“A saline abortion can only done after sixteen weeks of pregnancy when there is enough fluid in the amniotic sac surrounding the baby. A needle is inserted into the mother’s uterus to withdraw as much amniotic fluid as possible; the fluid is replaced with a toxic saline solution.”


The author, Melissa Ohden, is a survivor of abortion. Her college-aged mother’s pregnancy ended in abortion; however, the baby, Melissa, lived. In this book, she talks about growing up in her adopted family and how traumatized she was when she found out that she had been aborted. Throughout the book, I could tell that she was constantly trying to find a reason why her mom did this so she could forgive and move away from the pain. I can’t begin to fathom how it must have hurt to live with the feelings she did: so much of her own self worth seemed to hinge on this feeling of being unwanted and at the the same time, she felt guilt because she lived when other babies didn’t.

The facts Melissa gives about how this kind of abortion is performed, horrifies me. I can only imagine an unborn baby, who has just begun breathing amniotic fluid, having it replaced with salt solution that will burn the baby’s lungs and skin eventually causing the heart to stop. Other abortion methods are mentioned—all equally alarming.

Not only do the survivors often suffer life long disabilities, but the people who make the decision to abort their child often never get over what they have done. I hope this book is read by as many people as possible.

A 4* review for You Carried Me: A Daughter's Memoir by Melissa Ohden.

Melissa is the survivor of a failed abortion and founder of the Abortion Survivors Network and an advocate for families impacted by abortion, and this is her beautifully written story.

Melissa Ohden is fourteen when she learns she is the survivor of a botched saline infusion abortion in America in 1977. This book is an intimate memoir where she details her search for her biological parents, and her own journey from anger and shame to faith and empowerment. Her Christian faith is a constant thread throughout the book, but at times it became a bit preachy I felt. However, I can appreciate this belief in Jesus Christ and accepting God's will for what it was and being able to forgive people like her Grandmother for being human, even if you could not understand their choices, was what made her go on through the darkest days in her life. The book is very moving but also shocking, but more so because many of the procedures referred to are real and Melissa's pure emotion, outrage and sense of injustice shine throughout the book and awakened in me a new understanding of how attempted or complete abortions can affect families for generations to come.

Melissa's story is a very difficult read at times (but how much more difficult must it have been to learn about it at the age of 14?) and I was truly gladdened by how she managed to eventually find happiness in spite of her unorthodox entry into the world. I was pleased that she was able to locate her birth parents, but even that came with sadness amidst the joy, but the day she finally meets her birth mother and hears her side of their story was a wonderful conclusion of the story for me.
This intensely personal story of love and redemption illumines the powerful bond between mother and child that can overcome all odds.

I don't often read biographies, but chose this one because it sounded so interesting. Indeed it was. The writing style might not always be according to everyone's taste, but Mrs Ohden's story is one that needs to be told.

Abortion is clearly one of the great taboos of our day: survivors who share their story should not be attacked and despised in the way Melissa has been.
Sadly, this will always happen as long as stories like hers prick the collective conscience. Especially when that involves highlighting the actions of the popular: such as the advert Melissa took part in making which revealed how Senator Barack Obama voted 'to deny basic constitutional rights to babies born alive after failed abortions' four times.

Yet her story also cannot fail to incite compassion, rather that judgement. Often, this whole subject is reduced to a simple matter of 'choice' by people on both sides of the ideological divide. In fact, many women and young girls are coerced or pressurized by those more powerful than them, including parents, or 'deceived' into thinking that 'the price of their happiness is the life of their child'. These women are also victims.
It makes you think that abortion is not simply an act of violence: it is the ultimate abuse of power over the powerless. Both women and their unborn children.

Above all, this is the story of a survivor, who not only survived, but learned to forgive, overcome and find what she most wanted in the end. It carries many important lessons to impart to the rest of us. Recommended.

Published in the UK by Monarch/Lion Hudson, from whom I requested the PDF on Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive one and all opinions expressed are my own.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read You Carried Me by Melissa Ohden in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Heartbreaking, tough subject, may change your opinion of abortion. It will make you think a lot.
This book is not for everyone due to the nature of the story and its subject.
It takes you through the life journey of Melissa Oden- from her childhood, her finding out she is an abortion survivor to her life now.
It involves her childhood, meeting her biological family, changing of her faiths, how she survived the abortion. learning about the background of how abortions are done (being honest this part is not nice at all-I'm not sure if it was all needed in the book)
I cannot say that I enjoyed it as I found some parts quite difficult to read. But it was certainly an interesting read. It shows how strong a person Melissa truly is.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC .

I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to read this heart aching memoir. A very honest memoir written by the survivor of an unsuccessful abortion, Thank you for sharing your story and providing the opportunity to discuss this very personal, difficult subject.

*thank you to Netgalley, Melissa Ohden and Monarch Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


3 stars.

Such a heartfelt true story. This isn't my typical type of book that I read but I found it to be quite good nonetheless. It's a very fast read so I got through it in one sitting. But don't confuse that with it being an easy read because that, it is not. It is also a book that is quite heavy on religion so that's something to keep in mind if it's not exactly your cup of tea. I didn't mind it, I could take it or leave it and it didn't change my rating of this. I really like the cover for this too. That is what first grabbed my attention.

You Carried Me

When I read the blurb for this book, I knew I just had to read it.

Melissa Ohden is fourteen when she learns that she is the product of a botched abortion. You Carried Me is a unique and powerful memoir that will capture your heart from the very beginning. It’s an emotional, heartfelt and intimate look at Melissa’s attempt to try and understand her life’s journey. Four rock solid stars from purplebookstand.