Milla Jovovich Shares The Story of Her Emergency Abortion in Solidarity With the Women of Alabama

In the wake of the Alabama senate passing the nation’s cruelest, most restrictive abortion ban, celebrities and activists are speaking out on social media and sharing their personal stories of abortion.

Alabama’s bill would make it a felony for doctors to perform abortions at any stage, with no exemptions for rape and incest. The only allowed exemption is when the fetus endangers the life of the mother. The bill, which is headed to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk, joins Georgia’s recently signed abortion ban as part of a concerted effort to overturn Roe v. Wade.

In an emotional Instagram post, Milla Jovovich came forward about her own emergency abortion:

 

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I don’t like to get political and I try to only do it if a really have to and this is one of those times. If someone doesn’t want to continue reading, you have been warned. Our rights as women to obtain safe abortions by experienced doctors are again at stake. Last Tuesday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a draconian bill into law that outlaws all abortions after six weeks — before most women even realize they’re pregnant — including in cases of RAPE OR INCEST. This makes Georgia the sixth state to pass such a restrictive six-week abortion ban, joining Ohio, Mississippi, Kentucky, Iowa, and North Dakota. These laws haven’t been passed yet, but lawmakers in these states are trying. Abortion is hard enough for women on an emotional level without having to go through it in potentially unsafe and unsanitary conditions. I myself went through an emergency abortion 2 years ago. I was 4 1/2 months pregnant and shooting on location in Eastern Europe. I went into pre term labor and told that I had to be awake for the whole procedure. It was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever gone through. I still have nightmares about it. I was alone and helpless. When I think about the fact that women might have to face abortions in even worse conditions than I did because of new laws, my stomach turns. I spiraled into one of the worst depressions of my life and had to work extremely hard to find my way out. I took time off of my career. I isolated myself for months and had to keep a strong face for my two amazing kids. I started gardening, eating healthier and going to the gym everyday because I didn’t want to jump into taking anti depressants unless I had tried every other alternative. Thank God I was able to find my way out of that personal hell without turning to medication, but the memory of what I went through and what I lost will be with me till the day I die. Abortion is a nightmare at its best. No woman wants to go through that. But we have to fight to make sure our rights are preserved to obtain a safe one if we need to. I never wanted to speak about this experience. But I cannot remain silent when so much is at stake. #prochoice #prochoicegeneration

A post shared by Milla Jovovich (@millajovovich) on May 14, 2019 at 11:02am PDT

“I don’t like to get political and I try to only do it if a really have to and this is one of those times.”, Jovovich wrote. “I myself went through an emergency abortion 2 years ago. I was 4 1/2 months pregnant and shooting on location in Eastern Europe. I went into pre term labor and told that I had to be awake for the whole procedure. It was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever gone through.”

She continued, “When I think about the fact that women might have to face abortions in even worse conditions than I did because of new laws, my stomach turns … Abortion is a nightmare at its best. No woman wants to go through that. But we have to fight to make sure our rights are preserved to obtain a safe one if we need to. I never wanted to speak about this experience. But I cannot remain silent when so much is at stake.”

Jovovich’s story is one of countless stories of the trauma and pain of mid and late-term abortions. These types of abortions are not cavalier or based on whims—they are a devastating loss to the expecting mothers, made all the more difficult by the arduous process of attaining a safe and legal medical abortion.

While the GOP is content to villainize these women, the truth of their circumstances is far more horrific than most people know. Jezebel did an in-depth interview with a New York woman who underwent a 32-week abortion, and was forced to fly to Colorado and back for the sole purpose of getting a shot that would begin the abortion process.

Jovovich is brave to share her personal story, which will hopefully shed some light on the suffering of women who need medical abortions. Unfortunately, I doubt any of the men in power are listening. It never ceases to amaze me how these so-called “pro-life” advocates have so much compassion and empathy for a fetus and extend none of that to living, breathing women.

(via Huffington Post, image: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

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