About Bump+
In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court gave women a choice. Thirty-seven years later, we're giving them a voice. BUMP+ is a provocative web series from Yellow Line Studio that follows the fictional stories of three women facing unintended pregnancies.
Watch the episodes. Share your story. Join the conversation.
Emily's Blog
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Blog
Katie, Hailey, and Denise have been through so much—so much heartbreak. Each journey has been difficult and painful. They’ve made their decisions; and in that sense, each journey is at an end. But now they have to figure out how to live with the choices they’ve made.
I worry for Katie and John. I [...]
New Features
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Bump+ The Conversation Continues
To Our Audience -
Bump+ The Show has come to an end – but the conversation it has sparked is just beginning.
When we launched this experiment, the only thing we knew for sure was that the time for a new kind of conversation about the sensitive topic of abortion had come. We hoped that story [...] -
No Voting
The creators of Bump+ would like to address several errant media reports. Headlines around the world have said Bump+ trivializes the issue of abortion. Fox News has suggested that Bump+ is an “abortion game show.” It is not. We take the stories of our characters and the choices that lie ahead of [...]
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Lauri Deason – Producer
Lauri responds to the question of creating television shows.
To Our Audience -
Bump+ The Show has come to an end – but the conversation it has sparked is just beginning.
As word about Bump+ spread to 64 countries across the globe, controversy and criticism from people on both sides of the debate followed; but instead of listening to them, you found the courage to listen to each other. Six weeks and more than 125,000 site visits later, your responses not only to our characters, but also to each other has proved to the world what we suspected all along – we were right to trust in the goodness and intelligence of our audience. We are intensely humbled by the stories you’ve shared and the respect you have shown to each other. Your partnership has challenged us to see this debate in new ways, and reminded the world that we don’t have to agree to listen and respond with compassion. Thank you for that gift.
Comments on individual episodes have now been closed in order to preserve what was The Bump Experience as it unfolded. A new comment thread has been opened here to keep the conversation going. Please visit this link to share your story and join the conversation.
I really like the even, sensitive, mature tone of these responses. I think this non-violent conversation is vital to our sense well being as a society. I also applaud the young women who have had abortions for responding without malice to the people who question their choice.
Just posting my story here since I think this is where it was supposed to go. Sorry if I posted it in the wrong place originally.
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I was raped as a child of eleven and conceived. I aborted for both mental and physical health reasons.
The abortion was probably the best thing that came from the entire situation. Some say, “aborting the baby won’t make the rape go away.” It doesn’t and that wasn’t the point of having the abortion. My body was mine, period. I did not want the rapist’s child there, period. All physical remnants had to go. I was able to have a somewhat normal childhood after that, though I did have problems saying “no” to sexual advances because I was afraid of getting raped again. (I said “no” and my rapist beat the snot out me then proceeded with his crime)
When I was 15 I entered a relationship with a 29 year old man. He coerced sex from me and when I became pregnant, he never spoke to me again. Like an idiot, though, I protected him and did not give my parents his name. I quickly aborted.
I am glad I had both abortions. In no way, shape, or form did I want to nurture the offspring of those scourges of humanity. Every second I was pregnant was another second of torture I had to endure. For some women, a pregnancy resulting from rape is a chance to make something beautiful out of something ugly. For me, it made something ugly completely untenable.
Thank you for sharing your story. There should be no shame or stigma for having an abortion. It was the right decision for you, and it is isn’t anybody else’s business to judge you.
Thanks, Mel.
Chris,
I would first like to say I am so sorry to hear that you were raped, especially at such a young age. Did he ever get caught and punished? I am also sorry to hear that this rapist put you in a position where you either had to endure nine months of pregnancy or allow someone to kill your own child. What I don’t understand is how you feel being “glad you had both abortions” justifies killing another living human being as you seem to propose. Could you please explain your logic?
