Pills by Post: Ashley’s Story

The package arrived the week before. Ashley had opened it straight away and instantly felt uneasy looking at the contents. 

The boxes of pills, instruction booklet and pregnancy test sat on the desk for over a week, untouched. 

One short phone call and then a package in the post a couple of days later was so quick and easy, so simple and straightforward. Sitting on her desk next to a box of paracetamol, the pills seemed almost benign, but Ashley couldn’t bring herself to take them. 

“I don’t know why I can’t take them.” 

Already Holding a Secret

Ashley had found out she was pregnant just under two weeks ago. She was afraid of telling her partner who she knew didn’t want children so had decided to have the abortion without telling him. It had all been so quick and simple. At least on the surface.   

But with the pills in front of her, the reality felt anything but simple. The weight of her situation pressed down heavily. 

That’s when Ashley called Life’s Helpline. 

A Chance to Pause and to Think

Speaking with the Life listener, she began to untangle the fears and uncertainties that were at the root of her panic. They talked about what it might mean to continue with her pregnancy, whether that would be choosing to parent or go down the route of adoption, and what it would mean if she were to go through with the abortion. With someone neutral, someone outside her immediate circle, Ashley could talk openly and freely about what was going on in her mind and in her heart. 

After their first conversation, Ashley asked for a call back the next day so she could have some space to work through all that she had spoken about with the listener. She knew she couldn’t keep this a secret; it had already started to weigh on her and she needed to think more carefully about everything else. 

The next day before her listener rang Ashley already knew she wanted to keep her baby.  

Finding Her Way Forward

With support from her listener, she planned that she would tell her sister and mother first, she was certain of their support, and then she would tell her partner. No matter his response, she was no longer afraid; she knew she could do this and knew she had support elsewhere if he chose to walk away. 

Ashley realised she had contacted the abortion provider out of fear and panic. Calling Life’s Helpline gave her the opportunity to really play out each path clearly and come to her own decision free from pressure, expectation and the ‘what ifs’ that had been circling her mind. 

“I thought I could just solve the problem quickly and act like it never happened.” Ashley admitted.  

But exploring the options showed her that she wouldn’t have lived easily with that secret, that her partner deserved to know, and that she has other support networks should he walk away from her and her pregnancy if she chose to continue.  

A New Beginning

Ashley contacted Life Helpline five weeks later with an ultrasound scan photo of her healthy 12-week baby, sharing that she and her partner were adjusting to the idea of becoming parents but were thrilled.  

“I cannot thank you enough. You gave me the space and time that saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life.” 

Life Gives a Woman Time and Space

Often women feel the pressure to decide quickly about an unexpected pregnancy. But time is important. Space is powerful. That’s what we offer. 

At Life, our skilled listeners and counsellors are trained to walk alongside women without leading them. We believe every woman deserves the chance to speak freely, explore every scenario, and truly hear herself. Without noise, without pressure, and without fear. 

To protect our client’s privacy we have used a stock image, changed her name and any identifying features.