Recovery After an abortion: Soulful practices that heal
Abortions and pregnancy losses can be a mixture of difficult choices, hard realities, and overwhelming feelings, all along with the hormones and experiences of a body that has become pregnant. Perhaps there is relief and even clarity, or grief. Every situation is so unique, and has so many layers. Due to the great amount of stigma and shame around these topics many can feel isolated, lonely, and helpless in their experience. This doesn’t have to be you.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, 25% of women will have an abortion by the end of their childbearing years. And according to the CDC, 6 in 10 women who have abortions are already mothers, and half of them have two or more children, according to 2019 data. 1/4 of people who have abortions have already had one before. There are many reasons why someone might not want to carry a child to full-term whether it be career related, financial, or partnership-related.
Processing the Pregnancy loss through creativity:
Even if your abortion or pregnancy loss was months or years ago perhaps you still need some support to process, unpack, and reflect. Taking time to access creativity through movement, singing, music, painting, pottery, or any other form of art that speaks to you and allows you to express your experience is tremendously valuable. Painting, either with brushes or finger-painting with menstrual blood as I went through my own pregnancy releases was a beautiful way for me to get out of my head and connect with my body’s process of shedding. Creating space for however you need to express yourself vital to your wellbeing surrounding such delicate times.
rEcognizing the value of ritual transformation
Receiving support and encouragement to explore the depths and range of emotions that come with this kind of experience can help transform your life in tremendous ways. Rituals with blood, saliva, the pregnancy cells (If you have access to them), or incorporating other parts of the DNA can also be a very visceral way to process the loss. When I terminated my 2nd pregnancy, my partner and I buried the pregnancy specimen under his mother’s magnolia tree. It was a beautiful way to honor that which had lived inside of me. I also held a ritual with my friends where they bestowed gifts and offered gems of wisdom and anecdotes. I received loving touch, we shared in our experiences of grief and loss, and we sang together. It was powerful and transformative.
Rituals of Self Care
Small, simple acts of self-care, especially when done consistently over time can greatly benefit the healing process. I practiced abyangha oil massage and dry brushed myself every night for a month after my 2nd pregnancy release. The bristles of the dry brush stimulated my circulation as did the self-massage. The warmth of the oil brought heat back into my system, and left my skin feeling so smooth. I often anointed myself with essential oils, too which was a lovely touch.
If you are recovering from an abortion or pregnancy loss:
you absolutely DESERVE TO BE NURTURED THROUGH A PERIOD OF POSTPARTUM HEALING
Just AS IF YOU UNDERWENT A FULL-TERM BIRTH.
According to the book 7 Times a Woman by Lia Andrews which incorporated Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches to nourishing the body during the body’s transitions including menarche, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause, Lia Andrews expresses that any body that has become pregnancy deserves a period of postpartum healing. To me, it makes sense. Any body that is pregnant and then is no longer is certain to be going through changes, and support will make that process a lot less lonely.
YOU ARE WISE, BRAVE, AND STRONG.
Imago Rituals offers 1-2 sliding scale spots/month for pregnancy loss/abortion clients. Please reach out if finances are a concern.