I believe the real question that needs to be asked is “what is the unborn?” If they are just part of your body and not their own person then please forgive me for ever questioning your decision. However, if they are a separate living human being, as science tell us they are (biologically alive and genetically different), then how do your feelings make the act okay. Surely you wouldn’t claim that the rapist’s act of rape is okay if he was “glad” he did it.
Please understand I am not trying to judge you. I am sure you did what you have been told and felt at the time was the right decision. I am questioning a legal system and societal value system that believes that an act, such as abortion, should be left up to an individual to decide if it is right or wrong.
Aaron,
The thing about explaining how I feel is that no matter how I explain it, it’s not going to make sense to just. Just like when people used to try to convince me I should have been forced to gestate my rapist’s baby, their reasoning always sounded asinine. But, I will try.
Of course, as a young child and teen, I had no concept of the abortion debate and the sophisticated philosophical reasonings behind each side. As I mention before I saw it as, my body is mine. I had no say in who got to use my body when I was raped, but I got my say when I removed the remnants of his attack. When I was fifteen, I have a little more understanding, but basically I felt the same way…my body is mine. No person, fetus, embryo, whatever is going to use *my body* for its survival if I don’t want it to.
Is it a separate human being? Separate as in, its relationship is not parasitic? If that’s what you mean by separate…no, its not. Do you mean separate as in, it has different DNA than me? If it has different DNA from mine…why does that mean I have to house it within my body if I don’t want it there? Because its DNA is that of a human? How does that mean it has the “right” to do what no other human has…which is to forcibly use the bodily fluids and/or organs of another person to ensure its survival? Now, if you can find a legal case where another human can do that…I can understand how you’d question the value system. As far as I can tell, cases like Shimp v. McFall covered the issue.
I hoped that helped but I’m almost certain it didn’t
What’s your next question?
“…make sense to just…” should have been “…make sense to you…”
And yes, he was brought to justice. Thanks for your concern.
Also, when you show up for an abortion, do you have to bring your birth certificate or can you lie about your age? My son had to provide his birth certificate in order to play on his little league all-star baseball team. It seems that the abortion clinic should require birth certificates and paternity tests for under age girls so the men can be brought to justice. I’m guessing, under the guise of ‘privacy’, they don’t.
The clinics are under obligation to check, especially if there are parental consent laws. A parent has to be present with the girl and yes, you have to have either ID or a birth certificate. The girl has to cooperate though, by giving names and such. I was in a parental consent state, so there was no getting around the ID checks…but I never thought to try to get around them.
Did the rapist go to jail? When you showed up at an abortion clinic at age 11, did anyone ask you how this happened? What about when you showed up pregnant at 15? Surely someone knew about your relationship with the 29 year old. That is illegal as well, concensual or not. I am not interested in what your parents knew, but what the doctors knew. Who took you to the clinic? Who paid for the abortions? You went through some serious hell. Did anyone get to the bottom of this and go after the criminals who impregnated you? Did anyone at the abortion clinic report this situation to the authorities? You poor child! One problem with ‘quick and easy’ abortions is that sicko pervert criminals are not held accountable for their actions.
Kris,
The rapist from when I was 11 did get justice served to him. I got support from my family and yes, the doctors knew what happened and I spoke with counselors for what seemed like forever.
People did know of my relationship with the older man (so-called friends) but my parents did not. They tried to find out but I wouldn’t tell them because I was afraid. I did not tell the doctors how old the man who got me pregnant was. I was ashamed because he left me high and dry. My mom ended up taking me, paying for it and everything. I do regret not telling my mom or the doctor the truth because it is possible he tried to take advantage of some other girl and I don’t know if I could forgive myself if I ever found out that happened. THAT’S what I regret, not being strong enough to stand up to him and speak out.
Thing is, abortion doesn’t let the criminal get away. If I had told the clinic what happened, they would have gotten a DNA sample from the embryo to use as evidence that it was he that impregnated me. I could have gave birth and still kept my mouth shut about his identity.
