ALABAMA’S 2019 ABORTION LAW criminalizes providers only, not patients

• There is no criminal or civil liability for women who choose to have an abortion in violation of state law. If you do find yourself under scrutiny for a miscarriage of any type or an abortion then contact Reprolegaldefensefund.org.

• Alabama’s abortion law does not have an exception for rape or incest.

• Under strict circumstances, the law does have an exception for serious medical risk to the mother and nonviability of the fetus.

• This law does not prevent you from traveling to another state for abortion care.

• And please note that all forms of birth control are legal in Alabama.

• You can contact ReproLegalHelpline.org online or at 844-868-2812 for a free and confidential legal discussion of your specific situation. This document is constructed from readily available public sources but is not intended to substitute for official legal advice.

Legally you can talk to anyone about abortion or reproductive care locally or remotely.  You are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution.  Before you seek advice, it is appropriate for you to ask the source if they believe in your right to obtain full reproductive care including abortions.  There are many fake “crisis pregnancy and women’s clinics” and intentionally misleading online sites (including social media) that are an arm of the antiabortion movement.  You are the patient and the consumer; always ask questions.  You hold the power. Reproaction.org/campaign/badfaithmedicine  and Reproaction.org/fakeclinicdatabase can alert you to a “fake” clinic where you will not be provided accurate information or for a map see crisispregnancycentermap.com. Regarding reproductive healthcare, 25% of social media posts including those on YouTube are camouflaged antiabortion posts. An inclusive all-options (pregnancy, abortion, adoption) confidential talkline is toll-free at 1-888-493-0092 at All-Options.org.

ALABAMA’S 1852 ABORTION LAW criminalizes anyone who “aids or abets” abortion and ALABAMA’S “CHEMICAL ENDAGERMENT” LAW can been used against women.

• Because of this, you may want to limit your number of confidants since they may be legally exposed according to this very old Alabama law. All communication should be verbal; avoid the use of email and text that will necessarily remain available.  EFF.org is a source for security and privacy information. Protecting yourself digitally will not protect your contacts. Unfortunately, a large percentage of the time law enforcement is informed by family, personal contacts and medical personnel.

• You may consider using a more private search engine and browser such as DuckDuckGo.com that minimizes tracking and does not provide/sell your data to 3rd parties or law enforcement without a subpoena. You can also allow DuckDuckGo to protect against some app and email trackers.  Most digital platforms/sites you access will sell your data to other vendors so assume that your browsing/personal/health information is not confidential. AidAccess.org (see below) offers the best digital protection. Assume Google tracks you no matter what measures you take. Deleting your browsing history and using a temporary email account are easy measures.

• You may also consider using a burner phone line through BurnerApp.com or Hushed.com.

Gestational Age

Your gestational age is determined by counting the number of weeks since the first day of your last normal menstrual period (lmp).

• If you are unsure of your lmp, you may need an ultrasound to determine your gestational age.

• If you have an IUD in place, it is best to have it removed prior to or at the time of an abortion.

• If you have had a previous tubal ligation or ectopic pregnancy or any unusual pelvic pain then you should be seen in-person at an obgyn clinic in your area without delay prior to abortion to avoid possible life-threatening complications.

• If you have a complicated medical history including severe liver or kidney disease or a bleeding disorder, you should be seen in-person at the abortion clinic.

Prior to 12 weeks gestation, you have the option of a medication (pills) abortion or an operative/procedural abortion. The pills for the medication abortion must be obtained from an abortion provider outside of Alabama. The medications can be self-administered at home or taken in-person at a clinic in a state offering abortion services. Mahotline.org at 1-833-246-2632 (an 8 am to 11 pm hotline) can help you with this decision. There is no such thing as abortion pill reversal.

After 12 weeks gestation, you will require an outpatient operative/procedural abortion at a clinic in a state offering abortion services. It is NOT illegal for you to travel to another state for abortion care.

Abortion

PlanCPills.org is the place to start for abortion care if you will be 12 weeks or less gestation when you take the medication. The site will direct you to medication abortion sources and it has an excellent FAQ page. If after you visit PlanCPills you elect a self-managed (home) abortion prior to 12 weeks gestation, it is extremely important that you are educated from a reliable source on what that looks like at your specific gestational age and receive the correct dose of medication. The AidAccess.org option is highly recommended for the support they offer as well as obtaining the correct medication doses (financial assistance is available upon request) with the best digital privacy. If you must use the other option of an overseas provider of abortion pills listed at PlanCPills.org that does not offer in-depth counsel then it is very, very important to consult Mahotline.org at 1-833-246-2632 (an 8 am to 11 pm hotline) or abortionpillinfo.org before doing so. Laslibres@hotmail.com is the email address of the Mexico based underground supplier of abortion pills.  Also AidAccess.org offers advance purchase of abortion pills for future use. Reprocare.com offers compassionate, anonymous support for abortions at home, text/call/message on Signal app 1-833-226-7821.

