The women that I've met who had abortions previously in their lives experienced something like this after having children later in life. They see their live, breathing child and realize that the one aborted was a person too. What awful guilt to realize you were duped and you can't go back and undo it. Abortion aftercare is the extremely vital.

Suzanne,
You should actually read a book or something before posting misleading and irresponsible NONSENSE in a weak attempt to support your personal agenda.
There is no nor has there ever been a viable link between abortion and any increased risk of breast cancer.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/abortion-miscarriage

While I respect your personal opinion on the matter and would agree that it is certainly an emotional issue I would expect FACTUAL evidence as opposed to intentionally misleading information in regard to such a topic.
Have a nice day

Ms. Ward, Your quote, "Abortion is the most common medical procedure in America." is wrong. Actually eye cataract surgery, pre-cancerous polyp removal and cesarean sections are far more common than abortion. www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2012/feb/15/patrick-johnston/leader-personhood-issue-claims-abortion-most-commo/

Additionally, your statement that 40% of American women have had an abortion is also glaringly wrong. The Guttmacher Institute video you link gives an excellent statistical account about women who have abortions. You really should watch it. A few facts from the video:
• Nearly half of all pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these end in abortion.[1]
• About half of American women will have an unintended pregnancy, [2] and nearly one-third will have an abortion, by age 45.[3]
• Overall, the abortion rate decreased 8% between 2000 and 2008, but abortion increased 18% among poor women, while decreasing 28% among higher-income women.[3]
• Nine in 10 abortions occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.[5]
• A broad cross section of U.S. women have abortions:[3]
58% are in their 20s;
61% have one or more children;
56% are unmarried and not cohabiting;
69% are economically disadvantaged; and
73% report a religious affiliation.

The Elliott Institute is under fire by the medical community at large for their methodology and use of bad science to sway opinion in their favor. Manipulation in any form doesn't help women.

I really enjoy hearing about what is going on in my community....however, a piece on abortion. Are you kidding me? I can't wait for you to post an article about how hard it must be for a woman to have to choose an abortion. Does anyone really think that a woman wakes up and thinks, " hey, it's a great day for an abortion"? Do your homework before printing such a one sided article. Shame on you!

Georgia Right to Life is has a reputation for putting out incorrect information and distorted facts.For the facts google "Guttmacher Institute" .

In Suzannes defense- Suzanne posted on the aftermath of abortion. Her subject was perfectly clear. For those in crisis, it is clearly a heartwrenching decision. Those are the women who need aftercare and it shouldbe available. Unfortunately, because of its legal status, too many have chosen it for convenience alone. That is unacceptable to me especially when the adage rings true that two people enter an abortion clinic and only one comes out alive. Laney, I knew someone who had six of them. She actually used it for birth control. So, those people do exist. More than you know. In my line of business, I've seen it more times that I care to know about, and each time their hearts hardened just a little bit more, so I know something psychological ws going on there. Can't deny those things exist and I think people need to know these things to at least have full information before making this type of decision.

There is no defense for posting bad information regardless of the validity of the subject matter. Ms. Ward's article is full of incorrect statistics and bad information to support her viewpoint. Much like Laney said, very few women wake up and think to themselves, "Hey! What a great day for an abortion I think I'll just go get one.", which speaks of the greater majority of women and the thoughtfulness they go through when they make their decisions about what to do with an unwanted pregnancy. Those who argue to make the procedure illegal endanger the lives of the mothers which to me is counter to the idea of "pro life".

Do I agree that women are depressed after having an abortion? Absolutely.
Do I think counseling should be made available to the woman who is struggling with her decision after the procedure? Yes, why this is even debated seems strange to me. But then it is even stranger to me that people do not want to teach our children the truth about sex and pregnancy and how to prevent it, I think comprehensive sex education (beyond abstinence) should be taught in ALL schools and birth control should be affordable and easily accessible to ALL women -- worldwide. I believe these things have the greatest chance out of everything to prevent many abortions from ever needing to happen in the first place.

Am I crazy for thinking that this shouldn't even be a discussion or debate? Get married, have sex, and I guarantee you'll be more responsible. Not saying married women don't have abortions, but still. Of course that messes with your head if you have abortions. I appreciate this article Suzanne.