The thing is, you were 15 and pregnant. It was almost a certainty that you were a victim of statuatory rape. The clinic knew your age. Why didn’t they get to the bottom of who the guy was. Why was your case not referred to the police? It really should not have hinged at all on what you were willing to divulge. A good investigator could have easily found out about the 29 yr. old man, even if your parents couldn’t (which I find very hard to believe). I’m not saying you are lying, but just that your parents were unbelievably MIA (missing in action). Still, the state is there to protect you and bringing the perp to justice should have been out of your hands. Why did the abortion clinic let this slide? Is this standard practice in abortion clinics?
Believe it or not, there’s not much the authorities can do if the girl doesn’t name the guy. If she gives a name, then the clinic/hospital/police *will* take it out of the minor’s hands, but the minor cannot be forced to give a name. And, without a name, there’s no way to prove stat rape.
ChrisC,
Really? If someone steals something from my garage, I report the crime and in no way is it my responsibility to ‘name the perp’. That is the job of the police. I find it very hard to believe that is the way we protect children in this country from statutory rape. Its shameful, actually. Any underage child showing up at an abortion clinic should have their case investigated and the slimeballs cought. That seems reasonable, doesn’t it?
Dear ChrisCfromtheD,
I feel so honored to read the conversation you are participating in here. Thank you so much for your openness and willingness to share your story. I think your story is very powerful for people to hear in so many ways. I worked with child victims of rape for many years. It always astounded me that so much depends on the girl speaking up. I believe this is a grave deficiency in our justice system.
To be honest, I think abortion clinics should be required to take a DNA sample from every embryo from a woman under age 18, and then make a report. Young girls who have been sexually penetrated already have too much to deal with. The burden of disclosure should not be on them. Thank you again for sharing your story, which shows that the burden IS on them. God Bless–you are in my prayers!
@ Kris,
Why do you think this only happens at abortion clinics? Do you think the cops are knocking at every 15 y/o’s delivery room, demanding that she give the name and age of the father? Don’t you think that’s just a little stressful? What should the cops do, lock us in a room until we talk? How are they going to get the perp with no information? Should stat rape be more of a concern, most definitely, but I’m not sure how you think the cops are supposed to go about it outside of badgering the victim. The cops still need information and leads and if no one is willing to give up the information, there’s not much they can do. We need to get more girls to feel less shame in speaking up.
@ Sister Mary Agnes
Thank you for your words and for understanding what I was trying to convey. I think what you suggest is good, but it would require either consent of the girl or a law would have to be passed…and I think that law should be extended to births as well, not just abortions.
Chris,
Yes, abortion clinics and delivery rooms. In fact, when a 15 year old shows up at any doctors office pregnant I think there had better be an investigation. It would be nice to know what laws are on the books now, and if they are enforced. Someone needs to be protecting people like you who are preyed upon by older men. Strict enforcement of statutory rape laws would absolutely be a deterrant. Surely someone in your life besides you knew about this 29 year old man? Investigators solve much more difficult problems every day. I just worry that doctors aren’t reporting things they are already legally obligated to report and/or law enforcement is treating this problem lightly. Of course, this show is not about sexual predators, fortunately.
Two wrongs don’t make a right. Being ‘Pro choice’ is a misnomer. [EDIT]
If your concerned about what the outcome is, then being pro-choice would be, not to have sex. Or at least unprotected sex. Since you’ve already made one bad decision, you shouldn’t make another one.
Abortion mills were started by Margaret Sanger and they were done in her own words to rid the world of inferior people. Is that what you are doing?
Have you ever talked to someone who survived being aborted? Gianna Jessin survived being aborted and is a living messenger of what abortion really is. Dr Bernard Nathanson, the infamous abortionist who operated the largest abortion mill in the world [EDIT] has now become a pro-life spokesman and a Christian. What made him change? It was, as his book is named, The Hand of God, and courageous Christians in front of his abortion clinic.
Due to the death of my father and the devastating effect it had on my mother, I was essentially on my own from age 13 when it came to emotional support and guidance.
