Oral History: I am a 46-year-old mother of adult children in Madison, Wisconsin, who found out I was five weeks pregnant last week

“I don’t understand how at my age it can be somebody else’s decision what is right for me and my family.”
A white envelope spews a black speech bubble filled with smaller speech bubbles in blue, yellow and pink. The image has a splotchy pink background.
Illustration by Maggie Denman.

Tone Madison is publishing oral histories related to abortion, miscarriage, birth control, and reproductive health from people in the Madison area. Read more about this project and find information about sharing your story. We are also publishing brief messages of support for storytellers.

We ask that these stories are not reprinted in other outlets.


Below is a verbatim account from anonymous:

I am a 46-year-old mother of adult children in Madison, Wisconsin, who found out I was five weeks pregnant last week. My children, as I said, are all adults, and I had to take time off of work to drive to Illinois so I did not have to deal with the 24-hour waiting period in Wisconsin. I don’t understand how at my age it can be somebody else’s decision what is right for me and my family. 

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