Your stories

Story 1 /

My story began when I became unexpectedly pregnant despite having an IUD. First, there was fear, then hundreds of second thoughts about whether to give birth or terminate, until I finally decided to have an abortion. I found a clinic in Ostrava, and the woman spoke Polish, explained what to bring with me and how the procedure was performed. I made an appointment and went. Everything was explained to me there, they performed tests, and took me to the procedure. The whole thing took about 30 minutes. Inside, I was already crying in the procedure room, but they held my hand and supported me until the anaesthesia took effect. The procedure itself took a few minutes. After waking up, I was disoriented and a little sore, but the nurses remained supportive. After two hours, I was able to go home. On one hand, I felt lighter, but on the other, a thousand more thoughts appeared. As I describe my story, I’m two months post-op, and I rarely recall this experience on a daily basis.

Story 2 /

I took a pregnancy test because I missed my period and I wasn’t feeling my best (high temperature, constant fatigue, breast pain was probably the worst). At first, I thought it was COVID, but after testing, everything turned out to be clear… I also took a pregnancy test that shows which week I was, and it showed 5-6 weeks. The next day, I made an appointment with the doctor and it turned out I was 4 weeks pregnant. Various thoughts immediately tormented me. On one hand, I’d always dreamed of being a mother and having a baby, but on the other, I didn’t have a stable job and had just bought an apartment. My fiancé and I were in a difficult financial situation, and on top of that, the apartment needed a complete renovation… However, our rationality, if you can call it that, prevailed. We decided to have an abortion. It wasn’t an easy decision. I’m still thinking about it, and it’s been a month since the procedure. I don’t regret the decision, but I do think about what it would be like with the baby, etc. Getting to the point :) Initially, I wanted to have an abortion using a kit. I didn’t want to wait long for the kit when I ordered it on the WHW website; I was worried about the time. So I called the Abortion Without Borders hotline, and they recommended a clinic in Ostrava. I was to bring a document with my blood type, my ID, a nightgown, painkillers, sanitary pads, water, and something to eat. They sent me a document so I could cross the border normally due to the restrictions that were in place in the Czech Republic at the time, and so did my fiancé. I arrived early the next morning and had an appointment at 7:30 AM. I filled out a questionnaire about general anaesthesia, whether I was taking medications, etc. The receptionists weren’t particularly nice. They took two blood tests. Then I had an appointment with a gynaecologist, who performed an ultrasound and confirmed I was six weeks along. He was friendly, asked if I had any questions, etc. It later turned out he was the one performing the procedure. After the appointment, I had to pay 1,800 PLN (you can also pay in euros, Czech crowns, cash, or by card). You get a receipt as usual. Then you go up two flights of stairs with the receptionist, who hands you your documents to the nurse upstairs. You take your things and they tell you where to leave your belongings. It was a locked cabinet, and on the other side was a room with several beds. I changed into a gown and waited for the nurse to insert an IV. After 10 minutes, I was invited into the procedure room. Honestly, I don’t remember exactly what she looked like because I was so stressed and scared I couldn’t take it in :D There was a gynaecological chair where I was supposed to lie down. The team at the procedure were great; they made me laugh and spoke relatively good Polish: two nurses, an anaesthesiologist, and a doctor. I received an injection into my IV line, and after a moment, I felt warm and passed out. Thirty minutes later, I woke up in bed. The nurse came to ask if everything was okay. Overall, I felt okay, a little dizzy, and my stomach hurt like the first day of my period. After 30 minutes, I was discharged and told that everything went according to plan. The bleeding after the procedure was like period bleeding, and the pain was bearable.

Story 3 /

After calling the clinic, the appointment was quick, only a week away. It is in the very centre, but at 6:30 a.m., there was plenty of room to park in front of the building. The nurses/registration staff spoke broken Polish, which was easy to understand. I was given a few forms to fill out: consent for the procedure, consent for sedation, full medical information for sedation and the procedure (like ours, comorbidities, ongoing medications, etc.), GDPR (RODO) consent, and permission to be called in by name. Then the nurse took my temperature. We were two polish women there. It was a bit hot because spring had arrived, and we were warmly dressed from the road and also a bit nervous. We had to wait for our temperatures to drop :D

