I have a daughter. I became pregnant at a very inconvenient time in my life. I had no real home, no money, no father to support the child, and little contact with my family. Most pro-choice people would say that this is a good situation for an abortion. However, I *chose* not to abort my daughter. My daughter was born 3 1/2 months early, weighing only 1 lb. 7 oz. It amazed me that the doctors were able to save her life and she is now a healthy 1 1/2 year old child. What amazed me even more is that the same medical technology that can save these premature babies can also kill them at the same stage in pregnancy. You cannot say anything that will convince me that my child was dead while in my womb and then alive after being born. I felt her move inside of me, heard her heartbeat. That is a living human being, unable to speak for herself, but with all of the same rights as any pregnant woman has. Incidentally, I placed my daughter for adoption and she is now in a very happy home, and my life has moved on. Yes, it was a difficult time for me, but I got through it and so can many other women. Women---find your inner strength, and use it!! I do not think that adoption is the *perfect* solution for every unexpected pregnancy, but I do know that it works well in many situations. The only other thing I have to say is that there is no such thing as an unwanted pregnancy. For every pregnant woman that does not want to be pregnant, there is a woman who would do anything to be able to have a child.

I was pregnant at 15 years old a sophomore in high school I had a boyfriend who I thought I was so In love with. We had sex, I got pregnant I was scared, ashamed, embarrassed. He acted like it was no big deal and we could handle it. I knew I wasn't ready or able to handle it. Abortion was never a thought I had. I tried to pretend that it wasn't real and put it in the back of my mind for months. My mom was on her second marriage and pregnant herself she was so happy about having another baby I didn't want to take away from that happiness with what I had done wrong so I didn't tell her. She had her from someone in town that I was about five months pregnant she asked me and I lied. She asked me again two months later with a pregnancy test in hand and that's when she knew. I was seven months pregnant she was nearly eight. The next thing she asked was what I thought of adoption I had always thought when a baby was adopted it was taken from you and never heard from again, so went visited the adoption agency and I learned about it and decided that was what I wanted. I found a wonderful family for my son. My mom delivered my brother two weeks before I had my son. He is a happy four year old now. I get wonderful pictures and beautiful letters of his life as he grows. My mom and I dream of the day when we will see him again. Well I didn't learn my lesson that time. Three years later I was pregnant again. I had just graduated high school and decided to keep the baby. His father and I are now married and have a beautiful fifteen month old son. I still think it was very early to start a family but it was what I thought was right. So if any of you are thinking about abortion think again there are so many other options.