In a previous Feature, I shared posts from the Forum that answered the question, "Are there any unplanned pregnancies that worked out, despite the odds against carrying to term, for you?"

Today we'll look at more of the answers that have been posted since that previous Feature.

I have had two unplanned pregnancies... both at extremely bad times.

I had been married for 4 months when I became pregnant with my first child. I was working, and my husband was on unemployment. I went to a place called the Pregnancy Consultation Center (and alternately the Pregnancy Control Center... they listed under both in the phone book.) I found them in the yellow pages and went because they offered free pregnancy tests. When I was called in to get the results, the "counselor" asked me if I wanted to keep "it." I was taken aback, as I had never considered that a married woman would want an abortion. The thought had not entered my mind. Of course I said, "yes." She seemed really surprised, and clumsily asked if I needed a referral for a doctor then, which I accepted. My response was to get out the paper and look for employment for my spouse. I called my mom, and together we crafted him a great resume.

And it worked. :) My son is now 23 and a pretty good kid...very smart, too.

When I became pregnant with my third child, we had just given our notice to move so that we could locate closer to my husband's place of employment. Not long after, he lost his job. So we had given notice to move, had no employment, and two children. We ended up having to move in with my dad and step mom for 4 months. It hit me that at 20 weeks, I could feel my daughter kicking, that I could have her aborted.... that I was in a crisis pregnancy. Now she is 17 and great company! I wouldn't have traded the experience for anything in the world. It was tough for a while, but one thing I have learned is that circumstances can and do change... and do quite often.

Oh... my second pregnancy was a planned one. We didn't have a lot of money or anything, but I decided that if I waited until we decided we were "wealthy" enough for kids, we'd never have any. I haven't noticed that I love her more or less because she was a wanted pregnancy.

Also, an old friend showed up at a high school reunion. We had mainly hung together in Jr. High, but we had a nice visit. She had become pregnant at the age of 16 and dropped out. (I didn't know at the time.) She told me how proud she was of her son, and how well he was doing in school, and how smart he was. She seemed to be doing well in her career and was happily married. I am guessing she would have been pregnant a few years prior to Roe. Now the outcome may have been drastically different. :(

WMN4LIFE

Next, a prochoice woman answers:

Both of my children were unplanned, but I gave birth anyway. I was in a bad marriage with the first, and he was my excuse to leave the marriage.

I almost lost the second one several years later, and the birth almost killed me.

I was pregnant in between, but lost it.

Sometimes it can work out, and sometimes it won't, and life throws us curves all the time. I am happy about the 2 I had, sad about the one I lost, and yes, were I to become pregnant again I would have to abort to save my life.

I think that you are lucky, and I think you probably worked very hard to make things good for you and your child. I think NO-ONE should ever negate that or try to take it away from you. I also feel that not everyone is the same, and the young woman must, in the final analysis, make the best decision for herself and her circumstances.

BLESSEDTOBE

If you have a story to share about an unplanned pregnancy that worked out, please click n the Forum link in the sidebar, and tell us about it.

1 A. Bourne, A Doctor's Creed: The Memoirs of a Gynecologist, London, 1963.

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