'Whatever comes next, there are people who are out here doing the work and will continue to do the work'
Photo-Illustration: The Cut. Photo: Hispanolistic/Getty Images In May, Texas governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 8, a law that effectively bans abortions at six weeks of pregnancy — as in, before most people know that they are pregnant — once “cardiac activity” is detected in an ultrasound. This law also allows private citizens to sue any individuals who conduct, induce, or support an abortion, levying a minimum $10,000 fine for violating the law.
When bills like Senate Bill 8 come out and Texan officials call it a “Heartbeat Bill,” they are sensationalizing and relying on people not having comprehensive sex education. People hear “Heartbeat Bill” and think, Oh my gosh, this is a baby. We’re killing babies. Yet if you knew that six weeks is only two weeks past your missed period, then you know that’s really not even a heartbeat because a heart hasn’t even formed. Those are cells pulsating.
There are a lot of people, typically white or influential or who have the funds, who will be able to get an abortion one way or another. If they can’t get it in Texas, they’ll just go to another state and do it. However, not everybody can take off work or has the money to travel that far to get an abortion. That’s also why it’s important for me to be out here being Black and fighting for the Black, brown, and queer communities.
If you’re taking abortion pills, I will come to your house. I’ll inform you in a caring way — versus a cold way, as it may be done in a doctor’s office. I may say, “Your doctor should have explained all this, but here’s what you might experience. Let’s prepare for this.” If we know there’s going to be some bleeding, I’m going to help you prep, make sure you have some pads, have some tea ready, get you tucked in and maybe talk through things.
I do provide some virtual support, too. The pre-medication or pre-procedure, and maybe post-op, I can do virtually. But for me, doula support is also about care and connection. I want to physically be there and be able to support, depending on the person’s situation. Of course, whether I’m with a patient in person or not, according to the bill, support is support.
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