Documenting and Supporting Medical Abortion

This week’s guests come straight from The Abortion Project, where they support and advocate for all pregnancy outcomes. Sarah and Heather are Full Spectrum Doulas, trained to support people before, during and after their abortions. They offer respectful communication, education on all options, emotional support, help with physical comfort measures, and discretion.

Website: https://www.theabortionproject.com/ , to support their project be sure to explore and purchase their beautiful merchandise.

Instagram account: @theabortionproject

In every episode of this podcast I read a blog post I’ve written and we follow up with a conversation about the topic at hand and what it means for women and their ability to thrive after abortion. Happy listening and as always feel free to send me your reflections and questions.

This week's guests come straight from The Abortion Project, where they support and advocate for all pregnancy outcomes. Sarah and Heather are Full Spectrum Doulas, trained to support people before, during and after their abortions. They offer respectful communication, education on all options, emotional support, help with physical comfort measures, and discretion.

Show notes: 

• 2:02
  Introduction to The Abortion Project- what it includes and how it originated

• 4:04
  What is a Full Spectrum Doula?

• 7:24
  Working in a partnership

• 9:52
  What does Abortion Project Support looks and feel like

• 11:28
  Heather’s personal experience

• 17:27
  The start of a medical abortion

• 20:16
  The different experiences of medical abortion

• 20:53
  The Abortion Project Vision

• 23:33
  The abortion care project

• 28:48
  Closing thoughts and access to the amazing project merchandise
  

The post:

This post usually gets published at 6am on Monday morning. I got the audio out about 30 minutes ago, and it’s now 8:20pm.

I just went three years back into my photos. Three years ago I had my abortion. Today I’m grateful that I documented some of the journey in the week it all happened.

There’s a pressure and a fullness in my heart. I can feel the tears just behind my eyes ready to escape, but I’m not sure I’m ready to let them. Not tonight…

Parking Lot Cries

One of many meltdowns in the OBGYN parking lot. This is where I distinctly remember learning that 60% of women who have abortions are already moms, which meant that even though I felt ALL alone, I wasn’t… “Where was everyone hiding?”

1 in 100

When you realize you are now in the less than 1 in 100 category of the birth control charts.

Waiting

So much waiting… SCARED and waiting… Looking around the room wondering how 1 in 4 women go through this and so few ever really talk about it.

LOVE

The scene at home- LOVE and CHAOS.

Snuggles

His love held me. My children were my light in the darkness.

Proof of the Immaculate IUD removal

We thought the xray might show us an IUD popped through the uterine wall, but it was gone. Left without a trace so that I could feeling the feelings, do the work, and be here now.

Medical Abortion

Headed home to face the strange and unknown reality of women’s health options. I had my prescription sent into a big box pharmacy so my small town neighbors wouldn’t know. In the thick of it, I couldn’t face anything, but what had to be done to get through.

I'll pray for her...

I’m grateful my girls know my story. I’m proud of the choices I’ve made for them. I hope my courage breaks down some of silent barriers that hold women back,

An altar

I’m not much for ceremony, but I felt called to gather some things before I climbed into bed: inspirational reading, medicinal tea, aromatherapy, mala beads, crystals, light… and his picture… I wasn’t sure what would happen to us next, but I knew every step of the way that we were in this together.

Heat for the body and soul

That electric heating pad walked me through many a menstrual cramp as a teen, little did I know it would support me through the hardest day of my reproductive life.

Dreams

ll this for a dream. The vision of a life beyond babies. As the snow fell outside the world was quiet ; just me and my dreams- we’re still finding our way.

My body doesn't like big pharma

The headache was real. The magnetics in my sleep mask helped.

Happy

Happy looks a lot like exhausted after an abortion, but I was indeed, despite it all, happy.

And life went on...

One bright color at a time.

My family baked me a cake

I cried… that and a million other things I cried about in the following months…

I filled the shoes

2.5 years later I filled the shoes and spoke on stage about my abortion to about 500 women. Soon after I recorded episode one of this podcast. I share that speech in episode 5.

My someday tattoo

Someone told me once that I’d never be naked if I got a tattoo, and it stuck. But if I ever did ink up, this is the sketch that came out after my abortion. This womb has held 5 stars, the love of a Pisces and a Cancer…

The jeans kept fitting

My gratitude for a non-pregnant body had never been so high.

The shame that lingers...

I’m still embarrassed that these words came from my hand. That’s probably the shame that’s keeping me stuck here living paycheck to paycheck. I don’t know it these words will ever come to fruition, but I’m grateful for everything we have, especially the fact that we didn’t have one more mouth to feed.

One penny at a time

It struck me to watch him counting coins on the bed that week. Little did he know I was on a mission. Truth be told… I didn’t even realize I was on the mission as it all played out.

And then one day I got dressed

As if nothing happened… but not…

And we kept going

Life kept going for our family of five.

I even screen-shotted text threads… Hard to read but I’m so glad I have them.

These are in no particular order and between me and many different people whom I love and cherish.

2 Negatives...

It all started with a late period, a freak out, and 2 negative tests… then shit got really real.

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If you are one of the 1 in 4 women who have had an abortion in your lifetime,
and you are not thriving the way you desire: