The New Normal

Crossing the Line

Abortion care is a necessary healthcare service for women and all pregnant people at every stage of pregnancy, especially if complications such as fetal anomalies arise. But in the "new normal" post the overturn of Roe v. Wade, maternal mortality is reportedly on the rise, and services are being severely restricted in more than half of the U.S. The recent mid-terms showed overwhelming support from voters in several states for abortion protections, in both candidates elected and ballots passed.

When Erika Christensen and Garin Marschall discovered the baby they’d been hoping for would not survive outside the womb, they sought abortion care. Since New York did not permit abortion after 24 weeks, they were forced to travel to Colorado to receive the care they needed. The traumatic experience pushed them to found Patient Forward, a grassroots reproductive care advocacy organization. They connected with Dr. Diane Horvath, who, together with Certified Nurse Midwife Morgan Nuzzo, is opening an all-trimester clinic in Maryland. Morgan and Diane face many barriers to starting their clinic. From safety concerns to delayed inspections, yet persevere to become one of less than ten all-trimester clinics in the U.S. As we wrap up this season of "Crossing the Line," we will also look back to former interviewees in Shreveport, Dallas, Phoenix, and Michigan to see how they're faring in a post-Roe world.

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Special thanks to Dr. Diane Horvath, Certified Nurse-Midwife Morgan Nuzzo, and the staff at Partners In Abortion Care; Dr. Colleen McNicholas and Planned Parenthood; Erika Christensen, Garin Marschall, and Patient Forward; Reverend Daniel Kanter and First Unitarian Church Of Dallas; Kathaleen Pittman and Hope Medical Group for Women; Dr. Gabrielle Goddrick and Camelback Family Planning Clinic; Lead Escort Marie and Northland Family Planning; the Dr. Reverend Cari Jackson and the Religious Coalition For Reproductive Choice; Dr. Reagan Mosley and Power to Decide.

Go to plancpills.org to learn how to access abortion pills. If you live in a restrictive state go to AidAccess.org. Need help funding your abortion? Check out the National Network of Abortion Funds and the Abortion Freedom Fund. Need advice or have questions about a miscarriage or abortion? Go to M+A Hotline. Have legal questions? Go Repro Legal Helpline. Destigmatize self-managed abortion by supporting Abortion on Our Own Terms. Advocate for youth access with URGE. Access trusted abortion care information at AbortionFinder.org and reproductive health information at Bedsider.org.

This podcast is brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive Producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with Co-Producer Kathleen Bedoya and Associate Producer Dominica Ruelas. This episode was field produced by Charity Tooze. Edited by Bruno Falcon with production services provided by Pidge Productions. Production coordination is by June Neely. Charity Tooze leads impact strategy. The narration is read by Tatiana St. Phard. Original music is composed by Valeri Ortiz.