SOTHATSHOWITGOES · 13/11/2023 12:22

@Alltheyearround DH says he won't do this to me again. That's why he won't TTC again.

I want them to know, so it's fine but I have to laugh my mum was sworn to secrecy DH didn't tell anyone. But suddenly every one knows I need the support though.

No I don't judge 16 yr old me. I do judge my then boyfriend though, he really should have come with me. or at least answered the phone!

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Alltheyearround · 13/11/2023 13:11

Maybe give it time with DH and get counselling (for you and maybe also to reassure him if you think you'd like to try again in the future). When he says won't put you through this does he mean mentally/physically or both?

I mean it isn't only his choice to make though I can see he is coming from a place of caring about you.

Can you see another GP and ask about miscarriage support, surely after 4 they'd help you investigate? NICE guidelines? Are there any?

SOTHATSHOWITGOES · 14/11/2023 11:21

@Alltheyearround I think I will try get into the GP next week maybe. It's all very raw still. When I got pregnant with DS and the pregnancy was successful it all sort of got dropped. Well I didn't follow up with it anyway. I think he means both but probably more so mentally. It's strange this is my earliest mc but I think it has hit me the hardest. I just really thought after DS everything was fine.

Maybe I won't go all out TTC but just see what happens (obv if DH is happy to as well I won't be TTC without his consent)

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