In March, a young couple arrived at Women’s Center – East in Dayton, Ohio to take a confidential pregnancy test. In their late twenties, they had just arrived in the U.S. and were living with relatives, each having acquired a visa to work in the United States. In their country, as soon as a woman finds out she is pregnant she is required to stop working. One big goal they had when they came to the U.S. was for the young woman, Shara* to take the state nursing test and secure a job as a nurse. Finding out that Shara’s pregnancy test was positive, they were devastated, assuming the pregnancy meant they would have to leave the U.S. or have an abortion in order to stay.
The consultant explained their options and listened attentively as they described their difficult situation. The young man buried his face in his hands. “In my country we would not even consider ending the baby’s life, we believe that abortion is wrong. We are so confused and scared. We just don’t know what to do or how it will work”. The consultant assured him and his wife that she was there to help them sort through their options and give them the assistance they needed.
They agreed to have an ultrasound, and this seemed to bring into clear focus that there was another person’s life at stake here and that he was a dad, she was a mom. Smiles formed on their faces as they stared intently at the ultrasound screen. Two weeks later when they returned for the follow-up ultrasound scan, they had made the decision to continue the pregnancy and asked for help in order to start prenatal care. They are now attending our Earn While You Learn classes and keeping their prenatal appointments. Shara smiles every time she comes in and is proud to show us the signs of her child growing within. Although pregnant, she looks forward to taking the state nursing test and securing a nursing position here in the U.S.
Providing solutions to difficult pregnancy decisions is our specialty at Women’s Center – East. To make an appointment online, go to www.womenscenterohio.com or call 937-610-7777.
*Not her real name.
