Global Women's Voices: Share Personal Stories

Sani, Nepal

Submitted by:

I got married when I was 17 years old. Since I was not fully aware of sex education I had my first daughter just after a year of my marriage. When my daughter was just 6 months I got pregnant again but I was not in a position to bear the responsibility of the second child so I discussed the matter with my husband.

Though abortion was not legal that time I did it because I was worried about my first child. My family did not like it but anyhow they kept quiet. When my daughter became 2 years old they started telling me that I need a son to give continuity to the family. Though I did not want more than one child I got pregnant again. This time I thought everything is going to be all right but may be I was too young to bear the twins I miscarried them during my seventh month.

This made my family members so unhappy because they were waiting to welcome their grandsons. In the mean time I was suffering from thyroid problem and the doctor has advised me to take medicines for that. The doctor had also advised me not to be pregnant at least for another two or three years but the pressure from the family was so intense that I got pregnant again.

When I got pregnant I started feeling short of breathing and I thought it was due to the medicine I stopped taking medicine but I miscarried my third pregnancy also. I am really sad that I am putting myself in the risk in the name of giving continuity to the family name. I am pregnant again and the embryo now is 15 weeks old and I am under total rest right now. I wish I would have a son this time so that I don’t have to go through the pain again.”

The real name has not been used to protect privacy.

updated: 7/2/2004