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The Ripple Effects of Abortion (revised edition) by Alison Dyck B.A., M.A.
(Original edition published in the Sunparlour Pregnancy Centre Fall 2011
Newsletter)
An abortion may uncover a host of issues already present in a family system.
Abortions occur in the context of a person’s life. As a person reflects
on the pain of their abortion experience, their family system may be explored
and a more comprehensive healing sought.
Family trauma and loss, poor parenting, poverty, addictions, child abuse and
neglect may impact the ability of a parent to bond to their child. This
may result in a child growing up without the warmth of relationship and healthy
boundaries a child needs to feel secure. As the child becomes a teen, the
adolescent may seek relational warmth in their peer group. The teen may
then become vulnerable to seduction and this may lead to pregnancy. Once
pregnant, the teen may be fearful to connect with their parents due to lack of
close relationship with the parents.
Sadly, parents may have desired to support their pregnant teen; however, lack of
relationship with their teen may mean their teen aborts their grandchild.
The abortion then may grieve the teen and the grandparents of the aborted child.
Siblings may also be affected as they lose a niece or nephew. The
boyfriend’s parents also lose a grandchild.
Post abortion grief may show itself in the mother and surrounding family with
gradual increase in intensity as the years go by. Initially there may be a
sense of relief. How painful though to later discover one has aborted the
only child one was able to conceive. Others may find they have a decreased
ability to bond to previously born or later born children. The cycle of
relational disconnection comes full circle as a new generation seeks emotionally
warm relationships in their peer group and become vulnerable to seduction and
teen pregnancy.
So, healing the pain of abortion may involve far more than just focusing on the
event of the abortion. Healing may also involve work on a relationally
disconnected family system. At Caringhope Counselling, a
comprehensive group treatment program is available. Work is done using a
thirty session format involving personal homework and group interaction.