Dealing With Your Abortion Post-Roe When You Live in a Red State

Once again, America has found a way to trample on our rights.

In June 2022, the Supreme Court officially overturned Roe V. Wade, ending the right to safe, legal abortions.

Growing up in an ultra-conservative place, the overturning of Roe was something that we hoped for, prayed for, and marched to happen.

Now, older and a bit wiser, I understand that what I once believed was right is wrong. The overturning of Roe v. Wade means the “right to privacy” is now a decision of the state. For a lot of us, this means that many of the rights we fought so hard for are going to be stripped away, the right to have access to safe abortions being one of them. It’s already happened in Indiana and it’s going to happen in many more states.

Now that Roe v. Wade has been overthrown, I know that I somehow must do my part to help people who are scared and don’t know what to do next. While it won’t absolve the sins of my past, I hope that it can in some way offer hope to every person with a uterus who is wondering, What next?

Below are a few things to think about as you deal with our new post-Roe reality.

Be Wary of Natural Abortion Remedies

We all know that just because there isn’t a way to have a safe abortion doesn’t mean abortions stop. On Twitter, I have already seen many people share natural remedies to end an early unwanted pregnancy. While I am all for natural herbs and medicines, please always be safe if you intend to do anything like that. Do your research now to make sure you know what you’re doing won’t harm your body in the long run. Also, be wary that any natural remedy shared online is not necessarily accurate and may not actually end the pregnancy.

Be Careful Who You Tell and What Apps You Use

If you live in a red state and you get pregnant and are unsure if you want to proceed with the pregnancy, hold that close to your chest. If you’ve grown up around conservatives as I did, you know how much people love to gossip in the name of “helping”. Tell as few people as possible if you decide to abort and speak only in encrypted apps, such as WhatsApp, Wire, and Telegram. Avoid social sites like Facebook, which is already turning over private messages to help states pursue criminal charges against those who have had an abortion.

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When signing up for an app, website, or service, create a brand new email account that no one can backtrack to you. We are talking about your safety and possibly avoiding jail time, so with every step you take, make sure you are extremely careful.

This also applies to anyone who is assisting someone else obtain an abortion. If you are helping others get access to abortions after it’s criminalized, I cannot stress this enough: be careful. What you will be doing will be potentially illegal. Not only can the person you’re helping get in trouble, but so can you.

Prepare For the Future Now

Another thing you can do is stock up on Plan B. Buy as much as you can, as often as you can before the new rule comes into effect. Remember, Plan B has a weight limit and you must be 165 lbs and under for it to be effective. So if you are over the weight limit, try to get a hold of EllaOne instead. Your best bet is to check out the Planned Parenthood app (which encrypts your data) or a telehealth service like Nurx and purchase as much as you can since pharmacies may soon experience a shortage. Buy online and see if you can find any discreet places that will ship to you.

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Last Words

Let’s be honest, this bill is a big hit for poor and disabled people. Those with money will always have some sort of access to safe abortions, and marginalized people don’t need something on their record that may stop them from being able to support themselves in the future. So be careful.