Pregnancy Care Centre there for every option

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

The Strathmore Pregnancy Care Centre (PCC), a satellite of the Calgary PCC, held their official grand opening on Oct. 21. The centre has officially been housed in the Aztec Building since May. The PCC offers a safe and confidential place for women to go when they think they might be pregnant.
“If a woman were to suspect that she might be pregnant, we can do a pregnancy test right in our office with her, or if she does know she’s pregnant we can still help her out as well,” said Jenn Page coordinator of the Strathmore PCC.
From the point of finding out you’re pregnant, PCC offers options counselling, going through all options available from adoption to abortion to raising the child.
“We tell her the risks and procedure with abortion. We tell her all the losses that come with each decision, and we just allow her to choose whatever is best for her,” said Page.
“Once she’s chosen whatever option that is best for her, we have ongoing support in a number of different ways for her.”
If she chooses adoption there is a birth mom support group, which leads the women through the placing decision, through the placing choices that need to be done. PCC can be an advocate for her throughout that process to get an adoption set up, to get her connected to other agencies. There’s also the option of group support with other women who are also placing their children up for adoption.
After she places there is a post-adoption support group where she can discuss the emotions or struggles she may be having afterwards.
If abortion is chosen, there is post abortion counselling, which again is offered in a group or individual counselling. Page said typically the women meet in a group but PCC does offer individual counselling if she is more comfortable with that. The counselling provides a safe and comfortable environment where the women can talk about any struggles they may be having with the decision.
“We realize that society isn’t very (accepting) of women who do chose abortion, so we just really give her that safe place to come and work through anything that she might be dealing with afterwards,” said Page.
Lastly, if women were to choose parenting there are a number of classes and supports offered from newborn baby care and baby’s first year, to a parenting education group. There are also life skill classes, budgeting and more.
Strathmore PCC is also offering to the moms-to-be clothing, thanks to the new clothing room.
“This is for women who don’t really have a lot, who can’t afford new clothing but still needs maternity clothing or baby’s clothing,” said Page.
“This is specifically for low income women. They can start accessing our maternity clothing right when they find out their pregnant and then they can start accessing our baby clothing when they are at month seven.”
The PCC will have clothing available for kids up to the age of two. Page said PCC offers ongoing support for any option a woman chooses.
The PCC is run thanks to a strong volunteer base. Volunteers go through extensive training, roughly 45 hours of in class, hands-on work, and role-playing to prepare them for working with clients.
The Strathmore Pregnancy Care Centre is open Tuesdays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. They hope to increase the hours and days as they build a client base. Women are welcome to call ahead, 587-896-0902, or walk in during office hours.