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Monday, April 22, 23:19:20Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 12345678[9]10 ]
Subject: Re: First pregnancy(no one understands)


Author:
Jacqueline
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Date Posted: 07/15/06 5:55am
In reply to: Jacqueline 's message, "First pregnancy" on 07/ 9/06 8:50pm

Ive decided in my heart that i want to keep my baby...long term people will get over it once they see the beautiful baby...but i dont think i could ever get over having an abortion. At the same time i feel alone no one is on my side...my parents tell me to have an abortion, my best friend and my boyfriend...the people that are cloest to me want me to just kill it. yes its not fair for me to have a baby that my bf doesnt want but its not fair for me to have an abortion that i dont want....im sooo confused i dont know what to do...everyone seems to be on my boyfriends side...poor dom...how could you do that to him..he will never talk to you again if you keep it....what about me what about the baby..I dont know what to do..how can i convince people that this is what i want. Someone at my work told me to listen to my heart and nothing else in my heart i cant do it...please help..

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Replies:
[> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy(no one understands)


Author:
Pat
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Date Posted: 07/15/06 12:12pm

Hi, Jacqueline,

I am so happy you have decided to keep your baby. You will be much happier following your heart.

Think about what you said. You said you don't want to kill your baby. Think about that for awhile. What does it mean to kill? Are you a killer? Obviously not! Nobody else is thinking about this. They're playing games with their heads. Your baby is depending on you for your protection, and you want to protect your baby! Just keep this thought in your head, and really think about it, every chance you get.

As for everyone else, they don't have to live inside your mind and your spirit. They wouldn't actually do it. You would. Just tell them that you have made your decision, your mind is made up, and it's not open to discussion.

These other people are thinking about other issues, I'm sure. You probably face some difficulties you will have to work through. I hope you will go to a crisis pregnancy agency and start to work on the things you need to deal with, the practicalities of it. They can give you all kinds of help. Once you start to solve the practical problems, you will feel more firm and settled about your decision, more at peace.

You can even tell people you are working on the practical issues. But tell them that you aren't going to discuss that with them until they stop advising you to kill your baby. Use those words with them. And if they don't leave you alone, walk away, or hang up, or whatever you have to do to end the conversation. If they follow you, walk away again, and tell them, I am leaving the room; don't follow me.

Once they see that your mind is made up, they'll leave you alone. It may take awhile.

As for your boyfriend, he willingly did something that caused him to become a father. He doesn't get a free pass. You have to deal with it. He can leave; you can't. So he doesn't get any sympathy from me. He isn't willing to take the responsibility. That said, I will explain that most men don't really connect with a pregnancy at first. They have to see some evidence. They have to feel the baby move, or see your body change, or see an ultrasound, or hear a heartbeat. Maybe your boyfriend will come around; give him time. But don't give him any slack on his demands. He has no right to ask this of you.

Patricia Heaton said that a woman who has an unplanned pregnancy is entitled to experience unplanned joy. This is my wish and prayer for you.

We'll be here to help you work through the problems and for any occasion when you just need to vent or feel like sharing something good. We will also pray for you, that God will give you the peace and strength to carry out your decision and not let yourself be swayed by what other people want.

Hugs,
Pat
[> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy(no one understands)


Author:
Heather
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Date Posted: 07/15/06 3:13pm

Hi Jacequline,

I have a lot of empathy for you. You've made a good decision, one that you will be inexpressibly thankful for, but I can understand why you'd feel lonely in the lack of support and enthusiasm you have in those closest to you.

I think you're correct in turning the question of whether or not it's selfish to 'do this to Dominic' to whether or not it's selfish to ask you to kill another human being you have instincts against killing, especially when it's ultimately your life, your body, and your choice that you will have to live with.

It might be encouraging to know that six months from now, if not sooner, you'll likely have all or most of the support you're hoping for as it becomes apparent to parents and friends that you're keeping the little one. It happens all the time; people eventually do a 180.

