Buffalo Women Services, LLC began as an Abortion Facility. We offered Abortion Care—options counseling, abortions, follow up care and birth control. It was basically only Abortion and that seemed to be enough, given the difficulty of obtaining an abortion in Buffalo, NY.
I began adding other gynecology services in 2006—routine gynecologic care, birth control, IUDs, Implants, evaluation and treatment of abnormal pap smears, STD testing and treatment. We also attracted Lesbian clients and other members of the LGBTQ community. In 2014, after much effort, a Free Standing Birth Center—where families can have natural, unmedicated, women centered birth-- was added.
There was a great deal of resistance in the official Birth Center world to my opening a Birth Center in an Abortion Facility—I was told it would dirty the position of Birth Centers--but almost none among the residents of Buffalo. Women who are having abortions are most often already mothers and express interest and sympathy when they hear there is a woman laboring to have a baby. Women who are choosing an out of hospital site to have their baby—for reasons of autonomy and freedom—have respect for the women who have decided that this is not the right time for them to have a child.
Often women use several of our services—they may have a baby with us and an abortion at another date. They may try different forms of birth control, be evaluated for a pap smear abnormality, have an abortion, have a baby and return for gynecologic care. Our clients are of every gender, gender expression and sexuality.
Our deep respect for reproductive decisions means that all decisions are honored and we prove it by offering all these services UNDER ONE ROOF.