Since June of this year, six infants have been abandoned in the Houston area. Two of these babies did not survive. Whether their mothers were motivated by fear, financial stress, or mental health problems, these tragic stories highlight the need for pregnant women to know there are options available to help them.
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As a woman who faced an unplanned pregnancy, I know all too well how overwhelming a positive pregnancy test can be.
In the summer of 2019, my then-boyfriend and I found out we were pregnant. It was not an ideal time by any stretch of the imagination. We were both between jobs, unmarried, and practically blinded by panic. But I knew the moment I saw my son’s heartbeat on an ultrasound, I would fight as hard as I could for him.
Thankfully, I did not need to fight alone. I reached out to the Pregnancy Resource Medical Center in Rosenberg, and was truly overwhelmed by the support I received. Volunteers with this non-profit offered me baby supplies, counseling services, ultrasounds, job placement services, and helped me find an OBGYN, all at no cost to me.
This resource center laid the foundation for my now-husband and I to be where we are today. We went from being unemployed, scared and pregnant to being proud parents and homeowners, with careers in fields that we love.
Our story is not unique, and the parents who pass through the doors of any pregnancy resource center will be shown the same dignity and care.
Jana Pinson is the executive director of the Pregnancy Center of the Coastal Bend, helping to oversee five pregnancy resource centers in South Texas. When I asked her if pregnancy resource centers can help reduce newborn abandonment, she gave me an emphatic yes.
“We’ve never had a client that has abandoned their baby,” Pinson said.
“If you have someone walking alongside of you, you’re not going to be in that desperate place where you feel like you need to harm that baby, or you need to take an avenue that would hurt both of you deeply...I do think that the more people know about pregnancy resource centers, that we’re here for them, we’re non-judgmental, we embrace them, and we will love them exactly where they are, the less newborn abandonment there will be.”
If you are in need of a pregnancy resource center, here is a list of locations.
Harris County:
- Houston Pregnancy Help Center has four locations in Fifth Ward, Third Ward, The Heights, and Downtown. You can visit FreePregnancyTest.Com for a full list of Client Services.
- Women’s Pregnancy Center is located on Fondren Road in Southwest Houston. Their website is WPCHouston.Com
- Children’s Connections is located in the Montrose area. Their website is ChildrensConnections.Org
- Care Net Pregnancy Center of Houston is located in the Cypress area. Their website is HoustonPregnancy.Com
Fort Bend County:
- Pregnancy Resource Medical Center is located in Rosenberg. Their website is PRMCFortBend.org
- Pregnancy Help Center-W Houston is located in the Katy area. Their website is PHCKaty.Org
Brazoria County:
- Her Heart Pregnancy Help Center is located in Manvel. Their website is HerHeartPHC.Org
- Pregnancy Help Center of Brazosport is located in Lake Jackson. Their website is: PregnancyHelpCenter.Org
Galveston County:
- Inspira Resource Center is located in Friendswood. Their website is: InspiraResourceCenter.Com
- Pregnancy Help Center of Galveston is located in Galveston. Their website is: PregnancyHelpCenterGalveston.Org