After my first child was born in 2011, I was unable to afford birth control. My husband was working three jobs, and I stayed home with our baby because we also couldn’t afford childcare. I had $25 a week for groceries, including any household products, and we did not qualify for any government benefits because we “made too much money.” For over a year, my husband and I chose abstinence rather than risking an unplanned pregnancy. It was a huge strain on our relationship, and we almost lost our marriage. We finally were able to move from Virginia to New York, and I was able to qualify for Medicaid. I was able to have access to birth control, and my two children could still have their father in the home with us.