Receiving a prenatal diagnosis can be a traumatic experience for expectant parents, often leading to discussions about abortion as the primary option. The debate over abortion in these cases is a prominent topic in political and public discourse.
While pro-choice advocates argue that abortion is the most compassionate option for mothers carrying a child with a prenatal diagnosis, those involved in the pro-life pregnancy help movement recognize that these women are in unique circumstances.
These mothers generally want their child, and it’s the unexpected diagnosis that they find challenging, not the pregnancy or the baby. Additionally, the emotional trauma they experience can make it difficult for them to make clear decisions about their future.
Recognizing this unique situation, a collaboration among organizations Heartbeat International, Her PLAN, String of Pearls, Be Not Afraid and the Charlotte Lozier Institute aims to address the needs of women and families facing prenatal diagnoses.
Three key tools have been introduced to support these families:
• Prenataldiagnosis.org: This website offers factual information on various prenatal diagnoses, explains screening and diagnostic tests, provides access to support groups and offers further reading referrals. It’s designed for mothers and others facing prenatal diagnoses and anyone interested in understanding these challenging situations.
• Parent care coordinator training: Be Not Afraid offers a training program that equips individuals to support mothers dealing with prenatal diagnoses and guide them through their pregnancy journey.
• Hotline: A hotline has been developed to connect mothers with parent care coordinators and other support resources.
Two mothers, Daphne Harris Robinson and Heidi Martin, shared their personal stories and experiences with the parent care coordinator training program. Martin, a former neonatal intensive care nurse, recounted her journey with her son’s Hirschsprung’s disease and subsequent diagnosis of Mowat-Wilson syndrome, emphasizing the emotional toll and sense of loss that accompany prenatal diagnoses.
Robinson’s story involved infertility, high-risk pregnancies and the difficult decision to deliver her baby prematurely to save her own life. Both women went through the Be Not Afraid training program, which enhanced their understanding and empathy for mothers facing prenatal diagnoses.
They highlighted the importance of such training within the pregnancy help movement, explaining that loss leads to grief in these situations. A prenatal diagnosis represents a significant loss, and proper support can help parents navigate the grief cycle and focus on their new baby’s needs.
The training emphasizes trauma informed care, recognizing that trauma has no boundaries and that every family facing a prenatal diagnosis experiences trauma. The goal is to provide care that minimizes further trauma and helps parents cope in a healthy manner.
Parents who receive prenatal diagnoses often lack the support and resources needed to make informed decisions. By connecting them with compassionate support, these parents fare better emotionally and psychologically. Families that have received support from organizations such as Be Not Afraid report feeling at peace and better prepared to handle the challenges ahead.
The training has had a restorative effect on families. One family with a baby diagnosed with Trisomy 18 shared their experience. After initial fear and depression, proper support and education allowed the mother to actively advocate for her child, transforming her outlook from despair to hope.
In many cases, parents facing prenatal diagnoses are given limited choices by their primary obstetrician-gynecologists, leaving them feeling despondent. Organizations within the pregnancy help movement aim to bridge this gap and provide a lifeline for these families.
These initiatives demonstrate the pregnancy help movement’s commitment to providing specialized care to women facing prenatal diagnoses. By offering empathy, support and resources, they aim to empower parents to make informed decisions and prepare for the challenges they might face. This compassionate approach reflects their dedication to loving these women, their families and their precious children.
Petra is a Kansas City native who moved to Columbus in 2014 to attend graduate school at Ohio State University. She has a master’s degree in chemistry and teaches chemistry and biochemistry. A writer and editor for the Human Defense Initiative, Petra is passionate about the pro-life movement and uses her science education and teaching skills to speak up for the most vulnerable humans among us.