Actress ​​Milana Vayntrub Opens Up About Her Abortion

Milana Vayntrub had an abortion 10 years ago—and she's not ashamed.

This week, the actress wrote an op-ed for The Daily Beast detailing her experience with labor, her previous abortion and her desire for the Senate to pass the upcoming Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA).

Vayntrub's son was "sunny-side up," as she put it, pressing against her spine in a delivery that left her with such intense pain, she felt like her back was breaking with every contraction. In the end, she said, the experience was worth the agony—but only because of her circumstance.

"Birth was bearable because I had chosen it," Vayntrub said. "I could only manage the nausea, pain and expenses (financial and emotional) of pregnancy because I wanted a child. Now that I've experienced a full-term pregnancy and given birth, I find myself thinking about how imprisoning it would be to go through this if I didn't choose it."

Ten years ago, Vayntrub found herself in that exact situation: pregnant and not in a position to carry a baby to term.

"I immediately knew the right thing to do was to have an abortion. There was no hand-wringing, no confusion, no sleepless nights, " Vayntrub said. "My compass pointed very clearly in the direction of not bringing a child into the world that I did not want and could not care for."

Within two weeks, Vayntrub had a quick surgical abortion. "My abortion story is uncomplicated and straightforward, based on a decision that was all my own. I understand this is a privilege. I also understand that access to abortion should never be a privilege—it should be a protected right."

Having children is not easy, Vayntrub acknowledged. "I know the toll of sleepless nights and a torn body, the necessity of support, the pause it puts on your career, relationships and goals," she said. "I cannot fathom the cruelty of enduring all this plus a lifetime of child-rearing if you do not want it."

Vayntrub's op-ed comes ahead of the Senate's vote on WHPA, an act that would "protect a healthcare provider's ability to provide abortion services," according to the official document. As such, Vayntrub urged the public to contact their senators. "We need to get their attention every way we know how—email, letters, calls, protests and, of course, that one precious vote we each have," she emphasized.

Vayntrub is grateful for her son and the choice she had in her own family planning. "For so many reasons, I am grateful for the beautifully boring abortion I had and the essential health care I received," she said. "Mainly because today, I can show up for my little person with open arms, knowing I've chosen our life together."

These views and opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Giddy or any members of its staff.