Sorcha ... you are very brave to share your "experience" on this forum. I did the same thing, in the early stages of the Mudcat, and have lived to regret it. I am a woman who wishes abortion was not necessary but would defend, with my life, if necessary, the right of every woman to have that choice available to her. Whether it is used as a method of birth control, or not, if it is available to one woman, it must be available to all. In no way am I naieve and I personally know women who have used abortion as a means of birth control. I consider that type of situation irresponsible, however, knowing the intense loss I continue to feel 15 years later, I would NEVER say anything derogative to a woman who has had an abortion, early or partial birth. It is, without a doubt in my mind, the most intensely personal decision a woman would ever have to make. I told my youngest sister, who was 25 at the time, that I would support her 100%, if she ever had to make that decision, but to please take responsibility for her own birth control methods so she would never be faced with it.

So, whether you agree or disagree with abortion (on any level), I would ask that you mentally put yourself into the shoes of the woman making that decision. And show some compassion ... moonchild