But I know that doesn't help you now when you're adjusting yourself to the hugeness of the fact that you're going to be having a baby. Hopefully you can derive some comfort and even joy right now in knowing that you're making a good decision, one that affirms life and beauty, and that you're already being a good mother to your baby by standing up in their defense.

Please come here and vent anytime. And CONGRATULATIONS!! I think God has intervened with grace and granted you wisdom in protecting the life of your baby, and I think the road ahead will hold much more joy than trials for you.

Heather
[> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy(no one understands)


Author:
Melanie
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Date Posted: 07/16/06 12:22am

Hi Jacqueline,

I think you actually hit the nail on the head. Poor Dom, you won't harm his baby, but no empathy for you if you don't kill your child? I don't think people often reason that part through.

There are people out there, including us, who will be supportive. Do your best to find and surround yourself with those people. Also, the best thing you can do is stand firm. The more firmly you get across that an abortion isn't in the plans, the more likely it is for people to get the notion out of their minds. IN a few months the baby will be obvious and abortion is likely to seem less like something that can be pushed for.

I had to chuckle about them saying it wasn't fair to Dom. I guess I was raised with the notion that "life's not fair." I think my kids knew it by heart. LOL It might be a good retort.

If you need support near you, you might try a Crisis Pregnancy Center. They will support your decision to keep your baby and maybe you will feel less isolated until everyone else comes around.

And please continue to come here and let us all now how you are doing and vent if you need to.

--Melanie
[> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy(no one understands)


Author:
luka
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Date Posted: 07/16/06 2:18am

Yep i have to agree with what Heather said people do come around once they know that you are not going to have an abortion. Because the more advanced your pregnancy becomes the harder it will be for them to deny the fact that this is a baby we are talking about here (even though we know that it is allways your baby from now untill the end of his or her life). It would be blantantly cruel of them to abandon you when all you did was keep your baby , i would be surprised if when you are visibly pregnant or when you have your baby in your arms that they would still be telling you 'oh you should have had an abortion blah blah." Unfortunately for some people even other women what they can't feel, let alone see can make it easy for them to pretend that there isn't a growing baby inside not only that but it's not just a growing baby inside, it's 'your' growing baby, your little boy or girl in there. Your poor boyfriend? He has all the support in the world right now for not wanting his own child! Youre the one i have sympathy for not him. I hope he apologises and thanks you for being strong when this baby is born because you deserve that at the very least. Once again i will say that if he can look at an ultrasound picture of yours and his baby or after your baby is born if he can look at him or her and say nope still think this was a mistake how could you have done this to me? Then what sort of human being is he anyway? To be able to look at his newborn child and wish he or she was not here.
I have some support regarding my pregnancy with my mother and grandmother but appart from that i am also aware of my babys father not wanting my child also so i understand how it feels to know in your bones that youre doing the right thing but to have alot of other people saying you're not or worse in my case. It's very confusing! More so if you buy into the many and varried ways that they are trying to convince you that you should abort your baby. Imagine if you had an abortion based on what they said and inevitably you would feel hollow and depressed and a whole bunch of other inexplicable emotions. The people urging you to have an abortion would be celebrating inside happy that you did what was in their minds 'the right thing' waiting for you to just 'get over it'. Ugh it makes me ill to think about it. Be strong and let them feel ashamed when your beautiful baby has arrived.
[> [> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy..


Author:
Jacqueline
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Date Posted: 07/16/06 6:43am

My poor sweet boyfriend i finally told him last night that i dont think i can go through with having an abortion. Dom is not one to verbalize anything he keeps everything in. I actually wrote him a letter of everything i felt how it felt to have his growing child inside of me. After he read the letter he just put it down, put his hand over his face and cried and cried..its the first time he cried infront of me. I hugged him and i cried with him and we just hugged each other and cried together with no words. Eventually i asked him he had to say something...he just said im not ready for this...i said and you think i am...and we just cried some more..no words were ever spoken nothing was ever said. We spent the night together...and he told me he understands how i feel...i dont know all this means i hope it means hes gonna be there if i keep the baby. what do you guys think??
[> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy(no one understands)


