HOUSTON, Texas – Six babies have been abandoned across the Houston area this year, which sparked a much-needed conversation about where mothers or expecting mothers can turn when they need some help.
KPRC 2 anchor Sofia Ojeda sat down with the Medical Director of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast and the Executive Director of the Houston Pregnancy Health Center to discuss the resources for mothers and expecting mothers.
Dr. Anitra Beasley, the medical director at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, said the Planned Parenthood facilities try and reach as many girls and women who may be in a crisis and don’t know where to turn.
“Nobody wants to be in the situation where they’re having to make a devastating... I don’t want to call it a choice or decision, but getting to the place where they feel like their only solution is to dump their child,” said Dr. Beasley.
In the last three months in Harris County, officials said six babies have been found abandoned:
- August 20 - a newborn was found dead in a ditch
- August 14 - newborn found dead in trash bin
- July 22 - 2-month-old found behind dumpster
- June 25 - baby found alive near donation box
- June 15 - newborn found alive on walking trail
“People who are younger are scared, they are more likely to not recognize their pregnancy early on, and they may not feel that they can talk to other people early on,” says Dr. Beasley.
“In your experience, does something like this disproportionately affect communities of color?” asked Sofia.
“Absolutely, when we’re talking about resources and when we’re talking about fear of criminalization... when we’re talking about all of those things, it’s going to impact communities of color, people who are marginalized, people who are living without documentation, people who have been incarcerated, people who are on parole, all kinds of things,” said Dr. Beasley.
She believes it’s about getting women and girls to the right resources.
At Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Beasley said they have access to full medical staff, sex education, contraception, and birth control and they provide referrals to prenatal care and support with travel-related costs for out-of-state abortion care.
“If you don’t want to be pregnant, how can we help them to not be pregnant, how can we help them access abortion in a safe legal way? Also, how can we connect them to adoption resources early in their pregnancy so they can develop the relationships and make the choices they want to make? And if people want to parent, how can we make them the best parents they can be with the best resources?” asked Dr. Beasley.
At the Houston Pregnancy Health Center, Executive Director, Sylvia B. Johnson, has helped women and girls through their pregnancies for more than 40 years.
“My heart is really breaking for the babies that were abandoned, but I would somehow want the women in the city of Houston to know that we will be there and will support you throughout your pregnancy. It is difficult to be pregnant and alone,” said Johnson.
The Houston Pregnancy Health Center has four locations in the city and two medical mobile vans. All of their services are free, including exams, ultrasounds, baby supplies and rides to appointments.
“We have to educate and let women know what is available, where you can go, where you can go for confidential support within the law, where you can go where someone is understanding and understands your plight, where can you go to get real help that’s free,” said Johnson.
There are also options for adoption available.
“We have an adoption educator that comes in and talks with her and goes over that process, no papers assigned in this location, no commitments. And then tell her if she chooses not to continue the pregnancy, that doesn’t eliminate her from our services. We don’t pay for abortions and we don’t refer abortions, but it will not eliminate us from helping her,” said Johnson.
If you or someone you know is in a desperate situation, if you are in denial of your pregnancy, or just don’t know where to turn, there is help available for you.
- Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast - 1-800-230-PLAN (7526) Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Inc.
- Houston Pregnancy Health Center - (713) 942-2100 www.houstonpregnancyhelpcenter.org