AMBIVALENCE ABOUT PREGNANCY – WOMAN CONFLICT
Posted on Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 at 7:12 amSometimes the ambivalence can be due to a conflict between what the woman wants and what she ought to do. She may be subject to the pressure of others and fear criticism. She may use the abortion clinic for permission to continue with the pregnancy.
Miss D. was 25 and lived with her boyfriend. She had become pregnant for the second time, having had an abortion at 19. The doctor asked, ‘You want an abortion?’ She said, ‘No, I don’t really.’ She went on to reel off a list of reasons, many of them financial, as to why she could not have a baby. The doctor pointed out that she had given some very reasonable reasons for requesting abortion but had not said anything about her own feelings. She continued in the same vein. Recognizing her defences, the doctor tried safer ground and asked how she felt about her previous abortion. She had felt awful afterwards, as she had wanted the baby but could not have it. She was only 19 then. And now? She felt she was the right age but she and her boyfriend were in debt and lived in one room. The doctor said it must be sad to have an abortion when you really want a baby. At this point she burst into tears. She agreed she wanted this baby but felt she could not have it in her present circumstances. She wanted more time to think. She came back a few days later. She had talked to her boyfriend who was delighted at the thought of having a baby, and her parents were going to help out with the money problems.
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