Jennifer Milbourn spent many years carrying the emotional weight of knowing that her biological mother had attempted to end her life before she was born. For a long time, she internalized that knowledge, seeing herself as unwanted and deeply different, and she kept that pain hidden well into adulthood.

Today, Milbourn speaks openly about her experience—not only to share her personal story, but also to bring attention to abortion survivors and to help others in similar situations recognize their value and begin healing.

In an interview with Live Action News, Milbourn explained that she always knew she had been adopted by her aunt, but she didn’t learn the full circumstances surrounding her birth until she was 19 years old. While home from college, she asked her adoptive mother to tell her something about herself that she had never known. The answer left her stunned.

Milbourn learned that in the late 1970s, her biological mother had confided in her sister that she was pregnant and intended to have an abortion. The sister tried to persuade her to reconsider and even offered to adopt the baby, but her efforts were unsuccessful.

According to the account, Milbourn’s biological mother later underwent an abortion procedure at an Illinois facility when she was approximately four months pregnant. Milbourn explained that the procedure used was vacuum aspiration. However, her head was larger than the provider anticipated—likely because her gestational age had been underestimated. As a result, the procedure could not be completed.

Medical staff reportedly told her birth mother that the pregnancy would likely end in miscarriage due to damage to the embryonic sac. Instead, the pregnancy continued without further complications, and Milbourn survived.

Learning this as a young adult was overwhelming. Milbourn recalled breaking down in tears and struggling for years with the belief that she had been unwanted. She described feeling conflicted—grateful for her survival while grappling with the reality that her biological mother had sought an abortion.

For a long time, Milbourn kept her feelings to herself and did not even share the full story with her husband. Eventually, she learned about Melissa Ohden, another abortion survivor and the founder of the Abortion Survivors Network. That discovery helped her realize she was not alone.

Through connecting with other survivors, Milbourn began to process her trauma. She has since said that she forgives her biological mother and now focuses on supporting others who share similar experiences. The Abortion Survivors Network has reportedly connected with hundreds of individuals, though advocates believe the true number of survivors is much higher.

Reliable data on abortion survivors remains limited. Only a small number of U.S. states track cases of babies born alive after abortion attempts, and reporting standards vary widely. Reviews of state and federal data over recent decades indicate that such cases do occur, though experts agree the documented numbers likely underrepresent reality due to inconsistent reporting.

Milbourn’s story has become part of a broader national discussion surrounding medical care for infants born alive following abortion procedures. Legislative efforts have been made to address this issue, though such proposals remain politically contested.

Through sharing her experience, Milbourn hopes to help others confront feelings of rejection, find healing, and understand that their lives hold meaning—regardless of how they began.