In the state of Ohio, abortion is legal through all nine months of pregnancy. However, most physicians will not perform abortions once they consider the fetus viable. For most physicians, that is around 24 weeks.

Women’s Center-Kettering is a medical clinic and though we do not provide abortions, many abortion clinics encourage clients to obtain a positive pregnancy test prior to scheduling their first appointment. We provide those pregnancy tests and, if your test is positive, can also provide an ultrasound to verify an intrauterine pregnancy, gestational age and viability.

Women’s Center-Kettering is a pregnancy resource center that offers support and solutions for unexpected pregnancies to women in Kettering, Beavercreek, Centerville and Miamisburg, Ohio. Women’s Center-Kettering provides women with free pregnancy tests, ultrasound scans, prenatal vitamins, consulting on pregnancy decisions and an educational and material assistance program. To contact Women’s Center-Kettering call 937-643-4673 or email info@womenscenterohio.com. You can make an appointment online by visiting www.womenscenterohio.com.

Question: I have heavy periods which normally last 5 days, but last week, I only bled for 2 days and it was pretty light. I’ve never been pregnant before, so I don’t really know what to expect as far as pregnancy symptoms. I took a home pregnancy test and the line was so faint, I didn’t know if I was seeing things or not. I just started back to college so I hope I’m not pregnant. I hope it’s just stress from starting back to school that’s causing my period to be weird. My small college doesn’t have a health center. Where can I go to find out for sure?

Answer: The Women’s Center-Dayton (in Ohio) can provide you with medical quality, urine pregnancy test with 97-99% accuracy that can detect pregnancy at about the time of your missed or unusual period. If your test is positive, we will offer you a limited ultrasound scan, and accurate information about your options. All of our services are free of charge.

During your visit, you will find our staff members provide a caring, non-judgmental atmosphere to discuss your situational needs and concerns. The consultants take the time necessary for you to understand your options and services available to you. All information shared during the consultations is confidential in order to protect the privacy of our clients.

In addition to providing pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, we can provide information about your options. We can provide educational information about abortion, adoption, and parenting. We are committed to providing women with accurate information they need to make the best choice for their individual situation. We are not here to judge you. We are only here to help support you through this difficult time. For those unsure of their intentions for the pregnancy or are considering abortion, we can provide support and education. For those that plan to carry, we can help support you through your pregnancy and provide assistance with various needs both during pregnancy and after.

Women’s Center-Dayton can help assist you with your unplanned pregnancy. If you are in need of assistance or just need to talk, please contact Women’s Center-Dayton to set up an appointment. You can make a free initial appointment online by visiting our website www.womenscenterohio.com or call (937) 228-2222. The Women’s Center-Dayton is located at 359 Forest Avenue, Suite 105, Dayton, Ohio. Our office is located near the Grandview Hospital’s Emergency Room entrance at the corner of Forest and Neal Avenues. Appointments are preferred and walk-ins are welcome.

After that night, did you ever think you’d wind up here…pregnant and alone? Perhaps you believed him when he said he would always be there for you, but now he’s gone and you’re left with the hardest decision you may ever have to make.

Maybe you’re still with him, but you don’t know how he would react to this news. You’re scared to tell him you’re pregnant because you don’t know whether or not he will support you through the pregnancy.

Or possibly both of you are excited that you might be pregnant, but you’re scared to tell your family. You don’t think they’re going to react well so you want some advice as to what your next step should be.

Whatever your situation is, we know that it may be leaving you overwhelmed and scared. And while you might feel like you’re alone in this, you’re not. With six locations in South Central Indiana, Pregnancy Care Center is here waiting to come along side you and help you through this time. (You can find us in Columbus, Seymour, Shelbyville, Greensburg, North Vernon and Nashville, Indiana.)