Up to 12 weeks gestation, medication abortion pills are available at Morrisania Sexual Health Clinic in New York City free of charge. Please call the telemedicine hotline at (347-396-7959) for availability. NYC Sexual Health Clinics

Use the specific websites above for your abortion medications. There are many online scam pharmacies, websites, and emails that will take advantage of you. WomenOnWaves.org has detailed information on this if desired.

• Please note that medication abortion (pills) should be a regimen of first mifepristone then misoprostol. The more widely available misoprostol pills alone will modestly increase your risk of complications and should not be undertaken without adequate ongoing counsel and support.

• In the unusual event that your safety plan results in an ER visit, if you have administered the misoprostol medication in your cheek or under your tongue the pills will not be detectable in the vagina. Be aware that if emergency care is needed for a medication (pill) abortion it is exactly the same as the care for a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) so if you choose to withhold the pill information from the emergency department your care will not be compromised. If possible, it is wise to avoid visiting a hospital with any religious affiliation since they have dangerous gender discriminatory policies in place that can often compromise your care. If you do find yourself under scrutiny for a miscarriage of any type or an abortion then contact Reprolegaldefensefund.org.

• If you bleed very little or have one-sided pelvic pain or shoulder pain after completing the misoprostol tablets, you need to be evaluated by an obgyn immediately for a possible ectopic pregnancy.

AbortionFinder.org is a source for abortion information if the first day of your last menstrual cycle was greater than 12 weeks ago or you desire an operative abortion at any gestational age.  AbortionFinder will provide a map and pertinent specifics of operative/procedural abortion clinics outside of Alabama. It is NOT illegal for you to travel to another state to obtain abortion care. Ask the clinic you choose about financial assistance.

Birth Control

Your access to full birth control counsel and products has not been impacted by the stripping of your abortion rights.  You can obtain birth control from any local source including gynecologists, but as always it is recommended that you educate yourself on the options with online research using PlannedParenthood.org/learn/birth-control.  It is appropriate for you to ask that source at the time you make the appointment if they believe in your right to obtain full reproductive care including abortions.  Keep searching until you find a suitable source.  DO NOT obtain your birth control information on social media; those platforms are widely utilized by anti-abortion influencers and celebrities that are providing inaccurate and harmful information similar to fake pregnancy centers.

USE BIRTH CONTROL AND HAVE EMERCENCY CONTRACEPTION PLAN B or ELLA available at your home.  Plan B emergency contraception for patients with weight less than 176 pounds is accessible without a prescription and perfectly legal. Ella emergency contraception for patients with weight greater than 176 pounds requires a prescription in the U.S. Emergency contraception is most effective if taken within 72 hours of sperm exposure and is less effective out to 5 days post-exposure. If Plan B is not available at your pharmacy (and you must ask for it) then change your pharmacy. Both birth control pills and Plan B or Ella are available from HelloWisp.com or Planned Parenthood Direct. Some educational campuses have active EC4EC.org chapters (Emergency Contraception for Every Campus, #EC4EC). Please be aware that even higher doses of Plan B are still far less effective in those with weights greater than 176 lbs.

Medical Care

OBGYN’s standard of care has not changed.  If you are concerned that you did not receive adequate care or that your care fell outside of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines then you should seek another opinion.  ReproductiveRights.gov

Emergency Care guidelines have not changed either.  Emergency Departments and Hospitals function under professional and federal guidelines.  If you are concerned that your care fell outside of the Emergency Care or federal EMTALA guidelines then you should seek another opinion.  Reprolegalhelpline.org and ReproductiveRights.gov

Vote.  Vote.  Vote.  And do not support any candidate that is antiabortion or any candidate that does not support an Equal Rights Amendment…and yes, ask them.  Equality is yours to be taken; it will never be just given.  Without equality the circumstances above (and beyond) are sure to worsen.  Change starts in the streets but must translate to the voting booth.  Do not let them discourage you.  Do not let them distract you.  Do not let them shame or denigrate you or your sisters.  This is a war on women ladies and our vote is our greatest weapon. Let’s get in formation.