VISION
We envision a world in which people of all identities and families of all forms have access to caring, compassionate, non-judgmental, evidence-based support and care in their decisions to become pregnant, to maintain a pregnancy with the intent to parent, to maintain a pregnancy with the intent of pursuing an adoption plan, or to have an abortion. We envision this same standard of care bei
ng delivered to folks experiencing any stage of pregnancy loss or barriers to pregnancy/family-creation. OUR WORK
We provide free, confidential, trauma-informed, sex/body-positive and community-based support in a variety of settings including but not limited to clinics, hospitals, and homes. We are focusing primarily on abortion doula* work in and out of clinics and hospitals at this time. We maintain a clinic partnership with Planned Parenthood and hope to partner with more local clinics and community organizations. For termination procedures, we provide transportation assistance on a case-by-case basis. We provide loss doula support for clients experiencing fetal demise or fetal anomaly. We recognize and value existing individuals, groups, and organizations that ground sexual health and/or birthwork in reproductive justice and we refer people as needed. For birth doula support, this is our current offering. We advocate for societal and cultural shifts around abortion stigma (especially within birthwork) and seek to end the silencing of people and communities regarding their bodies, genders, sexualities, experiences, and desires. We support people by listening to them, trusting them, encouraging them to trust themselves, and honoring their experiences. We continually seek on-going training, and skill-share opportunities for ourselves and our communities. We seek to keep these accessible as we’re concerned about the over-professionalized of birthwork.
*You may have heard this work referred to as “doula” work or this role referred to as “a doula”. While some of us identify as doulas, some of us do not, and we recognize that doula is a racially charged and gendered word. We wish to break down those barriers, questions and expand it’s meaning, and do not wish to be held to the constraints of the word. While it’s origin is not super clear, it’s typically said to come from the Ancient Greek word δούλη meaning “female slave” or “woman who serves”. That makes us feel complicated feelings. WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS / INTERESTED IN
Providing education, resources, and peer-based counseling for: birth control and sexual health, trying to conceive (including ART), pregnancy options, abortion, adoption, and childbirth education
In the future we will offer an information and referral hotline staffed by POSSE Members (Pregnancy Options Supporters and Educators)
