They chose abortion and do not regret it. They refused to terminate the pregnancy and buried the children. Premieres on TVN24 GO

For months, we have been reporting on what is happening in Polish homes and in politics around the topic of abortion. We showed both women who say a resounding “no” to every abortion and those who demand its full legalization. We will also present the complexity of the problem and the multiplicity of points of view in two new materials, which will premiere on September 28 in TVN24GO.

In a report by Małgorzata Mielcarek “Women's point of view: I had an abortion. I don't regret it.” we gave a voice to women who consciously decided to have an abortion even though Polish law did not allow them to do so. And that they made such decisions consciously, often without regret, and the lack of state support does not stop them.

– I made this decision because at that moment it was the best decision I could make – says Mrs. Marta, who went to the hospital for an abortion. Czech. – Only later, when the date of the procedure approached, did I increasingly wonder whether it was the right decision – she recalls. – Doubts appeared, but only because I started to blame myself, that maybe I could manage having a child, but the prevailing decision was that this was not the moment, I did not have a good life situation then – she says.

– It was five years ago. I knew immediately that I would terminate the pregnancy, but I was terrified that I didn't know how, says Mrs. Agata. – My main fear was not that something would go wrong and that I would regret it, but that I would not be able to terminate this pregnancy. That the resources I have are not enough to do it safely and effectively, he recalls.

When Mrs. Justyna decided to have an abortion, she was already a mother – she had three children. She didn't want another one because she didn't want to stay in a marriage in which she experienced violence. Terminating the pregnancy was the only possible solution for her at that time. – When I became pregnant for the fourth time, I realized that this was the moment when it had to be stopped. That we cannot continue like this, because it is harmful not only to me, but also to the children – he says.

She admits that when she thought about abortion, it was mainly fear. – Fear for my health, because I read a lot about abortion. I wanted to do it with tablets because I couldn't afford a private treatment at a doctor's office, she says, adding that “there was a lot of bad information about tablets.” – Unfortunately, I read a lot of this harmful, untrue content – she recalls.

Women emphasize how stigmatizing the penalization of abortion in Poland is. – I felt that I was committing a crime, I felt like a criminal, because everything was wrapped in such a narrative – admits Mrs. Marta. – What I care most about is that abortion is decriminalized in Poland. So that women who want to have an abortion have access to it within National Health Fundfor it to be free access, he says. – So that they could simply decide for themselves, they didn't have to do it in conspiracy, and they weren't afraid of being left alone – he adds.

The reporter of “Fakty” TVN gave the floor to women with completely different experiences. Women who, even though Polish law allowed them to have an abortion, they chose to give birth to a child with a so-called lethal defect – a serious developmental abnormality that is fatal and most often leads to death during fetal life.

Mrs. Patrycja had the right to terminate the pregnancy, but she decided to continue it, knowing that it would most likely end in a spontaneous miscarriage. – The doctor gave me a piece of paper, confirmed that it was Edwards syndrome, and said that with this piece of paper I could go to any hospital to have it removed. – recalls Mrs. Patrycja Płoszaj, Małgorzata's mother. – I looked at him and said: no, I don't want to, definitely not. We've been trying to have this baby for two years, she says.

Women choose to give birth to a child with a so-called lethal defect for many reasons – they want to experience birth, they want to touch the child, be able to hug it and say goodbye with dignity. – The funeral of your own child is very difficult. But I had strength, and this little baby, who appeared only for a moment, gave me so much strength that later, when talking to my husband or friends, I was shocked that I had so much strength and did not break down – says Mrs. Marta Gryga, mother Susanna.

Mrs. Alina Wojsław, Aleksander's mother, recalls it similarly. – Children come with gifts. If we allow this meeting, we will find out with whom – he says.

Women who decided to give birth to seriously ill children also share the feeling of how difficult a decision they had to make. – On the one hand, a woman is stigmatized for giving birth to a sick child, and on the other, for terminating the pregnancy. She always made a bad decision for someone, says Mr. Marta Gryga.

– I believe that women should not be judged by the decisions they have made. Because every decision is difficult and each one leaves some trace, he emphasizes.