Are Pregnancy Resource Centers Real?
There is much debate about the true nature of modern day women’s reproductive healthcare. The reality is that there is significant misinformation and lack of guidance on the facts that need to be known for women facing an unplanned pregnancy and the supportive help that is available. Pregnancy Crisis Centers are under attack for their advocate and educational work to provide assistance and guidance throughout the journey of the decision process. It is imperative for the safety of the woman and her child to be fully aware of the options and consequences of the choice she is facing in order to determine what is ultimately best for her.
PRCs are medical facilities, providing ultrasounds to confirm the viability of the pregnancy. We thrive on making women feel as safe, welcome, calm and comforted as possible through their decision process.
A lot of times, PRCs deal with women who are emotionally vulnerable - and especially so at this moment in their lives. They have many fears and insecurities about themselves and numerous challenges that they are facing. One of the hopes in working with them is to educate and empower them to understand the importance of their own abilities and to recognize the strength they have inside of them.
So What is a Pregnancy Resource Center?
The mission is to provide Christ-centered medical services that empower, educate, and equip our patients to embrace God’s design for their reproductive health.
PRCs are a woman focused ministry rooted in the understanding that our role is to cater to a woman’s needs, emotionally, mentally and physically, while recognizing that they are in control of their ultimate choices. The agenda is to love her without any judgment and see her through God’s eyes as well as educate and empower her with truth and compassion.
What are the Myths of a Pregnancy Resource Center?
A blog on the Planned Parenthood website: “They claim to offer free ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, and counseling, but it’s a ruse; they’re deliberately trying to trick you into listening to disinformation and - often - religious propaganda. They are NOT real health centers or abortion providers and usually they are not medical providers at all. They’re anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centers”, and instead of providing the full range of medical care or factual information you need and deserve - they often try to scare you out of the services a real health center provides.” Most crisis pregnancy centers aren’t legitimate medical clinics, so they don’t have to follow HIPAA and keep your information private, like most real health care providers do. These crisis pregnancy centers could even give your information to other anti-abortion organizations or use it to harass you.”
Websites like Exposefakeclinics.com make additional false accusations.
Several Attorney Generals in states across the country, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, Minnesota, and Arizona have sent consumer alerts to the public against pregnancy resource centers because they seem to think that providing life affirming care, information, support and resources is something women should be warned about. These thinly veiled attempts by AGs across the country to discredit and attack PRCs demonstrates that abortion is the priority, not helping women. The life-saving and heroic work that we perform should be encouraged, supported and lifted up by all elected officials if they really do indeed care about the health of their citizens.
What is the Reality of a Pregnancy Resource Center?
PRCs do offer free limited obstetric ultrasounds, and pregnancy tests. This is a critical service for anyone facing a decision for several reasons, but the main one is to ensure the health of the mother. Ultrasounds are performed by licensed registered nurse sonographers who are required to follow strict HIPAA regulations. A woman must medically verify that how far along the pregnancy is, ensure the baby is in the correct place, and determine that there is a heartbeat that is viable. But, we advocate for the woman and provide a support system to help navigate their life obstacles and circumstances.
PRCs do not offer a full range of medical care BECAUSE we are a limited obstetric medical facility that performs ultrasounds to confirm the viability of the pregnancy. We never claim to be pre-natal care, but we do ensure that going forward they can get the medical attention they need by a real Obstetrician.
PRCs do not perform abortions. Women do not feel pressured or judged and are treated with respect regardless of their pregnancy decision. It is not just babies who suffer. Women experience real trauma. We want to protect them from that. For that reason, we do provide after abortion care and resources to help the healing process.
“Pregnancy centers are a ruse.” PRCs believe that knowledge is power and a woman should be fully informed of all of her options including risks and side effects and outcomes in order to make the best decision for her.
Women seeking help at a PRC are scared, conflicted and don’t know what else to do because they feel their circumstances are prohibitive. That is why education is so important because they are not aware of the options they have not only for their pregnancy but for their situation in general. It is the intention to help them find solutions to all of the challenges that they are facing in hopes to provide them with a better quality and peaceful life.
“Pregnancy centers scare women out of the health care they need”. Actually, PRCs are trying to ease the fears they already have inside them. Because the reality of their decision is scary. Intimidation, as PRCs are accused, is much different than validation of their situation and feelings. PRCs walk with them on their journey of facing their fears, step by step.
“It is just religious propaganda”. As a Christian facilities, they do encourage and instill the power of God in her life and circumstances. Because that is important. But they meet her where she is and encourage her to be open to the power of God in her life, help her to see His presence, but in a gentle way that never forces religious “brainwashing”. They serve anyone of any race or nationality, and any level of faith.