SAMANTHA

Samantha* walked into PDHC in a panic. She just had a positive home pregnancy test and needed to be sure. A few months ago, she had a baby and was not intending to get pregnant again. After her test at PDHC was positive too, Samantha was quite distraught.  She had already told her boyfriend she was pregnant, but he didn’t care, and wanted nothing to do with her or the baby. Samantha was strongly considering abortion as she had very little support and was financially and emotionally unprepared to have another child so soon.

The nurse calmly spoke with her and offered Samantha an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed she was 7 weeks along. Samantha had not allowed herself to look at the screen until she heard the startling sound of the baby’s heartbeat. As she turned her face towards the screen, she saw her tiny baby in front of her. In that moment Samantha spoke up and said she had been planning to terminate the pregnancy, but now perhaps she may consider adoption or parenting. Samantha accepted ultrasound pictures and baby booties as she had renewed hope. Adoption and parenting resources were reviewed with Samantha, and she left the center with a plan to schedule prenatal care.
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Months went by and Samantha could not be reached. Finally, she replied to an email to say she had decided to continue the pregnancy and she was planning to parent. Recently Samantha delivered a healthy baby girl and returned to PDHC to get baby items, diapers, breastfeeding supplies and continued support from PDHC. Samantha thanked the ladies that helped her to make the right choice at the beginning of her pregnancy and plans to return for parenting classes and additional ongoing support.