Year One

YEAR ONE

POST-ROE TRENDS

POST-ROE CHALLENGES

THE CONCERN

As more women in crisis will continue their pregnancies, complex cases will benefit from case management for successful life and parenting needs.

THE CONCERN

Abortion is not legal in Texas, but women are still facing unplanned pregnancy. Some are still willing and able to travel to nearby states to get abortion pills or surgical abortions.

THE CONCERN

More women are being convinced that the abortion pill is a safe alternative to having a surgical abortion. Women are having abortions at home. Not only does this lead to them seeing the reality of abortion, but it is dangerous for women.

THE CONCERN

Abortion pills are not always effective in ending pregnancy. As more women take abortion pills, the number of incomplete anbortions will continue to rise.

OUR RESPONSE

We are hiring more staff and recruiting volunteers to work at our Health Initiative Parenting Program (HiPP). Case management includes navigating insurance or Medicaid applications, networking with partner agencies, and providing material needs through parenting education classes.

OUR RESPONSE

The Pregnancy Center is offering these women pre-abortion consults which includes counseling on options, STI/STD testing, and ultrasounds.

OUR RESPONSE

The Pregnancy Center has created marketing strategies to educate women in the Coastal Bend on the risks associated with abortion pills, particularly abortion pills that are being mailed or shipped across the border. The Pregnancy Center also offers Abortion Pill Reversal (APR).

OUR RESPONSE

The Pregnancy Center is now offering post-abortion ultrasounds to women who have taken abortion pills and are concerned that they are still pregnant. In the short time we have been offering this sergice, we have seen five babies who survived abortion. Through ministering to these mommas, they are now excited to have their babies!

ON THIS SIDE OF HISTORY

JUSTICE IS A JOY TO THE GODLY, BUT IT TERRIFIES EVILDOERS. PROVERBS 21:15

ALICIA'S FIRST ULTRASOUND | 10 WEEEKS AND 5 DAYS

NOW MORE THAN EVER W

We are still here. In a post-Roe world, we are here for clients like Alicia, now more than ever. When Lucy found out she was pregnant, she was terrified and alone. Lucy was a mom of three young children already, including a newborn. She didn’t think she could handle another child, and a close family member was telling her to abort.

This family member told Alicia that she had an abortion many years ago in Mexico, and that the pharmacy will give out the medical abortion pills without a prescription. Overwhelmed in her current situation, and without confiding in anyone about the pregnancy, Alicia drove to Mexico. There, Alicia was given 15 abortion pills and no instructions on how to take them. Over the course of about 10 days, Alicia ingested all 15 pills. Alicia experienced light bleeding, cramping and headaches. At the encouragement of the same family member who encouraged her to abort, she called the Pregnancy Center of the Coastal Bend and scheduled an appointment.

We listened to Alicia's story intently. She confessed everything she was thinking, and every fear she had, and every reason she didn’t think she could continue her pregnancy. We listened without judgment; we listened with love.

Alicia consented to an ultrasound. Miraculously, the abortion pills from Mexico seemed to have no effect. Alicia looked at the screen, seeing not just one heartbeat, but two babies with strong and steady heartbeats! Even after seeing the image on the screen and taking home ultrasound photos, Alicia left undecided that day. We kept her in our prayers. Alicia's story, like that of many women, is filled with intense fear and confusion.

She was quite guarded over the next week when we would check in with her via text or phone call.

A week later, Alicia came back to the Center for another ultrasound… she had decided to keep her babies!

Alicia reasoned that “maybe the abortion wasn’t meant to be.” Though these babies could have easily died if the abortion pills had worked the way they were supposed to, we are so grateful that their little lives remained unharmed.

Thankfully, Alicia now has the support of her whole family. Everyone was dealing with fear and uncertainty and it just took time to work through the emotions.

With the gift of time, Alicia could see beyond her crisis. She allowed herself to feel empowered to choose life and become a mother to her twins. Her story could have been different if we were not adamant about finding a way to reach the women with the truth about their pregnancy.

We are so incredibly grateful that Alicia’s abortion was not effective and we are honored that the Pregnancy Center could come alongside her instead. What a different, tragic outcome Alicia could have faced, but now, instead, she’s eager to snuggle her two beautiful babies when they are born this October.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Hebrews 10:23

ABORTION PILL REVERSAL

The abortion pill, sometimes known as chemical abortion, is the most common form of abortion in the early stages of pregnancy, and it’s gaining in popularity every day – especially in a post-Roe world. It is promoted as a “safe” and “private” option for early pregnancy, and it’s sold to women as a less expensive and less invasive than a surgical abortion. In many cases it’s being privately mailed to women, without them ever seeing a doctor. Because we are near the border, many of our clients are seeking "pills" from Mexico — even though they are not sure what they are getting.

Unfortunately, it is anything but safe. In addition to killing the baby, it poses a great risk for the mother and often causes tremendous pain and excessive blood loss. Thousands have experienced adverse complications and some have even died.

There is hope, however, for women who use the abortion pill and then change their mind! Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) has been shown to be approximately 70% effective in saving the pregnancy if taken within 48 hours of taking the first abortion pill. Thankfully, Pregnancy Center of the Coastal Bend offers APR to any woman who regrets her decision to use the abortion pill.

THE ROAD AHEAD

It has been one year since Roe was overturned. We knew this major pro-life victory would change the pro-life movement and our work, but I don’t know that many of us were prepared for just how much that would be the case!

As the fight has moved to the states, the “right” to abortion has gotten worse in some places. Please keep praying!

In other places, like Texas, little lives are better protected, but that has radicalized the pro-abortion side in a major way. This leaves women more vulnerable to their lies and tactics, sometimes deeply angry, and certainly more in need of our services than ever before. Please keep praying!

The use of the abortion pill continues to skyrocket. The FDA continues to remove protections surrounding its use, although there is an ongoing case that will hopefully restore some of these medically-necessary, commonsense regulations. Please keep praying!

Through it all, we are honored to have served more than 30 years in the Coastal Bend and we will not stop until abortion becomes unthinkable. To meet the growing needs since the overturning of Roe, we have:

• added more staff and volunteers

• created a social media awareness campaign regarding the dangers of the abortion pill

• worked to open our college locations — coming as soon as possible.

I hope this special update on one year post-Roe has encouraged you and yet reminded you that there is still much to be done. There is no way we could serve so many without wonderful friends who sacrificially give to save babies and their moms and dads. Sowing into the LEGACY OF LIFE will never return void!

SCAN TO SOW INTO LIFE!

Jana Pinson Executive Director

Center of the Coastal Bend

Pregnancy