Abortion has become a culturally acceptable norm, and the number of abortions that happen per year around the world is astounding. According to the World Health Organization, “[a]round 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide each year.” Out of all unintended pregnancies, 61% end in abortion, while 29% of all pregnancies result in abortion.
Despite popular culture’s attempt to normalize abortion, it is a painful and heartbreaking experience. The vast number of abortions might make some think that it is commonplace and unimpactful on a woman’s life. But the opposite is true. The mass of babies losing their lives to abortion does not normalize it. In fact, the places that look like they glamorize abortion often tell a different story when we look closer.
Quotes About Abortion That Reveal Grief Beneath the Surface
When women share their real experiences with abortion, they shed light on the true pain that many go through alone. Platforms such as Shout Your Abortion may sound as if they are celebrating the procedure, but when we read the personal stories of the women who post about their trauma, the evidence of heartbreak is there.
One Shout Your Abortion post reads:
“I wanted to meet you, but the timing was just wrong. I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough to meet you on this side. I promise when the time is right, we’ll meet and you’ll be loved beyond measure.”
Quotes About Abortion That Acknowledge the Loss of a Child
Another woman writes that her husband helped her make appointments and drove her to get an abortion. She goes on to highlight the perceived good that this brought them in their lives:
“It was the turning point. We buckled down and saved enough to buy a house in the country. I stood up for myself at work. I started taking better care of my whole self. ”
But then she ends with a moment of acknowledgment that this was a child – and more than that – was her child.
“I named her Olive and, when the time is right, I hope I get to meet whatever beautiful soul comes to us next.”
The humanization of this child who has suffered from abortion is a moment of honesty in the piece. The mother knows that this was a human being, and it may be years until she feels the pain of the loss of her child.
Another woman expresses remorse for her decision to have a second abortion:
“I’m 25, but I don’t feel ready to have you. I’m sorry. This is the second time. I promise we will meet when I’m ready.”
Quotes About Abortion and the Long Road Afterward
In addition to the platforms that attempt to show a positive side of abortion, there are places where women can go to share their story, their grief, and heal. Project Rachel is a resource for post-abortive women to find help. It also shares stories from women who experience suffering after their abortions.
One woman talks about how she feels when she sees other babies:
“I look at a baby and wonder why he couldn’t be mine. I suffer every time I see an infant. I can finally hold babies again but it tears me apart. I want to cry when I see babies. . . I just wish to hold [Samantha] in my arms. Pregnant women make me jealous. I think about the baby I could have had everyday but I’m supposed to go on with my life.”
Another talks about her continual pain:
“Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my lost child. When I wake up in the morning, I know I’ve had an abortion. I would never wish this pain on anybody.”
Where Healing and Hope Can Begin
Despite the heartache that many women and men feel after an abortion, it is possible to move forward and find peace. One woman describes this on Project Rachel:
“After the abortion, I never would have believed things could get better. But, amazingly, since my post-abortion counseling I have experienced hope and healing and self-forgiveness.”
Another woman describes moving forward:
“I used to wish, ’if only I had a chance to do it all over again.’ Of course, I can’t change the past, but I have learned from it. How I live my life now, and will continue to live, is a reflection of the peace that has come through healing.”
Post-abortive women experience sorrow from abortion every day, and many of them have to live with their pain in silence, surrounded by a culture that tells them abortion is healthcare.
Healing After Abortion
Healing does not mean forgetting the past. It means being met with grace, support, and the freedom to grieve without shame. For women and men who have experienced abortion, resources like Project Rachel and other post-abortion healing ministries offer a path forward, rooted in compassion and care.
Abortion may be normalized in culture, but the stories tell us something different. When women are given space to speak honestly, their words reveal pain, longing, and a desire for healing. No one should have to carry that alone. Help, hope, and restoration are possible.
If you or someone you love is seeking healing after abortion, resources and support are available at https://savethestorks.com/healed/.
Your donation helps women find healing, hope, and life-affirming care, so they don’t have to face an unplanned pregnancy or the pain of abortion alone.
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