I have had three abortions during two marriages. Both husbands said I had to choose between them and the unborn baby that they felt they couldn’t cope with. After having the abortions, I lost respect for both husbands and have spent many years with the feelings of shame, guilt and loss for my babies. I do have a daughter by my first marriage but she is not a happy person and doesn’t have much to do with me. I feel my life has been full of negative emotions and all I ever wanted was to get married and have a family. I have four grandchildren and one great grandchild who make life worth living, but I still feel so sad.

Editor’s note: Thank you for sharing your story with us…It sounds as if something has triggered your thoughts – perhaps an anniversary – and made you take stock of your life and feel sad. You had such hopes of marriage and family, it seems, and now you’re looking back and feeling regret. Maybe now it’s time for you to take some time to address the losses in your life, to give yourself some tender care by talking through your experiences of grief and loss and guilt with an experienced and compassionate advisor, and allowing yourself to find some closure. It’s not too late to find healing for what you have been through and I want to encourage you to contact your nearest centre for some support. It’s free, it’s confidential and it’s kind. We’ll be thinking of you.