Hi, My Name Is Raven.

Hi. I'm Raven and I had a medication abortion in California in 2017.

I found out I was pregnant when I was a few days late and my nipples changed color, and my first thought was, “No!” I have been so careful and my mom just died. I decided to have a medication abortion because I did not want to continue with a pregnancy. I was deep in grief from losing my mother just a few months before.

I received my abortion pills through a clinic.

From start to finish, the process was accessible, private, and uncomplicated. I took the pills at home, and I felt safe to go through the process with my family support and comfort. It was not painless and there was a lot of bleeding. What surprised me most was that it was more painful than a period and there was a lot of bleeding. Recovery was longer than I expected.

Because I had access to medication abortion, I was able to take care of my mental and emotion health and address the grief of losing my mother. I felt empowered to choose what was best for me.

I'm sharing my story because I want to reduce stigma and shame around abortion. They should be free and on demand.

Medication abortion is healthcare and necessary for women to have as a part of their options.