@Kathy
Well said and so true. Also it has always amazed me that the "bible belt" in the south has the highest number of teen pregnancies and the most repressive policies when it comes to teaching comprehensive sex education and making contraceptives economical and easily available.Keep telling the truth.

The fact that struck me most about this is that she says that "most people agree that abortion ends the life of a preborn child." Most people certainly do not agree with that. In fact, most people support abortion rights exactly because they do not agree with that and do not believe that a "preborn child" has a life. This is just another example of pro-life groups missing the point entirely. People who are pro-choice are not monsters that believe that it's okay to kill babies. They believe that no one knows when life begins and therefore the choice should be left up to the individual to make decisions about their body based on their personal beliefs about when life begins.

Ask someone who had a premature child that was only a few tiny lbs. and she lived. That child is now 32 years old. I now have 3 grandchildren from her. Some may not believe it, but that doesn't make it not so.

This is some sort of "drive-by" blog. The author posts on such a heated topic..gets everyone discussing it...and doesn't have it in her to respond to any of the comments. Pretty typical of online bloggers. Post and hide.

No drive by. This woman has personal experience that brings her to want to help others. She may or may not be a perfect writer, but her message is clear. I personally have known people who felt exactly what this woman claims some feel. For those people there is a resource. Nothing wrong with offering a resource. I think many do protest too much revealing their discomfort with the subject. For a recap -
"If you or someone you know suffers from Post-Abortion Stress Syndrome, please call the National Helpline for Abortion Recovery at (866)-482-5433. You can find more information concerning the after-effects of abortion at www.afterabortion.org.";;

Amy - I think you and I are 50/50 friends. lol We both agree on 50% of subjects. But at least we both have honest opinions and aren't afraid to voice them. lol
To add to my other reply - according to pro choice doctrine, my daughter was not viable to live and could be aborted (tell HER that). But she did. I just can't figure out how it is that we humans have the right to decide who lives or dies. I just don't get that (as far as belief goes).
But for those who do find themselves in a predicament, have an abrotion, well, it's done and you can't go back so why not love them through it?

Of course, totally lost to the Pro-abortion crowd is that this article is about the well-being of the not-mother after the fact...But off course, talking about the ill-affects of the "choice" runs counter to their narrative, so lets just bury the actual topic under the guise of trashing people who actually value the lives of BOTH mother AND the oft-ignore other party involved, the one the "choice is 100% fatal, every time...the child...

Perfect example...Somebody up there said that pro-abortion folks don't see the unborn as a life lost. This is untrue, as the very same self-annointed "fact-checkers" on this thread have conceded the fact that a life is lost. Of course, the person stating this gets a complete pass from them...why? Because calling out one of thier supporters on a fact like that runs counter to their cause.

Pity. Such a thing just might lend some credibility and objectiveness.

Of course, totally lost to Jeff and his counterparts here is the fact Ms. Ward uses a great deal of misinformation and emotional blackmail to make her point when it is neither warranted nor needed.

If Jeff and his counterparts were to read through the comments posted here they would see that no one here has said there shouldn't be counseling available for post-abortion women experiencing difficulties. Neither has anyone said they think abortion is a walk-in-the-park, wake-up-and-have-one-without-thought type of activity. Simply that the person who wrote this blog presented a great deal of information that is blatantly wrong in an attempt to manipulate rather than inform.

Manipulating women - regardless that you think you are doing it for their own good -- is never helpful.

And Jeff, there are indeed people who believe as she does therefore it is not my place to "call her out". My own view is that life begins once the child is viable and can live on its own outside the womb. Until then that life is not more important than the life that is carrying it. This is why I support a woman's right to choose what happens with her body and why I also support limits on abortions. It is also why I rabidly suggest major changes to the current sex education for our children and easy, affordable access to birth control. Those who really want a reduction in abortion should be supporting these things too.

Misinformation...emotional blackmail...hmmmm...

Kind of like telling me I hate women who miscarry because I oppose abortion?
Ouch...

But anyhoo...I know it's bad for the unborn to kill it. 100% of the time. But that's not what this article is about...It's actually about the post-abortion toll on women. Something I, admittingly, know little about but take interest in because, unlike the pro-abortion folks who think of the child as an afterthought (if they bother to mention he or she at all), some people care about BOTH...and that includes the post-abortion woman/girl. Issues like post abortion suicide...you don't share the author's concern about that? Seems to me like your more interested in shutting her POV down because it paints the after-effects of so called "Family planning" in a bad light. That's what it seems like to me. Or, to put it in terms that might be understood...

