40 Days of Life | Day 6 | The More You Know
Pregnancy resource centers: Pro-life, pro-women, pro-baby, pro-family, pro-informed decisions, pro-truth, pro-helping women in need.
Yet, pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) are under a lot of scrutiny. Some misrepresent the work of these centers. (Not so brief side-note: A common thread in the pro-choice discussions is that it's not about choice. Many pro-choice proponents are more pro-abortion in their arguments. All options are not the focus. Instead, it's about promoting an abortion for a multitude of reason - mention women's right in the conversation and followers jump on board!)
PRCs do amazing and challenging work. They help thousands of women every year. They provide a haven to many women who feel overwhelmed and confused.
PRCs do not advertise comprehensive medical care services. But, many of them offer pregnancy tests, ultrasound, STI testing and treatment, options counseling including information on types of abortion, adoption services, parenting, post-abortion support, pre-natal classes and information on healthy pregnancy. Some even give essential mom and baby items such as pre-natal vitamins, clothing, car seats, diapers and blankets.
PRCs often have nurses and some, licenced social workers and case managers. They use evidence based materials to provide education. Volunteers that meet with women one on one may undergo hours of training prior to their service. PRCs provide services free to the client and rely on the support of faithful volunteers and generous contributors.
I've volunteered with five centers in four states, as a nurse, a volunteer, a board member, a musician (and a baby shower-attender!) and have witnessed the incredible hope and LIFE discovered by so many women through PRCs.
Read a brief history of PRCs and the incredible stories of physicians and nurses who paved the way for pregnancy resource centers in the past 50 to 60 years.
Complete story here: https://www.heartbeatinternational.org/heartbeat-history
"By 1960, pro-life physicians and others saw that women would soon feel pressured to have a “safe, legal abortion” and would succumb to that pressure unless they found a safety net of support for choosing to carry their babies to term...
One of the first “centers” was Heartbeat of Toledo (Ohio), operating from a small office in conjunction with the medical practice of Dr. John Hillabrand OB/Gyn, with the help of one of his nurses, Esther Applegate, and one of their friends, Mrs. Lore Maier....
At our founding in 1971, Dr. Hillabrand had already enjoyed a 45-year obstetrics career, delivering 8,800 babies without a single maternal death. Devoted to the dignity and sanctity of life, Dr. Hillabrand, at the ridicule of colleagues, had even attempted to save the life of a baby born at 20 weeks of gestation, years ahead of the technology."
40 Days of Life: Day 4 - What choice?
40 Days of Life: Day 3 - Life is a Gift
40 Days of Life: Day 2 - Are You Prepared?
40 Days of Life: Day 1 - Life and Dignity
Photo by Zach Lucero on Unsplash