Afraid and overwhelmed, a young pregnant college student named Da’Chiron walked into the Center for Pregnancy Choices in Jackson, Mississippi, not sure how she could take care of a baby and finish school.
But when the staff welcomed her with “open arms,” the young mother knew she would have the support that she and her baby needed, according to Fox News Digital.
“I needed support. I needed time to process things, have someone to talk to outside my family,” she told Fox News, adding that the pregnancy center was “there to support” her.
Da’Chiron, who asked the news outlet not to share her last name, now works at the very same pro-life pregnancy center that once helped her and her children. Now she encourages young pregnant women by sharing her story and offering resources to help them and their babies.
Her message to these women: “If I can do it, they can do it, too.”
Years ago, as a senior in college, Da’Chiron said she felt overwhelmed when she found out that she was pregnant. She said the warm, “non-judgmental environment” at Center for Pregnancy Choices made all the difference in the world to her.
She said she received free counseling, prenatal vitamins, an ultrasound and more – things that helped make her life “a little bit smoother.” The pro-life staff and volunteers also “reminded me that my goals can still be met, even with a child,” Da’Chiron continued.
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Later in graduate school, she experienced another unplanned pregnancy, but this time she knew she had support, she said. Those experiences inspired Da’Chiron to become involved in pro-life work herself, and today she serves as a call center manager for the Jackson pregnancy center, according to the report.
She also is finishing her doctorate dissertation, which explores the “correlation between mental health, illness and unplanned pregnancy” and emphasizes the need for support services for pregnant moms “so that the pregnancy outcome is healthy for both mom and baby,” she told Fox News.
Da’Chiron said she wants to help other mothers realize what she learned through the compassionate outreach of pro-life advocates in her times of need.
“They’re stronger than they think,” she said. “And we’re here to support them in any way that we can.”
There are about 2,700 pro-life pregnancy centers across the United States. Recent research by the Charlotte Lozier Institute found these centers served almost 2 million people in 2019, providing approximately 730,000 pregnancy tests, half a million ultrasounds, 1.3 million packs of diapers, 2 million baby outfits and more.
A recent study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that abortion-minded women who visit pregnancy centers are 30 percent more likely to change their minds and give birth to their babies, National Review reports.
Pro-life pregnancy centers are community-based non-profits that provide free pregnancy and parenting support to millions of people every year across the U.S. Their services typically include counseling and pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, parenting classes, maternity and baby clothes, diapers and car seats. Some also offer medical services including well-women exams and STD testing and treatment, and post-abortion counseling.
