What Support Can I Find at a Pregnancy Resource Center?
Discovering an unplanned pregnancy can be scary, and you may not know where to turn. But if you are in the Coeur d’Alene/Hayden/Post Falls/Rathdrum area in northern Idaho, you can find helpful resources at the Open Arms clinic and pregnancy resource center. There you’ll find no-cost* medical and support services, including lab-quality pregnancy testing, STI testing and treatment, limited obstetric ultrasounds, counseling, and resources for your baby. There are also resources and support for the father of the baby. You can also learn more about effective communication and parenting.
You have options and more options than you know. Yes, it is true that around 25% of women in the US have had an abortion at some point in life. But do you want that to be your story? It doesn’t have to be that way. If you are feeling without hope, visit our pregnancy resource center before acting. There are people in your community who want to help.
Help with an Unplanned Pregnancy
If you’ve become pregnant unexpectedly and don’t have anyone to talk to, you can book an appointment with our advocates who function as lay counselors. They will listen to your situation and help you think through it to find a solution. You might be able to keep your baby with the help of your community, or you might be a good candidate for placing your baby with an adoptive family. Be reassured that, contrary to what some pro-abortion advocates claim, every conversation with us is confidential and judgment-free.
Lab-Quality Testing and Ultrasounds
Before you decide what to do, you need to get your pregnancy confirmed since home tests can sometimes be wrong. At the clinic, we’ll perform a medical-grade test. If this is positive, we will schedule a free ultrasound, which helps us determine exactly how far along you are and ensure the baby is growing in the correct place – that is, that you do not have a high-risk pregnancy.
Baby Resources
Money shouldn’t be the reason anyone should give up her baby. If you’re struggling to provide for yourself or your family but want to keep your baby, we can offer you resources. Additionally, we can link you to other resources and support services in the community.
Adoption Support
We know that keeping your baby isn’t always feasible. In these cases, adoption might be the best solution. Our advocates can help you explore this option and determine what kind of adoption might be right for you. You could have a closed adoption, which means you have no contact with the child, or an open one, where you can get updates about the baby or even be able to visit.
STI Testing and Treatment
One issue that many sexually active women do not pay enough attention to is how easy it is to contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Did you know that at least half of the US population has had or does have an STI in their lifetimes and that, at any one time, about 1 in 5 people in the US have an STI? At Open Arms, we can test you for various diseases, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, vaginosis, and trichomoniasis. Open Arms covers the office visit, and you’ll pay a small fee to cover the lab tests, but you will take an important step in protecting your health. If you discover an STI, we can write you a prescription or refer you to the appropriate medical professional.
Parenting Education
Becoming a parent can be challenging, especially if the pregnancy is unplanned. To help you cope, we offer regular Life Skills instruction, either individually over the Internet or in small groups. You’ll learn how to solve problems, resolve conflicts with your partner and family members, communicate well, and overcome the challenges of parenthood.
Both children and mothers thrive better in supportive environments. If you don’t have any friends or family members to speak to and to support your decisions, we can help. Call us at Open Arms Real Choices Clinic to talk to an advocate or book your appointment today.
