Photo by damira
I've heard of pregnant women hiring doulas to help them get through labor and delivery, but today is the first I've heard of a doula supporting a woman through an abortion. But the Doula Project is doing just that: "Supporting people across the spectrum of pregnancy."
The Doula Project is just beginning—currently it's comprised of 20 volunteer doulas who work in a hospital in New York City. Abortion doulas help explain the procedure to patients, and provide them with emotional and physical support before and after the procedure. The project plans to expand within New York City, has an affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia, and will provide doula training kits to those who are interested.
"To me, it seemed like a very intuitive idea," Lauren Mitchell, who co-founded the Project, tells Bust magazine. "Why aren't there doulas for abortions? It's usually an uncomfortable procedure, it can be emotional, it encompasses a huge range—life, sex, death. It's intense."
For more information on abortion doulas, visit the Doula Project. You can also read about some of the volunteers' experiences at The Doula Movement: Making the Radical a Reality by Trusting Pregnant Women and Thoughts From an Abortion Doula.
Do you think it's a comfort for a woman to have a doula support her through an abortion?
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Comments 12
I guess I thought that doulas are supposed to support and encourage women as they nurture new life. To me, this discredits doulas and what they do. JMHO.
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Im with gr8teful on this one
I think it is a great idea.
While I am adamently pro-life I am fully aware that there are instances where an abortion is the answer to a medical emergency. I think that what these woman could do in those instances would be incredible for the woman in need. I think that they should offer doulas for the loss of a child, rather then JUST abortion because sometimes mommies who miscarry or spontaneously abort could use the support as well, and that position (doula) should be all inclusive to those in need. Not exclusive.
Even though I do not support abortion (per say) I do think that those who get one (whether voluntarily or through medical necessity) would benefit, tremendously.
ethans_momma06 they do offer the doula services for miscarriages, fetal anomaly, etc. - they're there for any pregnant woman who is having or losing a child (not just abortion).
I'm with ethansmomma on this one... regardless of how I feel about the decision to abort, it would probably be benificial to women to have this option. I also agree that this would be wonderful for other kinds of pregnancy losses- I had a miscarriage by myself at home. I knew it was going to happen but my doctor gave me no real idea of what it would be like. Having someone to walk me through the experience or to offer support would have made a big difference emotionally to me. I think that doctors often fail to give emotional/practical support to women who lose babies... this would be one way to fill that gap.
Thanks cafeSuzanne for the update- I started typing before you updated.
Like I said, I wish this had been available to me when I miscarried. I could have used some emotional support, and some reassurance that I was not bleeding to death, I was not being irrevocably damaged, and this is what is supposed to happen.
I think it could be beneficial for those that are needing to terminate for a medical emergency. I know a girl who was 24 weeks with baby #2 and had to terminate to avoid a potential death due to medical complications.. she was devastated.
This is fantastic!