Doula Activism & PoliticsThis forum is for activism efforts, networking and discussing political and social issues, such as circumcision, that impact doulas and their work.
We are a wonderful group of diverse women, coming from different backgrounds, different perspectives, and have different opinions on many subjects. However, being in the birth field there is often that pink elephant in the room that no one talks about. It creates much debate, and invokes such passion from everyone that we often prefer not to discuss it. Abortion. The word alone can conjure horrible images, strong feelings, and raw emotion. This is an anonymous poll to see where we as doulas stand on this issue. Feel free to state your feelings, your experience...whatever you want to share about or surrounding this issue. Let's keep whatever you choose to post within the community guidelines, and respect opinions different than your own. Feel free to not post at all, if that works for you too.
So where do you fall on the abortion issue?
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Last edited by earthgirl; 09-09-2008 at 09:19 PM.
Reason: add cg link
This Member Says "Thanks!" to earthgirl For This Post:
I am pro-choice. It's in my nature to take every argument to its most absurd conclusion, and I feel that when the government has the right tell me that I cannot choose to terminate a pregnancy, it has the right to tell me that I must conceive a certain number of children, or I may only have so many children, or I must terminate a pregnancy that is deemed undesirable.
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Karen, CD(DONA)
Married to my sweet-cheeks
Mom to Im and Zee and baby Charlie
These 2 Members Say "Thanks!" to DoulaKaren For This Post:
I used to be staunch pro-life. But now I think that while I am not happy about abortion and would never have one for myself and I do not agree with them at all, in any way shape of form I have to say if we want any kind of choice when it comes to womens health issues I have to go with pro choice. Even though I cringe when I say those words.
This Member Says "Thanks!" to doula Michele For This Post:
I used to wonder how anyone could be in the position for the thought to even cross their mind to abort. But that when I was young, and having put myself in the position of being a single mom I understood for a second. I knew then that I could never live with myself if I had done anything but keep my baby. However, I would also never presume to judge someone else for making a different decision. It's just not who I am.
I am very much pro-choice. I don't think I would ever make that choice, and it is not a choice I agree with in most cases, but I feel that a woman should have the right to choose.
I once knew a woman who had very high risk pregnancies. All her babies were premature and her doctors said that would happen again in any other pregnancy. She asked to have her tubes tied and they refused (that one really baffled me) and she couldn't afford another doctor to do it. She decided to get an IUD and at the appointment to get it, they discovered she was pregnant. So, although it was the hardest choice she ever had to make, she chose to terminate the pregnancy and not risk her life (and leave her children without a mother) and have another premature baby. She managed to find a doctor to give her the tubal ligation who would give her a payment plan to pay for it.
This Member Says "Thanks!" to Nicole E For This Post:
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B'earth Angel the absentee doula "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."
this will be an issue highly influenced by the upcoming election...curious to see what happens and also apprehensive.
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Barbara Steppe LPN CD
Certified Birthing From Within Mentor & Advisor
"Our state of health and happiness depends more upon our perception of life events around us than upon the events themselves." - Christiane Northrup, MD
I have to say:Why do I have to choose? Why does Pro-Choice have to be thought of as " anti-life"?
I had to make this decision when I was in college- it was the hardest choice I ever made in my life- and I miscarried in the waiting room of the clinic on the morning of my procedure. If I had a do-over- I might choose differently. This is a decision that needs to be between a woman, her partner, their doctor and their God. It is NOT something that belongs in the legislature.
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Char Haas, CD (DONA)
1000 Praises: Doulas for Birth and Beyond.
It was something I heard in class that struck me as profound:"It takes a thousand praises to birth a baby"
Mom to Neill (10) and puppy Rocket (2)
Married to wascally Wabbit- 14 years, and still going strong.
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Well my thoughts have changed over the years. At one time I was very Pro-choice, no question. Then when I had an unplanned pregnancy and started spotting I went in for an U/S. I wasn't even 6 weeks yet, but we could see our baby moving and it's heart beating away. It was at that moment that my thoughts were changed. In my eyes it was no longer about me and my body but instead about this baby and his or her life. When having sex, conception is always a possibility and should be considered. The baby conceived had no choice in the matter. The way an abortion is done brings tears to my eyes. If you don't want to keep your baby there is also adoption. I've had the chance to look through books of couples looking to adopt and those books are huge! Beyond description. Those people would give anything for your baby if you decide you can't keep it. My cousin and her husband is one of those couples, desperately wanting a baby after years of infertility and being a cancer survivor, now with no chance of being able to conceive.
On that note, I do realize not everyone has my views. Even though I can't understand why someone would abort, I don't think abortions should be illegal. I don't think less of those who do make that choice.
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Melissa, LSW, CLD(CBI)
proud mama to:
Ava (7), Cole (6), Emerson (3)
and newest member:
Rayner Phillip born at home (9/24/09)
Last edited by Ohio Doula; 09-10-2008 at 03:20 PM.
Reason: omitting a line
These 6 Members Say "Thanks!" to Ohio Doula For This Post:
Prolife, no exceptions. I am not opposed, however, to bringing the pregnancy to an early end when the baby is viable and there is a serious medical need. That way both mom and baby have a chance.
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These 3 Members Say "Thanks!" to DiscoDoula For This Post:
I fall between:
Pro-Choice. We should never lose our right to choose.
and
I am pro-life, but respect anothers' right to choose.
Personally I am pro-life with a few exceptions (rape, incenct, life threatening conditions etc) but on the other hand I don't think we can trust the government to decided when we can or can't have an abortion. Once we let the goverment take our choices away it is starts the ball rolling of them taking away all our rights.
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Birth & Postpartum Doula Childbirth Educator
Natural Family Consultant and Student Midwife!
Mama to DSD Yule(7yr) DS Loch (4yrs) and Asher (1yr) UBAC!
and Zee 
and baby Charlie
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at this time 
Mama to DSD Yule(7yr) DS Loch (4yrs) and 