Author:
Rachel O
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Date Posted: 07/16/06 8:37am

hi there,

i went thru the very same thing as you - and it was a very hard 9 months. my sig. other wasn't with me on the decision to parent until he saw the baby.

if you want my advice -the best decisions are made from love - not fear or money.

your baby chose you - and needs you. get all the rest and good food you can - and try to make new friends if the old ones are negative,

this too, shall pass - these are words i now live by. god bless you and good luck.
[> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy(no one understands)


Author:
Sharon
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Date Posted: 07/16/06 12:44pm

Jacqueline,

Wow...from this latest post of yours, I think your boyfriend sounds like a very sensitive soul. I know that in the ealier posts you mention that he wants (or wanted) you to abort, but the fact that he 1) cried, and 2) he said exactly what was on his heart ("I don't think I'm ready for this" - BTW, I loved your honest answer back to him - perfect), and that he simply held you for a long time...all of those things tell me that IF he's not going to support you wholeheartedly right now, he will almost undoubtedly come around to supporting you AND his precious child when a little time passes and, as some of the other posters mentioned, the baby becomes more concrete to him. That's not to say he might not lean on you initially to abort - he might. But, stand strong, even it if means distancing yourself from him temporarily. I truly believe he sounds like one who will come around. And, like one of the other posters mentioned, he will be GRATEFUL to you one day when he sees and holds his little one.

Rarely do ANY of us feel ready for a pregnancy. In fact, even in cases where a pregnancy was PLANNED, sometimes the parents have ambivalent feelings. It's a big step. It's an important milestone in our lives. (Nine months gives us LOTS of time to get used to the idea ;-)

BTW, you might want to invite him to post to this board. We occasionally have men post and we talk with them and help them process through their feelings. (This is one of the most awesome collections of women I know - the women who post to this board: Shelly, Tracy, Pat, Luka, Rachel O, Heather, Melanie...you have found an incredible source of support, wisdom, and advice. I agree with one of the other posters, it's evidence of God's grace in your life that you stumbled across this board ;-)

God bless you...and your little one...and Dom ;-)

Sharon
[> [> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy


Author:
Jacqueline
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Date Posted: 07/16/06 1:38pm

Dom just called me and told me that he cant speak to me or see me today that he needs to think and that he will talk to me tomorrow. Im scared i dont want to loose him. I just want things to go back how they used to be where our biggest problem was where we were going to eat dinner that night. I have to go for dinner in 2 hours for my cousin and i's birthday...i hope i can keep it together. Please pray for us.
[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy


Author:
luka
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Date Posted: 07/17/06 5:12pm

Jaquline it may not be as bad as you're worried it is. He is only saying he needs a day to get his head around all of what you have just told him which is pretty reasonable actually. What i am saying as just as you are preparing yourself for the worst you should also keep in mind the possiblity that he may decide to stand by you and even if he doesn't there is still the very distinct possiblity that he will come around at the very latest when he see's his newborn child. Your breath will be taken away when you see your little baby for the first time. They are so small and delicate and perfect. Oh and their first gummy lilttle smiles can seriously melt the hardest of hearts. All of this and more you have to look forward to :)
I think it's beautiful that you were able to write your boyfriend a letter because that way he is able to read what's in your heart without interuptions from either of you. He will have a chance to take it all in and read it over if he needs to. I am feeling very hopeful about your situation. I envy the response you recieved from your babys father compared to mine he sounds like he might be an ok sort of guy. Mine begged and screamed and cried (not in sympathy) for me to not do this to him , then told he flat out 'i don't want 'it', get rid of 'it'. Later he threatened me and abused verbally in front of our children and a bunch of others. Fortunatelty and unfortunately i have experienced enough drama in my life to realise that this will all blow over and there are better days ahead. I don't pretend that i will ever trust my babys father again or will ever see him the same way or that we will ever be anything other than parents to our children. But i do know that this baby is a blessing and he or she is here for many reasons. One of which i am allready incredibly greatful for, which is that i am finally free of the shackles of my past attachment to a man who i at last realise has little regard for me. I am so greatful that i can finally move on in every respect without looking back. I have not been given anything i can't handle i know that. And you will too. It's just that this is your first baby and under any circumstances your first child is scary because you have no real idea of what to expect no matter how many books you read. Seriously though i think the hardest part of being a first time mum is adjusting to the interupted sleep and that's only a temporary situation. BTW i highly recomend breatfeeding i have bottle fed and breast fed and my breastfed baby was way more settled and contented :)
[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy


