What are pregnancy centers? What are the myths being spread about them? And what are the facts?
In recent months, pro-life pregnancy centers around the country have been threatened, vandalized, and even firebombed. They’ve also become the target of smear campaigns by those who profit from abortions. But what are these pregnancy centers? What are the myths being spread about them? And what are the facts?
What are pregnancy centers?
Pregnancy centers serve women and families who may need support during their pregnancy or are looking for resources to help with an unexpected pregnancy. These centers offer women life-affirming alternatives and emotional, mental, material, and spiritual support when these women may be feeling alone and hopeless.
What services do pregnancy centers provide?
* Free or low-cost medical and health assistance such as ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, STD testing and treatment, abortion pill reversal treatment.
* Support for parents including parenting, prenatal education classes, job training, and résumé building.
* Counseling and mental health services such as post-abortion support and recovery.
* Resources and supplies for the mothers to take care of their babies like diapers, clothes, car seats, strollers, transportation, food, and housing.
In 2019, pregnancy centers served 1.85 million people and provided:
*486,213 free ultrasounds
*731,884 free pregnancy tests
*160,201 STI/STD tests
*967,251 free consultations with new clients
*1,290,079 packs of diapers
*30,445 new car seats
*19,249 strollers
*2,033,513 baby outfits
What are the threats to pregnancy centers?
Since Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization—the Supreme Court decision overruling Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey—was leaked, there have been outrageous attacks and vandalism against pregnancy centers and churches that offer life-affirming support and resources to women.
Even before the Supreme Court overruled Roe and Casey, government officials have attempted to target and silence pro-life pregnancy centers by forcing them to promote abortion or by punishing them for engaging in life-affirming speech.
After Dobbs, threats to pregnancy centers have only continued. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has threatened to “crack down” on pro-life pregnancy centers, introducing the “Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act” that authorizes targeting pro-life pregnancy centers’ speech. Other pro-abortion members of Congress sent a letter to the CEO of Google, encouraging Google to censor pro-life pregnancy centers. But pregnancy centers and state attorneys general have responded, refuting pro-abortion lies and showing how pregnancy centers help women.
Are pregnancy centers “fake” health clinics?
No. Pregnancy centers offer ultrasounds and pregnancy tests to confirm the women’s pregnancies, and many offer STD testing. But these centers do not pretend to take the place of a woman’s OB-GYN physician. Instead, they offer limited medical services directed at helping women understand their unborn baby and pregnancy. Then, these centers provide holistic services such as counseling, baby supplies, housing, education, employment support, and spiritual hope.
Do pregnancy centers deceive women?
No. Pregnancy centers offer truthful, evidence-based, compassionate care and information to women about their pregnancy, their unborn child, and life-affirming alternatives. These centers clearly explain their mission of serving women through offering ultrasounds and pregnancy support on their websites.
And pregnancy center counselors offer truthful information to the women they serve. In fact, at Care Net affiliated pregnancy centers, 99.19 percent of clients described their overall experience with the pregnancy centers as positive.
Do pregnancy centers intimidate women into choosing to keep their baby?
No. Pregnancy centers offer compassionate, non-judgmental, informed counseling to help women facing unplanned pregnancies consider their options.
These centers are life-affirming and share alternatives to abortion with the women they serve. Most also offer post-abortion care and counseling if the women they serve choose abortion. In fact, pregnancy centers offered post-abortion recovery and support to 21,698 women and men in 2019