OP- Truly, I would do a lot of listening and reflective speaking if a client did disclose previous elected abortion. I've only ever had one client disclose this, and it was something that happened to her as a teenager, and she was very physically and emotionally affected by it. It tied a great deal into her pregnancy, caregivers (both current and past) and her sense that she couldn't get enough information to make an informed choice for her birth, as she felt she didn't have any at all when she had an abortion.
We talked, mostly her, and spent a great deal of time focusing on the things she could do to reassure herself of the information she was recieving for her birth. Ultimately, she ended up switching careproviders that she felt were being dismissive of her research and emotional background, finding an awesome midwife, and having an empowering birth.
Long story short- be a listener. Hear your clients. Not necessary to ask about prior abortions- if you have a client for whom it is a problematic issue, she will tell you.
We talked, mostly her, and spent a great deal of time focusing on the things she could do to reassure herself of the information she was recieving for her birth. Ultimately, she ended up switching careproviders that she felt were being dismissive of her research and emotional background, finding an awesome midwife, and having an empowering birth.
Long story short- be a listener. Hear your clients. Not necessary to ask about prior abortions- if you have a client for whom it is a problematic issue, she will tell you.
