Motherhood is a huge step in life, no one should make the choice on anyone’s behalf

I was not ready to bring a child into the world—mentally, physically, and most importantly, financially. There was no way I could take care of myself and a baby at that time, in a way that we both deserved to be taken care of. This is why I sought safe abortion services.

I must say that the process to have an abortion seemed scary at first, considering it was the very first time making this kind of decision. The first difficult task was to find a health center that was safe enough for me to do this. The health centers that could carry out safe abortions were very expensive.The process of making a decision like this and doing it in a safe way left me feeling  constant pressure, along with anxiety that misfortune  would strike without reason. I became sleepless, and depressed as I battled with my emotions. Fortunately, I was able to contact a friend who recommended me to RellaWF, where they, in turn, recommended me to DIC. 

I am sure there are other women like me who still face difficulties getting safe abortion services, access to safe abortion is considered illegal in Uganda. Due to these laws, many girls and women die or have lasting negative effects when they resort to unsafe methods such as drinking harmful substances or even mixing local herbs. Furthermore, the hospitals that are available to provide safe abortion services tend to charge exorbitant fees, leaving most of them unable to pay. These women and girls are then forced to give birth to children they clearly cannot afford to take care of, pushing them to abandon these innocent children in unsafe places like rubbish pits and toilets.

The aftermath of the entire process was another significant issue. I lost a lot of weight, spiraled into depression as I felt overwhelming guilt for what I had done, and suffered from severe sleep disturbances. However, there were positive impacts as well. When it was all over, I felt relieved, thatI could finally carry on with my life without the constant worry about a baby I could not take care of. 

I still strongly believe that everyone should be given a chance to decide whether they want to keep a baby or have an abortion. People conceive in different ways, and some have gone through traumatic experiences such as rape. Forcing such individuals to give birth can lead to resentment towards the child, as they are unable to take care of themselves, let alone a baby, in the proper way.

Our society has been programmed to criticize and dismiss certain things that don’t align with traditional beliefs. However, I know that access to safe abortion services is essential because it helps to prevent unnecessary deaths as a result of unsafe abortions. On top of saving many lives of young girls and women, it also prevents the birth of babies who will suffer under dire circumstances.

Stories like mine, of women who have had safe abortion are important to tell because they show that access to abortion is a necessity that contributes to the mental, physical, economic wellness of someone. Motherhood is a huge step in life, no one should make the choice on anyone’s behalf. I am glad that I had  a choice about my present and future. I hope that my story has helped to provide a perspective that emphasizes how life saving a safe abortion can be and I hope it contributes to the movement promoting the right of women and girls to choose in a safe way.

(The Names of people and places in this story have been changed for confidential purposes)