Then, they took three blood samples and we went to the doctor’s office for an interview. He was Polish. He was very competent and recognized the major flaws in my previous procedures. He performed a detailed endovagal ultrasound with a photo for the operator. Then, payment was made in advance to the nurse. Then, you have to go two floors up for the procedure. It’s a post-procedure room with a few beds and a mini-locker room near the entrance. It was a bit like a conveyor belt: one person leaves on a bed, and a few minutes later, the next one comes in. There were four of us, two Czech women and two of us. That’s probably the maximum for the day. Depending on how well you handle anaesthesia, you’ll leave faster. I was third, first one left, and the two ahead of me were still asleep. I woke up after five minutes, and got up after twenty minutes. It was very clean. On the bed was a disposable pillow, a pad, disposable sheets, and a thick scarf to cover myself with. I was given a pack of wet wipes to put all my dirty clothes in the designated bin in the locker room (pads, sanitary pads, and wet wipes are also available in the locker room). Upon leaving, I received a certificate of the procedure, information to schedule a follow-up appointment with the doctor two weeks later, a Knoppers and a mug with a tea bag – you can make it yourself downstairs in the waiting room while you wait for someone to pick you up. I am positively surprised by the professionalism and friendly people.

Story 4 /

I decided to have an abortion because I already have two children and my family is complete. I’m 31 years old, run a small, starting business, and my older daughter is disabled – she’s on an autism spectrum, she doesn’t speak, doesn’t understand much, and caring for her is very difficult. I also have a younger, healthy son and a wonderful husband. The decision was mine. I couldn’t imagine having a third child; the fear of having another disabled child was too great (we consciously chose a son, and at the time, we didn’t know our daughter had the condition). Furthermore, new professional commitments didn’t make things any easier. There was nothing to think about. I found out I was pregnant at six weeks, which was a surprise because I’d been taking birth control pills for years. Apparently, something wasn’t working. After contacting Auntie Czesia, I received help choosing a clinic and even funding, which was a huge relief. The clinic I used is located in Ostrava, and I was there with my husband at 6 a.m. A Polish woman working on-site guided me through every step of the procedure. Initially, there were formalities, a blood test, and a gynaecological examination to confirm the gestational age. Everyone was friendly, smiling, and professional, and no one asked me why I was doing this. Then I was led to a room where I had to change into a gown, lock the rest of my belongings in a locker with a key, and I was allowed to use my phone. A moment later, I was invited into the procedure room. There was an anaesthesiologist, a nurse, and the doctor who performed the abortion. I was given general anaesthesia, after which I quickly fell asleep. I woke up in the recovery room, where I was with three other women. After about 30 minutes, the nurse asked how I felt, if I was in any pain, and I was allowed to get dressed and put on a pad. Then a doctor’s consultation, postpartum checkup, and I went home. The bleeding was light and lasted about six weeks. I’m still on my period, but the pregnancy symptoms I was experiencing disappeared almost immediately.

I don’t regret my decision and I thank Aunt Czesia for her help!

Story 5 /

I’m 35 years old, have a teenage daughter, and another adult stepdaughter. My partner and I are quite a few years apart. We’ve been together for many years now, and we have a well-organized, peaceful, and active life. We weren’t planning on having children. The news of my pregnancy was a huge shock. We both knew there could only be one decision, mainly because of my health. A late pregnancy could pose a threat to me. Due to serious spinal problems, it could result in a late miscarriage or loss of use in my legs. We experienced mixed emotions, but each time the conclusion was the same: I couldn’t carry this pregnancy to term. We debated for a long time what would be best for my health—miscarriage-inducing pills or surgery. We concluded that a procedure under medical supervision and in a properly equipped clinic would be safer. I decided to handle the formalities. Everything went very smoothly. The clinic issued me a document that allowed me to cross the border without any problems, accompanied by a guardian. At the clinic itself, everything went very smoothly. The doctor and staff understood Polish without any issues and spoke some Polish. The procedure, under full anaesthesia, was very quick: about 30 minutes from falling asleep to waking up. The staff was calm and helpful. I bled heavily after the procedure. On the day, it was very heavy, and the next day, almost none at all. But two days later, I started spotting again, which lasted about a week, accompanied by lower abdominal pain. I couldn’t find any information about how long it would last. I think it’s a very individual thing. I had many concerns about what would happen if I had to go to the hospital because something went wrong. The Auntie Czesia team reassured me somewhat by saying that the procedure was completely legal and I wouldn’t face any consequences in my country because it was performed in the Czech Republic and my symptoms were completely normal. Despite this, I was still terrified. I was afraid the abortion might not have been successful. I waited two weeks for the doctor to confirm that the procedure was successful and that everything was fine with my health. As is often the case, fear is often greater than the danger itself, because everything went as it should, and I returned to my normal life. If someone needs to undergo such a procedure, please do not be afraid, everything is carried out professionally and efficiently.

