A Post-Roe Lens

Written By Natalie Eckhardt

As a full-spectrum doula, it’s my job to provide non-judgmental support throughout life’s various reproductive transitions. It is to help clients feel seen, heard and valued as a whole human being while navigating an often complex — and at times terrifying — journey. My job is not to sway them in any direction or lead them to believe there is a “right” or “wrong” way through. It’s to help them find their own way and feel empowered to make the decisions that work best for them. 

Following last week’s Supreme Court ruling, I will admit that I have been feeling absolutely devastated. Crushed at the impact this has on the future of reproductive healthcare in America. Those journeys, whether we’re talking fertility, pregnancy, birth, abortion, loss…are so profoundly personal and incredibly nuanced. To see it so often boiled down to black-and-white, wrong or right is something I’m working tirelessly to change. 

Shortly after the draft opinion was leaked, I took my family to a Bans Off Our Bodies march. As we were getting in the car to leave a woman pulled up next to me to explain how wrong all of us had it. Specifically she was appalled anybody would be advocating for late-term abortions. Before I could respond a line of cars piled up behind her, forcing her to continue driving. I wish so badly we could have continued that conversation. Not because I wanted to scream back, invalidate her feelings, or even try to force her into feeling the way I do. What I would have said is that while I can respect where she is coming from, I demand that same respect back when expressing what leads me to feel differently. 

With that, I will be sharing a series of first-hand stories that have stuck with me. Abortion stories that are not often told, yet experienced by millions. Stories that shine a much-needed light on how incredibly complex, deeply personal — and at times flat out dangerous —  reproductive journeys can be. Stories that help explain what pushes me to march…”Stop Legislating Medical Decisions” sign in tow.

In the words of a recent NY Times article:


"So much of what we hear about abortion comes from people who would have us think that abortion stories conform to tidy, black-and-white narratives — that they are either uniformly uncomplicated experiences or overwhelmingly regretful ones.

But abortion stories aren’t tidy. Because people’s lives aren’t tidy.

With America entering a new era, in which so many more abortion decisions will be made for people by the state, it feels critical to allow space for the messy complexities of abortion. Because while these stories don’t always fit into the narratives of those who would argue that abortion is either good or bad, what they do illustrate, at this crucial juncture, is the challenge of making laws to govern such a deeply personal experience."

Story links below, content warnings ahead. I ask that you share these stories. Give them light. Give them love. These are the people I support and their stories deserve to be heard.

Natalie Eckhardt
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