I don’t know what, exactly, I thought a book by an abortion doula would be like. I do know that I didn’t expect it to feel like an embrace. A call to action, absolutely, but also filled with tenderness. If that surprises you, as it surprised me, you probably don’t know enough about abortions or the people who have them.
Thanks so much for this. I just made a monthly donation to Access Reproductive Care Southeast in gratitude for the abortion I had in 1982 while a grad student at the U of Iowa--a choice that current students may soon be unable to make. I hope all who read this interview will do the same.
I was just talking with a friend about the term "pregnant people." Neither of us got it, we said.
Reading this interview, I got it, and sent him an email with the header: Okay, I'm teaching myself to say"pregnant people" and reserving "women" for adult women (the damn patriarchy got in my head again).
When Roe was overturned, I immediately set up a recurring donation to Northwest Abortion Access Fund, because I knew that people in Idaho and Montana were going to need help they wouldn't find in their states. My mom had two abortions before she had me, and I'm grateful for them, and for her knowing herself and my dad well enough to know that they weren't ready to have kids in their early 20s (when they were shiftless hippies on the Olympic Peninsula). Those procedures were the best choices for them, and, eventually, for me.
“The abortion care we dream of” resonates so much for me. I have worked in the policy and research side of abortion for the majority of my career and it always hits me how little people know about getting an abortion until they or someone they know seek to get one. I was interviewing people in Mississippi (pre-Dobbs) about getting abortions--people recruited at the clinic in Jackson--and not a few of them thought they’d be able to get one from their regular OB/GYN (WHICH THEY SHOULD!!). In my own life, I miscarried at 13 weeks and my dr couldn’t do the D&C because I was in my 2nd trimester and the hospital (not religious, and I believe is the largest maternity hospital in the DC area) would not allow it. I contrast that with a friend who a few years later found out that her fetus had anencephaly; her doctor literally was able to walk her across the street to the hospital to perform the abortion as soon as she and her husband decided to terminate. That’s absolutely the kind of care everyone deserves everywhere.
Thank you. This is the piece that made me subscribe to you after weeks of reading, share it with several friends and one daughter, and find the right abortion fund and set up a monthly donation. Because I live in Idaho, I know I need to step up. I'm ordering the book from the library. I look forward to getting to know this community!
I finished Hannah's book last month and increased my donation to the National Network of Abortion Funds. She writes so emotionally and powerfully about community and healing. Can't wait to see what she does next!
Thank you for this. Just set up my recurring donation to the local abortion fund in my area. Needed the reminder/kick in the pants/nudge to it because I've been meaning to do exactly this. Thanks again and I am requesting this book at my library!
I just put the book on hold at the library and upped my (modest) monthly abortion fund donation by a little bit. I’m in Virginia and it seems like every state south of us is passing new terrible laws all the time - I know it’ll mean more people coming here for care. Thank you both!
Thank you. I just set up my recurring donation to the abortion fund in my area. Abortion is very hard to get here in Indiana, despite the courts blocking new laws. I cannot imagine how stressful it is to be pregnant and not have options.
love this! one thing though: ""Mifepristone (aka, medication abortion)" is not quite right--most medication abortion in the US is performed with both mifepristone and misoprostol, and with the mifepristone ban moving through the courts it's really important that people understand that even if it is banned (and acknowledge this as a dehumanizing attack on basic health care!), misoprostol-only regimens will still be widely available where abortion is legal.
Thanks so much for this. I just made a monthly donation to Access Reproductive Care Southeast in gratitude for the abortion I had in 1982 while a grad student at the U of Iowa--a choice that current students may soon be unable to make. I hope all who read this interview will do the same.
I was just talking with a friend about the term "pregnant people." Neither of us got it, we said.
Reading this interview, I got it, and sent him an email with the header: Okay, I'm teaching myself to say"pregnant people" and reserving "women" for adult women (the damn patriarchy got in my head again).
When Roe was overturned, I immediately set up a recurring donation to Northwest Abortion Access Fund, because I knew that people in Idaho and Montana were going to need help they wouldn't find in their states. My mom had two abortions before she had me, and I'm grateful for them, and for her knowing herself and my dad well enough to know that they weren't ready to have kids in their early 20s (when they were shiftless hippies on the Olympic Peninsula). Those procedures were the best choices for them, and, eventually, for me.
“The abortion care we dream of” resonates so much for me. I have worked in the policy and research side of abortion for the majority of my career and it always hits me how little people know about getting an abortion until they or someone they know seek to get one. I was interviewing people in Mississippi (pre-Dobbs) about getting abortions--people recruited at the clinic in Jackson--and not a few of them thought they’d be able to get one from their regular OB/GYN (WHICH THEY SHOULD!!). In my own life, I miscarried at 13 weeks and my dr couldn’t do the D&C because I was in my 2nd trimester and the hospital (not religious, and I believe is the largest maternity hospital in the DC area) would not allow it. I contrast that with a friend who a few years later found out that her fetus had anencephaly; her doctor literally was able to walk her across the street to the hospital to perform the abortion as soon as she and her husband decided to terminate. That’s absolutely the kind of care everyone deserves everywhere.
Thank you. This is the piece that made me subscribe to you after weeks of reading, share it with several friends and one daughter, and find the right abortion fund and set up a monthly donation. Because I live in Idaho, I know I need to step up. I'm ordering the book from the library. I look forward to getting to know this community!
Love reproductive justice! Love abortion! Love this book! Love that you highlighted it with this interview! Thank you
I finished Hannah's book last month and increased my donation to the National Network of Abortion Funds. She writes so emotionally and powerfully about community and healing. Can't wait to see what she does next!
Thank you for this. Just set up my recurring donation to the local abortion fund in my area. Needed the reminder/kick in the pants/nudge to it because I've been meaning to do exactly this. Thanks again and I am requesting this book at my library!
I just put the book on hold at the library and upped my (modest) monthly abortion fund donation by a little bit. I’m in Virginia and it seems like every state south of us is passing new terrible laws all the time - I know it’ll mean more people coming here for care. Thank you both!
Requesting this book from my library asap!
Thank you. I just set up my recurring donation to the abortion fund in my area. Abortion is very hard to get here in Indiana, despite the courts blocking new laws. I cannot imagine how stressful it is to be pregnant and not have options.
I love this book so much and love this conversation so much!
love this! one thing though: ""Mifepristone (aka, medication abortion)" is not quite right--most medication abortion in the US is performed with both mifepristone and misoprostol, and with the mifepristone ban moving through the courts it's really important that people understand that even if it is banned (and acknowledge this as a dehumanizing attack on basic health care!), misoprostol-only regimens will still be widely available where abortion is legal.
Shout Your Abortion gets abortion pills into the hands of those that need them
And +1 to Jessica Valenti's abortion every day! It's excellent.