Story 6 /

I was 4-5 weeks pregnant when I decided to have an abortion. The pregnancy was the result of marital abuse. I was 41 years old and had three wonderful children, but I was forced to terminate this pregnancy due to my difficult life situation. My auntie, Czesia, helped me and recommended a clinic in Czech Republic. I went with a friend. I was very scared. At the clinic, I met the lovely staff; almost everyone spoke Polish and didn’t ask difficult questions. First, the doctor examined me, then they drew blood, and the nurse took me to a room where two other women were waiting for the procedure. I didn’t understand why I was calm; it was probably the influence of the people working there; I felt they would help me, that there was nothing to fear. The doctor asked for us one by one, and I was the third. I changed into a long shirt and layed down in the chair. I listened to the doctor joking as he administered the intravenous anaesthesia. I only felt warmth enveloping me, and I fell asleep. I woke up about 10 minutes later in the ward. I felt no pain, I wasn’t bleeding. I lay there for another hour, and a very kind nurse allowed me to get dressed and go home. I was given a candy bar and some drinks for the trip, along with the necessary documents. At home, I bled lightly for about two weeks, but everything turned out fine. I’ve blocked the event from my mind. I try not to think about it, I treat it as a life-saving procedure, because otherwise I would go crazy and torment myself. It’s strange how the human mind can work. I didn’t even go to my psychologist; I want to forget, but I don’t regret my decision because, in the end, I fought for myself.

Story 7 /

I was eight weeks pregnant when my procedure was scheduled, nine weeks pregnant on the day of the procedure. I’d never given birth and couldn’t imagine myself as a mother. I have a strong fear of pregnancy and childbirth, which triggered suicidal thoughts and attempts. Three-step contraception—condoms, the pill, and the morning-after pill—had failed me. I arrived at the clinic at 6:30 a.m, feeling a bit stressed. Upon arrival, I was given several documents to fill out, all translated into Polish. After filling them out, I had my blood drawn, three test tubes with an interview, and an endovagal ultrasound. After about 10 minutes, payment and receipt were received, and I was invited upstairs. The room I entered had a small changing room where I left my clothes and other items in a locker, which I took with me. Wet wipes and sanitary pads were also available if anyone didn’t have their own. Three beds were occupied, including me and two other women. I was second in line, but the stress disappeared thanks to the interaction and atmosphere with the clinic staff. I walked in, and the doctor tried to lighten the mood, which he did very well. Afterwards, I woke up 20 minutes after the procedure, feeling terrible cramps in my uterus, like one of my worst periods. It took about 20 minutes, and the nurse informed me that the procedure had gone well and that I needed to lie down for at least an hour. An hour was enough for me; when I was getting ready to clean up, the first woman was still asleep. After getting dressed, I was in another room where I could ask questions about post-procedure instructions. I was also given a card with a description and information. You can ask anything, and no question will be considered silly; the staff at this clinic are truly professional and empathetic. After receiving the card and speaking with me, you can go to the waiting room, have a cup of tea, and sit for a while. For a week after the procedure, I experienced period cramps, but they were as strong as they were immediately afterward only on the fourth day after the procedure. Now, almost two weeks later, I no longer feel them and I’m not bleeding at all. Furthermore, the doctor confirmed my good health and no complications. I don’t think about the procedure itself; it saved my life, and the only thing I feel is relief, the same as immediately afterward. I have no regrets. The clinic is completely professional, and the staff is very kind and approachable. Thank you to Auntie Czesia for everything; I finally feel like I’m living a new life, free from fear for my life.

Story 8 /

I’m happy to report that I’ve already had my procedure done :) The clinic you recommended is great. They’re completely professional, the staff is very friendly and helpful, and the rooms are clean and sterile. I was stressed out the most about anaesthesia, but it turns out there was nothing to be nervous about ;) Overall, I felt great right after waking up. Apart from a stomach ache, almost like a period pain, which lasted maybe 10 minutes at most. Nothing bothered me. The woman in the room gave me some water and a painkiller, and I honestly thought my lower abdomen would hurt like that all day, but it turned out it was completely painless afterward. The day after, I only occasionally get a twinge in my lower abdomen when I suddenly bend down or move ;) You were right about me taking too many sanitary pads, because while I was bleeding a bit yesterday, today I’m only having light spotting. Honestly, as silly as it sounds, I’d rather bleed more, because then it would be more obvious to me that I’m definitely not pregnant ;) Overall, I’ve truly convinced myself there’s nothing to be afraid of when it comes to this procedure. Today, to brighten up my day, I turned on some videos from organizations calling themselves “pro-life,” explaining how bad abortions are or how dangerous, and how they damage women’s psyche… Honestly… I couldn’t believe the nonsense they were spouting. But unfortunately, that’s the reality: as long as abortion is treated as a taboo subject and a reason to stigmatize women, these pseudo-pro-life organizations will continue to spread nonsense that most people won’t be able to verify :(.