In 2010 I worked at an abortion clinic. I took the job because I wanted to help women. Also, because I knew that having an abortion is one of the hardest things a woman would do.
Personally, I have never had an abortion. I have never had a reason to get one. Even when I found out I was pregnant at 17 with my firstborn. I wanted my baby, so I kept my baby. That was my choice.
However, girls and women make the choice of abortion because that is what is right for them. While working in the abortion clinic, I saw that most women were scared, that they weren’t sure if they were making the right decision, although the decision to have an abortion was the one they were making.
There are so many reasons why a woman decides to have an abortion and I saw a lot of those reasons firsthand.
1. Unable to financially afford their child
2. Already have children they are taking care of
3. rape
4. incest
5. too young
6. too old
7. health issues
8. fetus would not have quality of life, etc.
Roe V. Wade being overturned takes away a woman’s right to choose what’s best for her. No one is in another person’s shoes, so no one should judge the decision someone else makes. It is not our job to be judgmental, it is our job to be kind, understanding, and care about humanity as a whole.
While working at the abortion clinic I was supporting the patients through the process. I assisted the doctor in the procedures, and I was in recovery giving instructions for post-care. When they cried, I was a shoulder, when they ask “will I be able to have children in the future?” I told them they would be able to. When they just needed to explain why they had to make this choice, I just listened unbiasedly. When they needed a hug, I gave one, when they needed a hand to hold, I held theirs.
I saw firsthand how hard it was for them, and I did everything in my power to make it just a bit easier.
Women deserve to have the option of safe abortions. No matter your views, abortion care is healthcare, and it is so needed, for so many reasons, the ones I’ve mentioned and the ones I did not.
As a doula and the owner of Love and Light Doula Agency, my goal now is to support women through abortion. Like I have done in the past, I will be doing it again. No one should go through this alone, and women in states where abortion is illegal I will be there for you. I am just a phone call away. There is support out there. Please don’t feel like you are alone. You’re not!
Contact Planned Parenthood, they will be able to guide you, and let you know what states you can travel to. There are support groups on Facebook where people are willing to assist women in states where abortion is banned.
I know that this is a scary time, but we will get through this… TOGETHER! CHIN UP!
