Expert: Pat G - 1/19/2012

Question
Hello,
I had an abortion on December 23rd, 2011. I was told to start the  birth control pills given to me from the abortion clinic that Sunday (December 25th), which I did. I know I was supposed to wait to have sex but I didn't. I ended up having unprotected sex that Friday (January 6th). Is it possible to become pregnant after almost a week of an abortion and just starting BC pills? If so should I stop taking the BC pills. I told myself (originally a non believer in abortions) that I would never do it and I did. I made a promise to myself and the lord I will never do it again... If I became pregnant so soon am I harming the possible fetus by continuing the BC pills?
Thank you in advance... I hope I'm making sense and not seeming as though I'm silly for not knowing. :/

Answer
Hello, Mari,

No need to feel silly for asking these questions. As I always tell folks, the only stupid question is the question you don't ask!

It isn't very common to become pregnant just a week after an abortion, but from what I understand, it does happen. If you think you might be pregnant, it would make sense to discontinue the pills, and not have sex until you are either sure you are pregnant, or until you have been on the pills long enough according to their instructions. If you did get pregnant, it probably would be an all or nothing situation. Either your baby is fine, or your baby just won't make it. This is because it is so early.

You might want to decide if you are seeking to become pregnant because you had an abortion. This could be a motivation for having unprotected sex. It could be unconscious on your part. If you are not married, it doesn't make sense for you to have sex anyway. Unfortunately, the situation isn't conducive to welcoming a child, or thinking clearly about what to do, or providing for a child, or because sex has more meaning than what you are experiencing because you are not married. If you are married, then it is perfectly acceptable to have a child, and the only problem might be if you feel you can't afford it. In that case, there is help available.

You would most likely benefit from counseling. You did something that goes against your principles. This is much easier than many women realize, as you now well know. In fact, I was in a similar situation on one occasion. Abortionists know how to get around a woman's defenses because they want to sell abortions. They will tell any lie you can imagine to get a woman to consent. They deliberately mislead women, and if you don't happen to have the background, it's easy for them to do that. And in fact, you can know quite a lot, and they can still get you to consent. The lie they told me was that my life was in danger. The other lie they told me was that I had had a miscarriage. If it turns out you are not pregnant this time, it would be wise to decide what to do, and give it some serious thought. If having a child now would cause serious hardship, it might not be wise to have sex (unless you are married). If you were subjected to pressure to have an abortion last time, you might want to think about making sure you won't experience that pressure again. Women are often vulnerable. Anyway, give it some thought.

It sounds like you have sincerely repented. If so, ask God for forgiveness, and trust that He has forgiven you already.

There are organizations all over the United States that help a woman who has an untimely pregnancy, and they also provide counseling for abortion experienced women. Most of the people who volunteer to help in that capacity have experienced abortion themselves, and have healed emotionally and spiritually. You can find an organization near you by going to this web site:

http://www.optionline.org/

Please take care of yourself, and let me know what happens.