How do you feel you would have reacted to an unplanned pregnancy as an unwed teenage girl? Or as the boy who learns the girl you dated is pregnant?

How do you feel you would have reacted to an unplanned pregnancy as an unwed teenage girl? Or as the boy who learns the girl you dated is pregnant?

i often thought about that. it's being between a rock and a hard place. of course, abortion is out of the question for me; if it had been legal in 1952, i would not be alive today. yet the thought of giving up a baby for adoption - even though it would have been the right decision - is unimaginable.
as for boys, it is very easy for them to disassociate from the whole situation.

I lived this story. I have only begun to tell my story to new friends and old ones from high school and I’m almost 75. I no longer care if someone still believes as society believed in the 60’s for lack of education.

When I was growing up, abortion was legal and one could obtain one fairly easily. I don't think it would have been an easy decision, but I suspect I would have had an abortion. I know of family members who made that choice and don't seem to have had a lot of regret about it.

I was very fortunate to grow up in a time of legal abortion, as well as in a place where girls had unwed pregnancy and stayed home. I think I would have chosen abortion and my parents would have supported me.

I fear women today are loosing this choice and we are returning to more forced births.

I have no idea what I would have done. If it were now I would have had an abortion.

As I have said before, my family experienced the trauma of an unwanted pregnancy. These emotions were unbearable and everyone in the family, especially myself and younger brother, were affected. Even though the couple married prior to the child's birth, the emotions involved were beyond words. Even now some 60+ years later, this experience is still painful to revisit and I was not the one pregnant. I found myself deeply concerned and determined to not let it happen to me. Birth control pills were not available. Today's choices were simply not there. I often reflect on the fact that perhaps my life would have been different with birth control choices of today.

First of all kudos to judyg for being comfortable sharing her truth. This was a stressful time for unwanted or out-of-wedlock pregnancies. Growing up with a very religious father I suspect that he would have disowned me and may have found someplace else for me to live. My mother would have been heartbroken. I wouldn't have know how or where to get an illegal abortion, so I would have definitely given birth but doubt I would have given up the baby. Since my cousin did have a baby when she was 16 and was supported by her family, I probably could have gone to live with my maternal grandmother. My roommate in college almost died from an illegal abortion. She had to be rushed to a hospital by ambulance. The closest hospital refused to admit her, but the county hospital had to take her. She was able to finish college, marry, have two daughters, and finish her career as a college dean. My cousin's daughter grew up to marry, have children of her own and teach at a University. These are two examples from the sixties on why women should ALWAYS have a choice about whether or when to become a mother. No one has the exact same circumstances that work in a one-box-for-all solution.

I would have been the right age in the fifties. I would have been so afraid and afraid to tell my family. My father had died, so it was just Mother and I. I believe she would have accepted my having the baby. I know she would not have wanted it given away. She was raised in an orphanage. As for the father, they pretty much got off.

I wouldn’t have had an abortion. It would have been a tough situation especially if the father acted like her boyfriend and ran away from the situation. I would hope my parents would have been supportive. I’m sure they would have been very disappointed.