Doulas in Corner Brook trained to support women who have abortions

Women's centres in western Newfoundland will soon be offering aservice for women who decide to terminate a pregnancy.

The Corner Brook Status ofWomen Council says doulashave been trained to offer support before, during and after an abortion procedure.

Adoula, sometimes called a birth coach,is usually associated with helping women during labour and postpartumbut the women's council says the role can be broader.

"We hope that people really understand that this is about providing support when often there is none. We don't believe this is an easy decision for anyone to make," said executive director Paula Sheppard Thibeau.

Services not available in region

Sheppard Thibeausaid with no abortion services offered in the city, the process of terminating a pregnancy can be extra isolating and stressful for women there who make that decision.

"Abortion often has a lot of stigma associated with it," she told the Corner Brook Morning Show.

Sheppard Thibeausaid most Corner Brook women who decide to go ahead with an abortion have to travel to St. John's, She said access to the drugMifegymisoalso known as the abortion pillis still quite difficult.

• OPINION |Equal access to abortion means Mifegymiso's cost must be covered in all provinces

The council is still figuring out the logistics of how to properly offer abortion support services in the region, but several doulaswere trained in the fall by Atlantic Abortion Support Services in Halifax.

'Silent supporter'

In the training, they'relearning about the kinds of support that women may require, how doulascan leave their own personal experiences and biases at the door and techniques they can use to be what's called a "silent supporter."

This is about providing support when often there is none.-Paula SheppardThibeau

"Having to [get an abortion] by yourself and not feeling like you have anyone to trust, to talk to, can be very isolating and lonely," Sheppard Thibeau said.

"The reasons for choosing to terminate a pregnancy are quite varied but there always seems to be some component of trauma. We would just like people to understand that it's important everyone has someone that they can turn to."

Sheppard Thibeau says the Status of Women Council wants to determine which physicians and pharmacies are on board before officially layingout a plan.

"We want to try and get a clear picture of the landscape on the west coast before we roll this out," she said,