Jessie O’Brien had a 10-month-old baby at home and was weeks into a new job when she became pregnant for the second time.
“Going from one to two so soon was very daunting. I didn’t have a great birth experience with my first either so that was still lingering in my mind,” Ms O’Brien said.
She spoke about it with her partner at the time and, at seven weeks into the pregnancy, decided to have a medical termination in June 2013.
“It’s quite a physical process, you’re still very aware that your body is aborting a fetus. It’s a period on steroids essentially.”
While Ms O’Brien still views the decision as a positive one eight years later, a “tinge of sadness” stays with her.
“When the physical symptoms subside you’re still left with wondering [about] the what ifs,” Ms O’Brien said.
