Abortion stories: from backstreet to legalisation

Synopsis

Thelma's story highlights the harrowing experiences of women in Britain before the legalization of abortion. She recalls being instructed to take some flowers to appear as a friend visiting a woman in a dark kitchen, where she faced a painful and terrifying procedure. Before the 1967 Abortion Act, women had limited options, often resorting to dangerous backstreet abortionists or self-administering risky at-home abortions. Thelma describes the fear and lack of medical support during these times, contrasting it with the care she received after the law changed. Today, women seeking abortions benefit from specialist support and aftercare, ensuring they feel safe and informed throughout the process. The use of a Higginson syringe to inject fluid into the uterus is mentioned as a method used before legal options were available, illustrating the desperate measures women took to end unwanted pregnancies.