I’ve Volunteered At A Pregnancy Resource Center For A Year Now—Here’s What Really Happens There
The American Medical Association of Ethics claims that pregnancy resource centers are unethical institutions that may be a dangerous outlet for women. But what makes them so "dangerous"? Last year, I started volunteering at a pregnancy resource center. Here's what I learned.
To begin, they are often Christian organizations that don’t offer abortions. While they don’t offer abortions, they do offer supplies and support for women in difficult pregnancy situations. So how does not offering abortions make them so dangerous? I’m not exactly sure. I have spent years hearing that pro-lifers are really only “pro-birth,” meaning that people who are anti-abortion only care about babies being born. These people claim that pro-life Christian conservatives don’t actually care about what happens to babies and mothers after pregnancy. I am pro-life, and yet I do care about what happens to babies after they are born. In fact, I care so much that I decided to dedicate my time to volunteering at a pregnancy resource center.
One afternoon when I was volunteering, a woman came up to the window during the time frame when we were giving out free diapers, wipes and formula. I greeted her, and she first asked me what we offer at the center. So, I began to go down the list of information about the emergent supplies, classes, and the baby boutique. Her eyes were scanning around, and I thought she might be losing interest in what I was saying. She then interjected, and said: “I came here eighteen years ago and received your services. They helped me a lot. I had my daughter when I was sixteen years old.” She was now a nurse, and her daughter was in nursing school. She came by the center to see how things were going and to get information on what we still offer so she could pass it along to other women. I immediately felt a rush of emotions. It was incredibly gratifying to see how the people part of the center had helped this woman in a vulnerable pregnancy lay the foundation for a successful, fruitful life. This woman was a living example of what pro-life pregnancy centers can do for women in tough situations. They can provide them with the support they need to choose life, and to tackle parenthood well.
The Medical Side
At the center where I volunteer, the ministry is two parts: medical and educational. To preface, all of the services offered here are free to those who seek them. There is no requirement to prove need for services or geographical proximity to this specific pregnancy center. On the medical side, most women initially go there for pregnancy tests. If they are pregnant, they meet with a counselor to determine their steps from there. The counselor tries to get an understanding of the woman’s situation. Is her home life safe? Does she have any support around her? Does she have a doctor she trusts? Could she potentially qualify for medicaid? The counselor also asks the client if she would be interested in getting her free ultrasound at the center. Ultimately, an OB/GYN signs off on those ultrasounds so they can be sent off elsewhere if need be. If adoption is brought up, they can refer clients to adoption agencies. They will refer clients to OB/GYNs in the area. If they don’t have insurance, counselors will help them apply for medicaid if they qualify. When pregnant, the income threshold for medicaid is often higher. So, many pregnant women don’t realize that they may now qualify for medicaid. After getting through the medical side of the center, women have the option to receive services on the educational side.
The main goal of these classes is to provide women with knowledge, support, and community.
The Educational Side
On the educational side of the center, there are classes spanning from pregnancy, breastfeeding, car seat installation, reading with children, motherhood, fatherhood, and more. The main goal of these classes is to provide women with knowledge, support, and community. They are designed for new and expectant parents to learn about all things pregnancy, babies, and parenthood. What’s really helpful for these families is that as they progress through a ten week class, they earn “baby bucks” that they are able to use for shopping at the baby boutique. This baby boutique has brand new baby clothes, toiletries, shoes, hats, blankets, books and more. For quite a few of the classes, participants can earn a brand new car seat upon completion of the course. The education side of the center also offers diapers, wipes, and formula for families who have an emergent need.
The Truth about Pregnancy Centers
I can’t speak for all pregnancy centers; I can only speak for the one where I volunteer. However, I see no scenario where a pregnancy center would be considered "dangerous" for a woman. These centers simply offer women and their families help. That’s it. No matter what race, immigration status, or socio-economic background from which someone comes, this pregnancy center will offer their limited medical care, support, supplies, and educational resources to anyone. They aren’t facilitating any medical procedures beyond a medical professional’s ability. They aren’t even providing any medical care with risks. Despite the picture that some outlets paint about pregnancy centers, the fact is that they largely help women and families from all walks of life. Ultimately, they serve the greater good in our culture.