Author:
Heather
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Date Posted: 07/17/06 11:37pm

Hi Jacqueline,

I agree with Luka about the breastfeeding. It's an amazingly special time with your baby, too. Also, there's an excellent book for pregnant moms called 'What to Expect When You're Expecting" that is just awesome. It answers every question conceivable to a first time mom and has all sorts of other neat information. It's a pretty common book so you'd be able to find it at just about any bookstore and certainly online.

I know the next week or so is going to be kind of rocky for you and Dominic, but it will get smoother after adjustment to the news.

With Kindness,

Heather
[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy


Author:
Sharon
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Date Posted: 07/17/06 8:38pm

Jacqueline,

I have a very odd request. Would you and Dom be interested in being interviewed by two documentary film makers from New York who are creating a documentary on the pro-choice and pro-life sides of the abortion issue? The documentary will be aired on Showtime in about 18 months. They've been interviewing me, among others, because of my pro-life position and my personal experience with almost aborting my first child.

I've shared with them how I've found that MANY times, the whole concept of "choice" is ridiculous. As Luka said, everyone around the woman seems for "choice" as long as the choice is to abort. They resist supporting her when HER choice is to try to protect and have her baby. The culture has become so insensitive to life that a woman is seen as "selfish" to WANT to protect her child. It's absurd...but it's very real. And women run up against these attitudes all the time. It's particularly hurtful and difficult for them because they run into these attitudes held by the very people they love the most.

Anyway, they've been traveling out here to South Dakota a number of times (since we're kind of on the radar these days with our House Bill 1215: Women's Health and Human Life Protection Act - known by the other side as the "abortion ban"). I mentioned that I visit this board and try to provide life-affirming support and encouragement to women facing unplanned pregnancies. I mentioned that MANY of the woman report feeling a sort of excitement and glimmering of "joy" - sometimes mixed with fear and apprehension, of course - when they first find out they're pregnant. But, it's when they tell their boyfriends or their husbands or their parents and find that THOSE people - people they love and trust and thought loved and wanted what was best for them - try to convince them to have an abortion that they feel abandoned and helpless and lost...and begin to view abortion as a viable option - even though they don't really WANT to have an abortion.

That's where this board comes in. We didn't know you before you came to this board...but we know you now, and we're praying for you and pulling for you. I KNOW you were drawn to this board by the grace of God.

So...back to my very odd request: Would you be interested in being a part of this documentary?

The filmmakers are Henry Corra and Celia Maysles. Their company is http://www.corrafilms.com

If you don't want to participate in this, that is perfectly ok and I understand completely. But, I thought I'd put it out there for you to think about.

Sharon
[> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy(no one understands)


Author:
Sharon
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Date Posted: 07/17/06 11:50am

I'll specifically lift you and Dom and your little one up in prayer over the next few days. Whenever you come to mind, I'll say a prayer for the three of you.

If it's alright with you, I'll add the three of you to my Bible study's prayer list.

Sharon
[> [> Subject: Re: First pregnancy(no one understands)


Author:
Pat
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Date Posted: 07/18/06 8:14pm

Jacqueline,

I understand about not wanting to lose your boyfriend, believe me, I do. So I am going to tell you that if you DO have an abortion, you are almost certain to break up. If you don't, you may or may not. But if you have an abortion you don't want, you will come to resent him, and eventually you won't want to have anything to do with him.

You have a right to REFUSE abortion. This web site may help you:

abortionconcern.org

All of you are in our prayers.

Hugs,
Pat



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