When I was 20 and became pregnant, my boyfriend at the time was just one of the many poor decisions I had made over the following seven years. Had we had a child together, I would have been connected to him for the rest of my life.
Having an abortion was the best decision for me, and it allowed me to move forward with my life and grow up and mature and change my life. If I had been trapped in the life I had at 20 I would have never left that sad period of my life, I would never had a chance to become a different, more confident person and would have stayed connected to a bad boyfriend and his and my poor choice of friends.
My insurance didn’t have an appointment for an abortion for at least a month. Luckily my friend took me to Planned Parenthood and I was able to get it all over with much sooner.
No one wants to have an abortion, but bringing a child into the world out of guilt or moral obligation or thinking it will bring you love or keep your boyfriend around isn’t going to make this world a better place.
If you believe in Pro Life than I think you should spend less time harassing women outside of a clinic and more time helping the women that actually have children and are trying to raise them or educating kids about birth control and making sure they have the emotional support they need so they don’t turn to their peers for love and end up having sex with someone that doesn’t care about them.
There are tons of children in this world that need help, and I think focusing on them instead of judging women and making them feel guilty would help more and perhaps lead to less unplanned pregnancies.
Amanda,
I am so sorry to hear about your father’s early death and the toll it took on you and your family. I am also sorry it led to bad decisions in choosing a boyfriend and having sex with this boyfriend. What I don’t follow is your logic that abortion is okay and good because it was the best decision for you. A thief might also claim that his choice to steal from someone was the best choice for him, but was it also the best choice for his victim? Of course not! So I think the real question is what do you think was the best choice for your little boy or girl? Choices that are made solely on the basis of what is right for us, while harming others, sound a little selfish to me. Wouldn’t you agree?
I am also sorry to hear that you didn’t have any friends that would have supported you in your decision to give your son or daughter a shot at life. I have had three friends that I know of that had unplanned pregnancies out of wedlock. I did offer to help in any way I could and both ended up giving their children a chance at life. One ended up miscarrying, one child died shortly after birth due to genetic defects, and the other is now a happy toddler with a loving mom and dad. I am not aware of any other friends that had unplanned pregnancies (although I am sure there were) but my response would have been the same. I have also volunteered at a crisis pregnancy center that provides women with counseling, training, and financial assistance during their pregnancies. I am sorry if you were harassed outside of an abortion clinic and no one has really been there to show you the love and support we all so desperately need and want. Please forgive us Pro-Lifers who haven’t done enough to show love for the mothers too. But I don’t see how a Pro-Lifers response or lack of response to an unplanned pregnancy justifies abortion. Please explain.
Please understand that I am not trying to sit in judgment on you. You see I once loved a young woman who had had two previous abortions. In the end she sabotaged our relationship because she didn’t feel like she was worthy of being loved or shown any sort of kindness. It was very sad. She did eventually go to counseling (www.rachelsvineyard.org) and received God’s forgiveness. Now she is happily married. Maybe now you can understand my heart and motives better.
Did you ever consider adoption? If not, why not? Did anyone at the abortion clinic offer adoption counseling as an option? Did anyone at Planned Parenthood offer support if you decided to choose adoption or keeping the baby? Just wondering how it all worked.
As a pro-life person, my main goal is not at all to make people feel guilty for the decision they made. In fact I do not judge them at all. At my core, I want abortion to be illegal. No woman, in the face of a difficult situation, should be led, or allowed to do something that they will feel guilty about for the rest of their lives. I do not judge these women. I think most of them regret what they did. There are many people out there willing and able to help with an unplanned pregnancy. There are many, many people adopting children from all over the world because abortion is so easy here and there are not enough women willing to have their baby and give it up for adoption.
It’s interesting how “pro-choice” rarely (if ever) includes the CHOICE of adoption.
I think that’s because the that groups that used to adopt out the most (teens) are choosing to raise their babies rather than give them up. It’s a far more acceptable to be a unmarried mother now than it was when adoption was in its height in the 1960s.
