Abortion doulas provide care before, during, and after an abortion, with support varying by patient and their informational, emotional, physical, and practical needs.

Work

Abortion doulas provide "nonjudgemental"[1] emotional, physical, informational, and logistical support and care before, during, and after a medical or surgical abortion.[2][3][4][5] Many abortion doulas see their role is to help clients to make informed decisions through their support for reproductive autonomy. A challenge clients often face when accessing abortion doula care is lack of funds, resulting in abortion doulas working pro bono.[6]

Doulas work in a variety of situations, including being clinic-based, in community collectives and as solo practitioners.[7][6] They may support the person emotionally and physically as they navigate a line of protesters, talk with them about the choice they've made, hold the person's hand or help with finding funding, navigating restrictions, accessing childcare, coordinating travel, and scheduling meal deliveries.[7][8][2][3][6]

Like other doulas, the abortion doula is concerned solely with the patient rather than having other concerns typical for the medical personnel present for an event.[9][4][10] Unlike other types of doulas, an abortion doula may interact with a patient only during the patient's abortion and may never interact with that patient again.[9]

Studies show that women overwhelmingly recommend abortion doula support even though there is no measurable effect on pain or satisfaction. Support from a doula is shown to reduce the need for an additional member of the clinic's staff with physicians and staff generally feeling that the presence of a doula improves a patient's experience.[11] The improved patient experience can include improved mental and physical health and respect for reproductive autonomy through affirmation as moral decision-makers.[6]

Training and licensure

Training varies and may include understanding barriers to health care, societal views of abortion, typical patient needs.[8][12]

In the United States, as of 2022 there are no certifications specifically for abortion doulas that are administered nationally or through individual states.[7][8] Because of this, there is no accurate estimate of numbers.[8] In 2019, Bustle estimated there were approximately 30 abortion doula collectives throughout the country.[4]

The work of an abortion doula was developed through the women's health movement in the 1980s where midwifery communities are doula began providing support for childbirth.[13] According to Bustle, the first abortion doula collective was formed in New York City in 2007, as a response to how the culture viewed abortion.[4][14] Abortion doulas often view their work through a reproductive justice lens that utilizes an intersectional approach.[13]

United States

Restrictive abortion policies in the US exacerbates abortion stigma by patients, providers and doulas. This results in abortion doulas having to decide when and how to disclosure or hide their work.[6]

In the United States following the landmark decision, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, doulas expect to be contacted more frequently about abortion support as access becomes more limited. They are taking precautions to retain online anonymity to better protect patients and themselves and navigating threat of legal action.[15]

COVID-19

Pre-COVID-19, abortion doulas were typically allowed to remain with the patient through the procedure, but during the pandemic safety concerns meant at some clinics the abortion doula could not accompany the patient.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Markham-Cantor, Alice (2019-12-09). "Why Abortion Doulas Matter, Even When We're Just Showing Up". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  2. 1 2 MacQueen, Augusta (2017-06-01). "I'm an Abortion Doula—Here's What I Do and See During a Typical Shift". Self. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  3. 1 2 3 Onyenacho, Tracey (27 May 2021). "Abortion doulas help people navigate the process. They say their work was more crucial than ever in the pandemic". The Lily. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Campoamor, Danielle (22 May 2019). "Abortion AMA: What Is An Abortion Doula?". Bustle. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  5. ↑ Tebben, Susan (15 June 2022). "Cincinnati Abortion Doulas Will Continue Care, With or Without Roe v. Wade". Cincinnati CityBeat. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Lindsey, Alyssa; Narasimhan, Subasri; Sayyad, Ayeesha; Turner, Daria; Mosley, Elizabeth A. (2023). ""I can be pro-abortion and pro-birth": Opportunities and challenges for full spectrum care among doulas in Georgia". Frontiers in Global Women's Health. 4. doi:10.3389/fgwh.2023.966208. ISSN 2673-5059. PMC 10014539. PMID 36937040.
  7. 1 2 3 "Abortion Doulas Prepare for Increased Criminalization". nextcity.org. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Iati, Marissa (11 May 2022). "Abortion doulas brace for increasingly fraught work if Roe falls". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  9. 1 2 Hesse, Monica (2017-11-28). "The long five minutes: Abortion doulas bring comfort during a complicated time". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  10. ↑ Brewer, Kirstie (2018-10-14). "I've been an 'abortion doula' 2,000 times". BBC News. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  11. ↑ Chor, Julie; Lyman, Phoebe; Ruth, Jean; Patel, Ashlesha; Gilliam, Melissa (January 2018). "Integrating Doulas Into First-Trimester Abortion Care: Physician, Clinic Staff, and Doula Experiences". Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. 63 (1): 53–57. doi:10.1111/jmwh.12676. PMID 29369513. S2CID 25984931 – via Wiley.
  12. ↑ Morin, Roc (2014-03-26). "On Being an Abortion Doula". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  13. 1 2 Briggs, Laura; Ginsburg, Faye; Gutiérrez, Elena R.; Petchesky, Rosalind; Rapp, Rayna; Smith, Andrea; Takeshita, Chikako (2013). "Roundtable: Reproductive Technologies and Reproductive Justice". Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies. 34 (3): 102–125. doi:10.5250/fronjwomestud.34.3.0102. ISSN 0160-9009. JSTOR 10.5250/fronjwomestud.34.3.0102. S2CID 142594235.
  14. ↑ Basmajian, Alyssa (2014). "Abortion Doulas: Changing the Narrative". Anthropology Now. 6 (2): 44–51. doi:10.1080/19492901.2014.11728432. ISSN 1942-8200. JSTOR 10.5816/anthropologynow.6.2.0044. S2CID 80163473.
  15. ↑ "Abortion Doulas Prepare for Increased Criminalization". nextcity.org. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
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