Shantal, 21, came to Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center after finding them online for a pregnancy test. She was considering abortion for her unplanned pregnancy.
“Having an unexpected pregnancy is real hard. They make you feel like you have done nothing wrong,” she said. “That they will help you and everyone makes mistakes. If nobody’s there, they are ones you can turn to.”
She didn’t look or feel pregnant, so when she saw the ultrasound image, she said her perspective changed.
“You feel happy. It’s an actual little person inside you,” she said. “I’m not big. My stomach wasn’t large. When you look at the ultrasound, it’s completely different.”
She is currently a junior in college studying marketing and is expecting her baby in September.
“Here, we all want a girl, but I guess we’ll see,” she said laughing.
The Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center stands across the street from the state’s only surgical abortion clinic, Little Rock Family Planning Services.
They were originally called St. Joseph’s Helpers, and this is still a name used by many volunteers, but the actual center changed its name to Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center. Neighbors said it helps those who need these services find them on the web and in the phone book, and feel more comfortable that it is not only a resource for Catholics.
“It is very much St. Joseph Helpers, but it is a more general name for our community,” she said. “Even though it is a Catholic organization and ministry, there’s not anything in the center that would turn anybody away because they think they wouldn’t be welcomed if they weren’t of the Catholic faith.”
The Knights of Columbus bought the ultrasound machine with funds from their Baby Bottle Campaign in October 2009 and donated it to the facility. St. Vincent Health System donated the exam table, sheets and ultrasound gel.
St. Joseph Helpers has been working to expand their facilities to include a medical examination room, train a technician and hire a part-time nurse to be able to perform ultrasounds.
With the addition of a part-time nurse, the center can perform first trimester ultrasounds. Cathy Patrick, a registered nurse, went to a three-day training program and administers limited ultrasounds for women.
“For those who come in undecided, it does give a real window into what’s going on inside,” executive director Becky Neighbors said. “A lot of times because they don’t feel a whole lot different or you can’t see any change, to get to see what’s going on inside. It takes on a different meaning for them when they can see the little hands and feet and head.”
Since Feb. 1, they began ultrasounds and have completed 28 through the end of March.
“Some of them are just amazed that it is a baby. They say, ’Wow, I have to start eating better.’ It brings it really to life. Some of them cry when they see the baby.” Patrick said.
It makes a difference for the women, but also the men in their lives.
“Between 70-90 percent of women who feel they are abortion-vulnerable, it can change their mind. This being a center for pregnancy crisis, a lot of the girls that we see are geared toward abortion. The more that come in that we can show the ultrasound to, the greater the chances that we can help the mom carry the baby to term,” Neighbors said.
Neighbors, who started as executive director in October 2010, responded to a call in the bulletin at Our Lady of Holy Souls Church in Little Rock.
“About six months ago, I’d been considering something else than pharmaceutical sales, but I wasn’t sure what it would be. What they did here is so promising. There’s not a day that you don’t love what you do.”
Currently ultrasounds are offered on Wednesdays, Fridays and two Saturdays a month.