Sadly, I think unmarried motherhood is SO accepted, many see adoption as an IRRESPONSIBLE choice.
I do not agree. I think every choice is a viable choice.
When the time comes to vote for the women’s “choices,” will we have the option to make no decisions at all their behalf? Being pro-choice has nothing to do with recommending abortion or not. It has everything to do with providing accurate information, resources, and support, so women can make an informed decision for themselves. Anything less has nothing to do with “choice.”
As I have read the notes about this show, I do not see anything about ‘voting’ on anything. When we share our stories, and our reactions, we can shape the stories of these women. We can offer ways for the women to cope with their difficult situations. It is not a ‘thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down’ decision for these poor little babies. It is about helping women in realistic situations (I have known women in very similar situations as each of them) to work through to a choice that is beneficial to all involved. Certainly, that would include the tiny soul which has no voice.
The show features only young, white, middle-class women/couples, so it is not so realistic.
Also, the show presents a fallacy. Since reasonable people would never presume to tell a woman what she should or should not do with an unwanted pregnancy, these three women are ultimately rendered without a genuine voice.
The fictional stories may be compelling, and the writers will write whatever they write, but pro-choice advocates support whatever a women decides for herself. That is, I’m okay with whatever way the stories ultimately unfold. To keep it “realistic” however, at least one of them should opt for abortion, seeing as 1 in 3 American women have abortions.
One of the producers (?) made a very interesting video response addressing the race of the women.
The plot of this show is intriguing. I did fear it was a real reality show, but am relieved to know it’s just portrayed with that flavor. The interactive comments between episodes is a brilliant idea. In fact it gives all of us an opportunity to sharing our lives and insights, at least virtually, to influence someone close to these women (namely the Yellow Line team)!
They each seemed to be reaching out for support—whether in a present boyfriend, an abusive “landlord,” or even the doctor. If they don’t find enough support, they likely won’t feel they are able to continue the pregnancy.
Every pregnancy begins with a relationship. So long as that relationship is freely chosen (i.e., not an assault), then the two of them—but especially the young woman—have to be keenly aware that there is a fundamental link between sex and pregnancy (babies). I recently heard the comment that half of all pregnancies in the US are unplanned. Whatever number is correct, it’s because the link between sex and babies is being ignored. If people would save sex for someone they were willing to raise a baby with, wouldn’t they be more welcoming of pregnancy when it happens? And experience unplanned joy?
Can they be helped to salvage their relationships, or build new ones which will give them the support they crave?
Sr. M Agnes, You are right! If the conversation doesn’t begin with listening, then it’s not really a conversation, and there won’t be much real communication.
I enjoyed the show!! Its touched on a lot of issues women are facing today.
I am pro coice as well. And it is a decision that can deeply affect a woman that’s why at planned parenthood in inCA they make you listen to consulling before the procedure, and give women all the differerent choices available.as well as information pertaining to them.and no, I do not work for or have any affilliation with them. i’m just recalling what I went thru. I do not regret any of my decsisions. And good lord an abortion should not be such a horrible experience. i can not imagine what that the hell the woman in in 1st comment went thru. But it sounds like she should have definately picked a differrent drdoctor. i felt no pain with the revious abortions i’ve had. I’m not proud off them, but it is ,what it is. sincerely……….Let me share one more thing with you all. I do have 1 child and I love him with all my heart. But when i was in labor with him it was the most painful and horrifying 6 hrs of my life. having the choice of going thhru it again i would not thats why II only have 1 child. lol.The main thing I klike about this site is that it shows pregnancy is no light decision!!!!
Toni,
Why doesn’t California have a 24 waiting period after giving you the information and facts, or require a parental consent from minors, as is the case with wisdom tooth removal, which is obviously far less life altering and serious than the decision to have an abortion, and is undeniably just a part of a person’s body? I would like to hear your thoughts.