As an abortion doula, I sit with people as they undergo abortion procedures, and I offer them emotional support — sometimes that means holding someone’s hand, making light conversation to ease tension, or simply being a calm presence when everything feels overwhelming. What I’ve learned is that there is often very little space in healthcare for kindness and compassion, especially in reproductive health. Abortion is quite stigmatized, and the emotional side of care is often overlooked. But I’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference it makes when someone feels cared for and not alone.
I contribute by providing presence, empathy, and support in moments when people are at their most vulnerable. I’m not the provider performing the procedure, which is the essence of my role — I am the only person in the procedure space who is not there to do anything medical to the patient. I am simply there to provide care and support, and a hand to hold.
I am inspired by the history and roots of the reproductive justice movement, and by my goal to ultimately become an OBGYN, so that I can provide reproductive healthcare grounded in the principles I've learned from being a doula.
The problem I want to address is the lack of compassionate care in reproductive healthcare. Too often, abortion is treated as purely a medical procedure, stripped of its emotional and social dimensions. I want to help break the silence and stigma, and to show that small gestures of empathy can transform a frightening experience into one where someone feels safe, respected, and supported.
What I get from being a doula is perspective. It reminds me daily why I care so deeply about healthcare. It’s a privilege to be trusted in those moments of vulnerability, and it keeps me grounded in why I want to keep working in this field, to help build systems of care that are not only effective, but humane.
I contribute by providing presence, empathy, and support in moments when people are at their most vulnerable. I’m not the provider performing the procedure, which is the essence of my role — I am the only person in the procedure space who is not there to do anything medical to the patient. I am simply there to provide care and support, and a hand to hold.
I am inspired by the history and roots of the reproductive justice movement, and by my goal to ultimately become an OBGYN, so that I can provide reproductive healthcare grounded in the principles I've learned from being a doula.
The problem I want to address is the lack of compassionate care in reproductive healthcare. Too often, abortion is treated as purely a medical procedure, stripped of its emotional and social dimensions. I want to help break the silence and stigma, and to show that small gestures of empathy can transform a frightening experience into one where someone feels safe, respected, and supported.
What I get from being a doula is perspective. It reminds me daily why I care so deeply about healthcare. It’s a privilege to be trusted in those moments of vulnerability, and it keeps me grounded in why I want to keep working in this field, to help build systems of care that are not only effective, but humane.