Why Pregnancy Centers Are Needed – Part 1
12 Jul, 2022
The recent landmark Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade has ushered in a new era in the United States. Millions of Americans agree with Justice Samuel Alito that this unjust law was on a “collision course with the Constitution” since its enactment in 1973. While it seemed that this moment would never come, we rejoice that we are now living in the post-Roe world.
While this is a cause for celebration in our country, we acknowledge that this outcome has angered many people and groups and pregnancy resource centers across the United States have been targeted and attacked. Additionally, a lot of false information has been circulating on the internet regarding pregnancy resource centers.
In light of the current state of events in our country, this month, we will be releasing a three-part blog series that will touch upon topics regarding why pregnancy centers are good, how pregnancy centers are being targeted and what the overturning of Roe v. Wade means for Massachusetts.
What Are Pregnancy Resource Centers?
Pregnancy Resource Centers are organizations committed to helping women facing unplanned pregnancies receive the information they need to make a fully informed decision. At Your Options Medical, we offer all of our services at no cost to our patients.
The services we provide include:
1. Lab-quality Pregnancy Tests
Sometimes, depending on the kind of at-home pregnancy test a woman takes, accuracy in results may be unreliable. At Your Options Medical, we offer lab-quality, medical-grade pregnancy tests with 99% accuracy.
2. Ultrasound
If the medical-grade pregnancy test is positive, one of our nurse sonographers offers an ultrasound. There are some sites that sell the abortion pill online, informing women that ultrasounds are not necessary in order to attain the abortion pill. However, ultrasound is a routine medical test used throughout pregnancy that provides important information for women, such as:
- How far along their pregnancy is
- If the pregnancy is viable with a detectable heartbeat
- If there is any risk for miscarriage
- If the patient is expecting twins, triplets, etc.
- If the pregnancy is in the uterus or if there is an indication of an ectopic pregnancy.
The abortion pill can be administered up to 11 weeks. If a woman is more than 11 weeks pregnant and follows the harmful advice of some abortion clinics, she and her baby may experience harmful effects.
Additionally, an ectopic pregnancy is only able to be detected through ultrasound and is a medical emergency. If a woman were to administer the abortion pills, not knowing that she had an ectopic pregnancy, it could lead to life-threatening risks and side effects. And contrary to what you may be hearing, the treatment for an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage is not an abortion. Medical professionals have pointed out that every state regulation on abortion contains a clear exception for ectopic pregnancy treatment.
3. Options Counseling
After administering an ultrasound for our patients, an advocate meets with each patient to discuss her unique situation and to present the pregnancy options to her. Contrary to what opposing groups will say, pregnancy centers do not withhold truth or provide false information. In fact, it is the very opposite – pregnancy centers provide the whole truth. We inform them of all of their options — parenting, adoption and abortion. And while we do not provide or refer for abortions, we do go through the different types of abortions, as well as the many risks and side effects that often come with the procedure.
Other abortion sites and clinics may withhold this information and instead, may pressure potential patients to choose abortion – after all, this is where they make a large portion of their profit.
Pregnancy resource centers strive to provide the whole picture, so that their patients may feel equipped to make a fully informed decision regarding their pregnancy. Additionally, unlike abortion clinics and sites, pregnancy centers make no profit from their patients. We simply want to reach women in need and provide them with life-saving support and because of our donors, we are able to continue doing the work that we do.
4. Parenting Support
At Your Options Medical, we also offer parenting classes to moms and dads who choose to continue their pregnancy and want to become more prepared for parenthood. Our parenting classes provide education that equips moms and dads with the information and resources they need to make a positive impact on their children.
With the generous gifts and donations from our donors, we are also able to provide countless baby items for our patients, such as, diapers, wipes, clothing, blankets, strollers, toys and more.
Why Pregnancy Centers Are Needed
As you can see, pregnancy resource centers are immensely helpful with the utmost intentions to help women and couples in need. Despite what those opposing us may say, pregnancy centers simply exist to provide women with all the information regarding their pregnancy, in order to empower and equip them to make a fully informed decision.
While the majority of women receiving our free medical services are considering abortion, the information and care that they receive make an impact on them. Nearly sixty percent of the abortion-minded women we serve decide to continue their pregnancies; not because of coercion or deceptive practices, but because the ultrasound revealed to them the humanity of their unborn child and they were offered support to continue their pregnancy.
How You Can Help
You may be wondering, “how can I help in the midst of these uncertain times?” If you are already supporting Your Options Medical, you are doing one of the most valuable and important things all pregnancy centers need.
At this time, the most important thing is to continue to keep us in your prayers as we face increasingly hostile opposition.
Read the second blog in this three-part series here!