What It's Like to Be an Abortion Doula

The word "doula" comes from the Greek word, doulē, meaning a "woman who serves" or "a female helper," and the concept expands outside of the childbirth realm (and, of course, doulas are no longer all cis women). There are sex doulas, death doulas, bereavement doulas (who typically focus on the loss of a baby) and abortion doulas. A full-spectrum doula offers support in all areas of pregnancy, from preconception through all outcomes, whether that be parenting, adoption, miscarriage or abortion.

In a society that often seems to value the fetus or baby above the mother, a doula's focus is on the well-being of the adult.

What does an abortion doula do?

People have abortions for many different reasons: financial, medical or because they just don't want a baby. Regardless of the reasoning, or how easy the decision was, the abortion itself can be emotional. In its simplest terms, abortion doulas provide emotional support to people before, during and after their procedure.

"We show up at the clinic and change into our scrubs and then check the list of patients who are being seen that day. One by one, we pull them into a quiet room, called the Doula Room, and let them know about our services," said Steph Black, an abortion doula in training in Washington D.C. "Then, once the patient is ready and in the procedure room, we can begin offering support. We can stay during the procedure and we also wait for patients in the recovery room. Typically, we see anywhere from two to six patients in a shift."

In its simplest terms, abortion doulas provide emotional support to people before, during and after their procedure.

She explained in some clinics, abortion doulas also help patients navigate the system and fill out paperwork, though her collective only officially provides emotional support.

Black has found that in the clinic and in the world at large, people are often surprised to hear that abortion doulas exist. "I find a lot of folks are generally familiar with birth doula work in some capacity (which is also a much bigger role than just birthing—doulas help with postpartum support, lactation, wellness checks and more), so when they hear 'abortion,' they can be taken aback," Black said. She said she then explains that every pregnant person deserves emotional support regardless of their pregnancy outcome—abortion, miscarriage, birth, adoption and parenting. "This sometimes prompts people to open up to me about their pregnancy experiences, usually saying they wish they had a doula or midwife for their birth or abortion. I then tell them that's why they should get trained and get involved!"

Is there an official abortion doula certification?

Unlike other types of doulas, there is not a certification program required to do abortion-specific work. However, most doulas will start by volunteering in a clinic or Planned Parenthood, where they shadow more established doulas and receive hands-on training.

"There isn't one specific training or centralized organization that oversees abortion doulas, so every group is going to be different," Black said. She had a three-day training and completed two practice shifts before offering services on her own.

Misconceptions about abortion doulas

Abortion is a common medical procedure; according to the CDC, there were 619,591 reported abortions in 2018 (the most recent year from which there is public data). Some findings say 1 in 4 women will have an abortion, but even so, misinformation and stigma mar the procedure. Whether it's pro-life protestors surrounding clinics or doctors and healthcare works being harassed, anyone who comes close to abortion care faces intense pressure and criticism. At this point in her career, Black said, she is "the queen" of deleting comments and blocking people on her Instagram, who are generally misinformed or are "not coming from a place of interest or curiosity."

There are many misconceptions about the work she does, but the one that gets under her skin the most "is the idea that I somehow want every pregnant person to have an abortion or that I am in favor of mandatory abortion. As a queer and Jewish activist, being accused of eugenics is particularly hurtful, given that queer and Jewish people are historically victims of genocide and eugenics projects," Black said. "I do this work because I support all pregnant people and all pregnancy outcomes, no matter what they may be."

Black is also a pregnancy options counselor, helping patients work through what paths are best for them. Being an abortion doula is a natural connection to that. "I focus so strongly on abortion because it's the most stigmatized, hard to access, and an unfamiliar option for many," she explained.

She's proud to support patients wherever they might be emotionally, whether that's excited, relieved, sad or conflicted about their choice. "Everyone deserves holistic, compassionate and competent emotional support when having an abortion."

Abortion is a medical procedure that is currently illegal or restricted in some portions of the United States. For more information about the legality of abortion in your area, please consult a local healthcare provider.