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Pregnancy
After Rape
 I've
known many women whom are survivors of rape who have conceived a
child through their rape. I used to ask myself "how do they
cope? It's a daily reminder of their pain and trauma." What I
never realized was how strong these women were. There are very
few resources online or in brochures and books pertaining to the
woman who is raped and impregnated. More often those very women
aren't women at all, but children.
Not only is there significant trauma for the rape victim herself
but there will be an entire process for both the Mother and the
child to grieve through. The first thing every woman must tell
herself is that this child may have been conceived through the
act of violence, but it does not make the child responsible for
what has happened. When your child grows into a young adult he
or she may have questions and sometimes children will feel
unwanted or unloved.
It is important to show your
child that he or she was not a part of that ugliness. The
children born of this crime are also victims too.
"The adult pregnancy rate associated with rape is estimated to
be 4.7%. This information, in conjunction with estimates based
on the U.S. Census, suggest that there may be 32,101 annual
rape-related pregnancies among American women over the age of
18." -Center for Diseases Control Rape Fact Sheet 2/2000
You have choices
No matter what you decide to do after conceiving a child, you
should never feel judged or judge someone else for the choices
they are going to make. Whether you decide to keep your child,
put your child up for adoption or you decide to terminate the
pregnancy that is your choice. The best thing you can do is get
help from a local rape crisis center, therapy or counseling
center so that you can get all the time you need to make the
best decision. All children come through God with love. The
vessel that carries a child is a beautiful one. The man who
rapes a woman and impregnates her is just a man, he has no
right, no compassion, no feeling and no say in your decisions
whether he is a stranger, a partner or an acquaintance.
Below are a couple of the best resources I have found online
that will help guide you as a Mother or as someone who was
conceived through rape. Please keep an open mind when viewing
this sites as they may be triggering. They are empowering and
full of hope and light.
Pregnant By Rape Information
An extensive site dealing with understanding pregnancy after
rape.
Voices of Hope
a Forum for women who have conceived through rape
RAINN's Pregnancy After Rape Page
A
look at statistics, feelings you might have and more.
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