How many children does Sally Field have? Mrs. Doubtfire star reveals undergoing traumatic abortion in the 60s

Sally Field recently shared a deeply personal and painful memory of an illegal abortion she underwent in 1964, years before her acting career took off. The Mrs. Doubtfire and Forrest Gump star detailed the experience in a video posted to Instagram on Sunday, October 6, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming U.S. election to protect reproductive rights.

Sally Field, who previously opened up about the abortion in her 2018 memoir In Pieces, said she shared her story now to urge voters to support Kamala Harris for president.

Aside from her activism, Sally Field is a proud mother of three sons: Peter, Eli, and Sam. She shares Peter and Eli with her first husband, Steven Craig, and her youngest son, Sam, with her second husband, Alan Greisman. Field has spoken openly about her love for her children and their accomplishments. In a speech at the 2012 Human Rights Campaign annual national dinner, she said,

"The three things I am most proud of in my life are Peter, Eli and Sam. My sons."

Field's oldest son, Peter, born on November 10, 1969, is a successful author and screenwriter, having co-written the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick. Her second son, Eli, born in 1972 is a writer and director who worked on some films including Tucker & Dale vs Evil.

Field's youngest son, Sam, born in 1987, has a close bond with his mother and has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights alongside her.

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Sally Field recounts the "hideous" and "traumatic" abortion she underwent in 1964

In her Instagram post, Sally Field described the illegal abortion she had in 1964 as "hideous" and "traumatic." The actress was just 17 at the time, and the procedure took place in Tijuana, Mexico, before the legalization of abortion in the United States. Field's family doctor drove her to Tijuana and instructed her to walk into a building with an envelope of cash to pay for the procedure. She recounted,

"We parked on a really scroungy-looking street... it was scary and he parked about three blocks away and said, 'See that building down there?' And he gave me an envelope with cash and I was to walk into that building and give them the cash and then come right back to him."

The Oscar-winning actress described the procedure as "beyond hideous and life-altering." She had no anesthetic, just a few puffs of ether that a technician used inconsistently. During the procedure, she was also molested by the technician, an incident that added to her trauma.

"So it was just this absolute pit of shame," Sally Field shared. "And then, when it was finished, they said, 'Go go go go go!', like the building was on fire," she said.

Despite the painful experience, Sally Field emphasized that the procedure was a necessity.

"These are the things that women are going through now — when they're trying to get to another state, they don't have the money, they don't have the means, they don't know where they're going," she said, highlighting the importance of access to reproductive healthcare.

The latest public declarations of Sally Field are to support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the upcoming US election. She admitted in her Instagram post that she did not wish to share the story due to its sensitive nature but considering the current political situation.

"It was during a time even worse than now... but I feel that so many women of my generation went through similar, traumatic events," Field wrote. "It's one of the reasons why so many of us are supporting Kamala Harris and Tim Walz."

The actress stressed the importance of the upcoming election, particularly regarding ballot initiatives that could protect reproductive freedom.

"Everyone, please, pay attention to this election, up and down the ballot, in every state — especially those with ballot initiatives that could protect reproductive freedom. PLEASE. WE CAN'T GO BACK!!" she urged her followers.

She has endorsed Kamala Harris for president since Harris launched her campaign in August, following Joe Biden's decision to step down from the ticket. In an interview with Variety, Sally Field expressed her gratitude for Biden's service and voiced her support for Harris, saying,

"As a working woman, a mother and grandmother to a very diverse group, I support the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris with my whole 77-year-old heart."

Sally Field's activism continues to be driven by her own experiences and her desire to protect future generations. Her support for Harris and Walz is a testament to her belief in the importance of reproductive freedom and her determination to prevent others from enduring the same hardships she faced.