The following story was originally published by American Life League's youth outreach department, Rock for Life, in its April 7 Rock for Life Report. We are including it here because it reveals the truth behind Planned Parenthood and how it treats mothers who are carrying a precious human being inside of them. This story was written by a young woman named Alicia.
I found out I was pregnant when I bought a test and took it in a Wal-Mart bathroom stall during break (I work at Wal-Mart). I was incredibly scared and wanted a definite confirmation of "Yes, you are pregnant." I called up Planned Parenthood, knowing full well that they were in the business of abortion. However, I thought maybe I could get an inside look into what actually happens when a pregnant woman goes to Planned Parenthood for help. Were they really as bad as people say they are?
I called up Planned Parenthood and they said I could come in between such and such hours to take a pregnancy test. It took me forever to even find the place, considering there wasn't even a sign that hinted that it held a Planned Parenthood inside. I walked up and down the street and called them a few different times from my cell phone and I still couldn't find it. They wouldn't tell me their exact location, just the address and the imprecise direction of "it's by the Subway." Some man at a restaurant saw me walk by for like the 20th time and asked me if I was looking for Planned Parenthood. I said yes and he showed me how to get there. As I approached the desk and talked to a girl through a little hole in the plastic/glass, she buzzed me in and I was able to speak to her and two other young women...
When I was called in to take the test, the nurse handed me a cup and showed me to the bathroom. When I gave it back to her, she told me to sit in a room. After what seemed to be forever, she came back and said the test was positive. Without skipping a beat she asked, "Do you know what your options are?" I was half-stunned by the lack of empathy she had but, after all, this was Planned Parenthood. I told her that I was definitely keeping the baby and that abortion WAS NOT an option! My quick response caused this "she must be crazy" look on her face...
After the nurse figured out I was about seven-weeks pregnant, her only advice was to tell me this: "Since you're planning on keeping the baby, you need to eat extra healthy. It's like a little leech, sucking up whatever you take in." What a beautiful way to talk about this growing little human inside me! ...
My experience with Planned Parenthood left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Not only did they fail to offer me any real help to prepare for parenthood - something you'd assume they would do with a name like that - but they also treated me in a way that just screamed "Have an abortion or get out!" ...
Thank God for Alpha Pregnancy Care Center! I called and explained my situation and made an appointment to see "Kathy" as soon as we both could meet. Kathy was great, so nice and honest, so loving. She truly cared about what she was doing and about the girls. She made sure I knew that this baby was not a mistake and listened to me discuss my confusion and fears. We talked about adoption, but I knew that wasn't the right path for me; I definitely wanted to keep my baby. Kathy gave me a lot of great information and a list of doctors that I could see. I ended up choosing one off of Alpha's list instead of Planned Parenthood's - Planned Parenthood was so sleazy, I can only imagine who they'd refer me to! She also gave me a tour of the center, including their "stork room store." You could earn mommy/daddy credits for use in there to buy things for the baby. No money is allowed in exchange for those things, just the credits. It's really a great way for women (and even the fathers) to come in and learn pregnancy/parenting skills. They have so much there; childbirth preparation and baby care classes, as well as parenting and nutritional workshops. They even have a Bible study. When your baby is close to being born, they put together a package full of gender specific clothes, diapers, and other essentials.
I was never oblivious to the good things that Alpha has been doing; I've participated in their Walk for Life and my church has been involved with them for years. But witnessing everything directly showed me just how much they care for women. They have so much love, compassion and concern. Alpha Pregnancy Care Center gave me so much help and all for free!
All I got from Planned Parenthood was a $9 pregnancy test and a woman telling me that I'm growing a leech.
Alicia is in the middle of her third trimester and she looks forward to giving birth to her son, Aidan, in late May.