So what can Pregnancy Care Center do to help you? First off, be a listening ear. For more than 20 years we’ve supported women struggling with unplanned pregnancies. One of the most helpful services they say we have is that we listen to their hearts and don’t judge them based on their situations. When you come to the Pregnancy Care Center, we will let you talk and express your feelings, fears and concerns. Then together we will sort through your feelings and answer any questions you may have regarding the pregnancy. Our goal is to help you clearly see all your options (Parenting, Abortion and Adoption) concerning this pregnancy so you can make the most informed decision possible.

Here are just a few comments our clients have said about the support they have received at the Pregnancy Care Center:

• I felt very comfortable and respected in this situation. I never felt judged or worried that my situation would be not confidential.

• My peer counselor helped me sort my feelings. She was very helpful and I feel a lot better after talking with her.

• I like the fact that she took the time to listen to me about my life.

• What I like best is that no one here judges you by who you are or what your circumstances may be.

• I felt very supported. Everything said was helpful in any decision I may make in the future.

• I like the fact that the people treat you as equal instead of something else. I also like the fact that they see your perspective of things and how you feel instead of telling you how you feel.

In addition to our peer counseling services, we also provide pregnancy tests and first trimester ultrasound to verify that you are indeed pregnant and determine how far along you are in the pregnancy. And all services provided by the Pregnancy Care Center are available at no cost.

We know you’re probably feeling overwhelmed with the weight of this decision; especially if there is no one in your life you can talk to about it. Remember that we’re here for you, waiting to help. Just pick up the phone and call us at 812-378-4730.

Where can you go to find out for sure if you’re pregnant? My friend recommended Women’s Center-Kettering (Ohio) and I’m so glad she did. I didn’t know there was such a place that would listen to me and my issues and not judge me. I couldn’t believe they did not push me into a decision or try to tell me what to do. As a matter of fact, the nurse that talked to me did more listening than talking. I felt so respected and understood. I think it’s great that people like to help other people who may be facing the same problems they faced when they were younger. It’s a really cool way to give back. If anyone needs pregnancy help near Dayton, Ohio, I would suggest Women’s Center-Kettering.

When my pregnancy test came back positive, it took a little while for the news to sink in and the nurse was so patient. How could I be pregnant? I told her that I had my whole life ahead of me and that I was not that serious with the man involved. Right away I knew that abortion was what I would choose. But then I wasn’t so sure. The nurse offered to check via ultrasound if my pregnancy was “viable” meaning if it would continue or not, if left alone. She found the little “sack” where the baby should have been, but there was no heartbeat. All of the sudden, I felt so sad to know that on the same day I found out for sure that I was pregnant, the baby would not survive.

I really can’t express the emotions that I felt. First I was upset that I was pregnant, and then I was sad that I was not. Through my emotional roller-coaster, the Nurse-Consultant at the Women’s Center-Kettering was so kind. She explained that one out of four pregnancies end in miscarriage. She told me that many women schedule an abortion before they find out if the pregnancy will even continue on it’s own or not. She told me about the different methods of abortion. She explained how my cycle works and how a pregnancy occurs. I am embarrassed to admit it, but I didn’t know you could only get pregnant a few fertile days of the month. The way she talked about what a precious gift fertility is and how many women would give anything to be fertile and achieve pregnancy, it really made me think about things in a way I have never even considered.

She let me talk about my feelings and hopes and dreams and I got a new appreciation about being a woman. I’ve always dreaded pregnancy like it’s a disease or something. Now I think I’d like to save sex for a man who I’d like to raise a child with. I don’t know where the relationship with the man I’m dating now will lead, but one thing’s for sure; I’m not going to be having sex with him again unless we’re ready to have a child together (like after we’re married). At the Women’s Center-Kettering, they treated me with such respect as a woman, that I want to treat myself more respectfully from now on. My fertility is an awesome gift—I can’t wait to share it with my husband someday down the road.

For more information or to find out if you’re really pregnant, go to the Women’s Center-Kettering’s website at: www.womenscenterohio.com or call 937-643-4673. Tell them Jennell sent you.