Pregnancy resource center
Show your support
So I googled most in my area, and they seem to really only offer support in terms of education. They are very anti abortion here in Texas, so they help confirm the pregnancy, do ultrasounds, probably help with prenatal care and finding doctors etc. they provide certain supplies like diapers, wipes, and crib and mattress, and some other basic things. I’m reading around and seeing most of these centers don’t offer actual resources. however I see that most in my area/state are all religious based. Which I’m not against religion or anyone practicing at all. Everyone has a right to their own faith and I don’t Judge that. I just don’t like being judged or having it shoved down my throat which all the reviews on these places say they do. Yet when I looked into different centers in different states, that aren’t in the south. It’s a totally different ball game.
Hopefully you can get the proper resources you need! I wonder if asking them directly would help better? Or maybe they could point you in the right direction for those resources? Wishing you luck ❤️
Yeah, I agree I probably needed to be more direct with my questions for the resources I need. I just didn’t feel super comfortable after a while, so my brain was very fuzzy lol. I also feel like the person I ended up talking to wasn’t the best source. So maybe I’ll call back and ask them to point me in a direction!
So the center you are describing sounds more like a pregnancy crisis center than an actual medical resource center. Crisis centers are faith-based, anti-abortion, and while they will masquerade as legitimate medical centers, they are not (and it's concerning that your therapist is pushing you towards one). Crisis centers exist to counsel women out of abortions. That's usually their only purpose, although they will say differently and use clever language to confuse their purpose and avoid legal ramifications. They will hire ultrasound techs and sometimes qualified medical professionals, but they are not licensed practices. They have been around for years and managed to slip between the lines of medical practice using vague language and acquiring just enough accredition to avoid prosecution. Talk to your OB about pregnancy resources in your area. Mention the center to them and ask about it. Maybe it has access to legitimate resources, sometimes they do, but they cannot be trusted to give medical advice.
@Melissa oh my gosh thank youuuu. I definitely got the vibe that it was an anti abortion clinic more than anything else! But I was looking in my area/state and most of them seem that way! Which makes sense cause I’m in Texas which is total ban abortion state. However I’m 31 weeks so it’s clear I’m not going down that path lol. but I am very confused why my therapist pushed me to go. Idk what I could even gain from them. But good call about asking my OB for better resources.
Yeah that is definitely weird to me. I can't guess at your therapist's motivations but hopefully they were well-intended, but misinformed. Going through your OB means you'll find access to much better, and more legitimate resources for pregnancy and beyond. Side note - I am from Alberta too! We definitely have crisis centers - Alberta is the thick of the Canadian Bible Belt, especially southern AB - and when I search in my area, almost everything that comes up on a local Google search is faith-based or anti-abortion. Crisis centers often pay to have their ratings boosted. Going through your practitioners is always the better way to go. I'm sorry you had to go through it, but you can imagine the confusion for a scared woman in early pregnancy who ends up at one of these because it was their first Google result. They shouldn't be allowed to exist, but they do, and it's total BS. Congratulations and good luck with your little one! 💜
If you're needing help with daycare, social services has a daycare assistance program where they pay a percentage of the fee. If you need help with formula/food, my local health department handles the WIC program. They also have a car seat safety class, and once you finish that they give you a free car seat. This could vary by state, as I'm in Virginia, but it could be worth looking into.
I'm in alberta Canada and I went the day I found out at 5 weeks. I haven't been able to go again until last week but my first appointment consisted of them asking if I had support, prenatal vitamins, and signing me up for some classes and one of the ladies has checked up on me every month of my pregnancy. I'm now 34 weeks and I went last week and if I had been able to go monthly I would have but they help with formula, baby clothes, maternity clothes, diapers, wipes. They said they help until baby is 2 years old. Is there a different one in your city you can try?