Unborn child who was subjected to "Family Planning": Death. = Bad
Post "Family Planning" Suicide of mother = MORE death = WORSE

So...lets put aside the stuff we're not going to get anywhere with, and lets quit trying to bury the stuff your team doesn't want to discuss, and discuss it, hmmm?
If the author has it all wrong, then tell me...how DO we prevent post-abortion suicide, depression, etc...?

Birth control prevents abortion better than anything else. See that mentioned anywhere in this blog? Try the archives, you won;t find anything there either. Family planning is something you need to investigate. don't reproduce with the human species.

I'm not supporting "outright falsehoods"...I can't beleive you are engaging in selective fact-checking...oh, wait, I can totally believe you are cherry-picking your facts and giving those whom share your viewpoint a pass when they make BS claims.

I'm not the one attempting to bury the original topic under bark-noisy, pro-abortion, "everyone who opposes abortion-hates women who miscarry" esque nonsense...

I simply asked a question...If the author has it all wrong, how do we prevent post'"family-planning" suicides among women who...uh...planned their families?

I love women...I love babies. I want to keep as many of both alive as possible. Including those who have had abortions. Abortion = death...post abortion suicide = MORE death. I presume you're against that kind of thing? If the author has it all wrong, I'm curious as to what the know-it-all pro abortion crowd has to say. I understand that part of "choice" includes not discussing the unborn child, but am I now to assume that you don't want to talk about the women who "choose" to end their lives following abortion too?

You guys think you're the experts here...so lets talk about this

Contraception prevents abortion and post abortion suicide. See, problem solved. I'm sure the women you "love," are really attracted to that, family planning is murder crapola, or if you prefer, outright falsehood.

Jeff writes

"Suicide and depression are real problems among post-abortion women, and I will vaugely reference 4,000 years of human history to prove my point. (hey, it works for you guys) "
Care to cite a more tangible factual study to support your claims? Lets deal in reality and look at a problem as it actually exists (if indeed it exists at all) before we argue about how to solve it

Nah...I readily admit that I don't know much about this, but I would hope to prevent such things. Surely, something as heady as taking a life (which we all agree, except for Jennifer up there, that abortion does take a life) would cause significant duress on a person. Somewhere, in that 4000 years of human history, somebody has regretted ending a life in this manner. Do you dispute this? In Grant's fantasy land, women feel really good about it? Is that your position?

What I want to discuss is "factual issues"

People suffer from depression and commit suicide over all sorts of things. While , obviously , having an abortion is an emotional issue so is losing a job , giving birth wrecking a car etc etc .
Is there a true verifiable correlation between abortion and suicide or , like the author's bogus breast cancer reference , is this just more of the same agenda driven horsepuckey ?

hmmm...factual issues...like "You're against abortion = you hate women who miscarry" Is that a fact you care to discuss?

Yeah...that one really sticks in my craw... you guys can't claim a monopoly on the facts when you make up nonsense like that...it hurts your cred...

Jeff writes

"hmmm...factual issues...like "You're against abortion = you hate women who miscarry" Is that a fact you care to discuss?"

Dude.. I havent a clue what you're on about here, you seem to be inventing a quote? I cant find it in this discussion.

Hmmmm inventing information , your wouldnt be the original author under a pseudonym would you?

Really...you're really gonna play the ignorance card on that one?

Really?

Man, don't even talk to me...

Wow... the butthurt is strong here..

Perhaps you might share an ACTUAL quote if indeed you are accusing me of saying something ?

Just a thought on the off chance that you intended to offer some credible discussion

As always, this is an issue that brings out strong emotions and usually influences antagonistic debates.

I must agree that the blog piece should absolutely represent accurate factual information - especially when outlining statistics.

The non-factual stats which can be misleading is even more of an issue, in my opinion, because the author of the article is not a woman, physician or counselor expressing a view point; the author clearly identifies her title (PR/Education) with a specific organization (Georgia Right to Life).

If you are going to write an editorial of this nature in the capacity of a PR professional, not to mention the "education" aspect of the author's title, then it darn well needs to be 100%!!!