Tonight, I found the following photo haunting my Facebook feed.

 

For the sake of brevity, I will move beyond my initial ranting thoughts that focused on lack of funding, true healthcare reform, and medical practices that over-complicate birth. I want to address the concerns that Dr. Wicklund mentions in her above experience: resources.

Dr. Wicklund,

I hope this letter finds you well. I was struck by your retelling of a time where you reached out on behalf of a pregnant woman that desperately needed resources. I am deeply sorry to hear that those resources were not readily available for her. It can be challenging to acquire the resources to help pay for prenatal and labor/delivery care for women that cannot afford it, as you well know. I am also fully aware of the additional struggles that your neck of the woods face: transportation issues, and a deeper lack of funding. I am writing you to say that women like me, who do not believe that abortion is quality healthcare for women or their children, want to be able to provide quality care for all women that are seeking an abortion. We want to arm women with the tools to embrace their new roles as mothers, and to equip them so that they are able to provide for their children. We believe no woman should have to choose between herself and her child. Funding can be difficult to acquire, but there are many organizations in your area that, without a doubt, will do their best to serve women like the one that you mentioned.

I would like to invite you to learn more about The Guiding Star Project, an organization that seeks to provide holistic care to women.  We recognize the challenges that face women today, especially the challenges in healthcare. The GSP model seeks to create a culture that:

 

  • recognizes the true beauty and dignity of women and their families;
  • honors and upholds the natural capabilities and uniqueness of our bodies;
  • encourages women in all circumstances to embrace their dignity and find empowerment through their uniquely feminine gifts and talents;
  • recognizes the importance of every single person on our planet and sees the threads that tie all humanity together


Supporting Guiding Star Centers would mean supporting an organization that wants to assist women in finding the resources they need, whether that be basic medical care, prenatal care or beyond.

Additionally, with the help of several other women that were concerned by this ordeal, I have compiled a list of resources with-in the four state area of your practice. This list of resources certainly can put the women that you see in touch with someone that can help them find solutions and a way to care for themselves and their children.

General Resources

Here is a list of birth centers in the US.

 

LifeCall also has centers in all four state in your area.

Phone: 1-800-662-2678  Email: mail@lifecall.org

 

Needy Meds has lists of free clinics in every state.

 

Montana

Public Assistance

St Catherine Family Health Care Clinic and Pregnancy Resource Center
203 West Madison Avenue, Suite E-2
Belgrade, MT 59714
Phone: (406) 388-7035
Catholic Social Services of Montana
PO Box 9071301 11th Avenue
Helena, MT 59624
Phone: (406) 442-4130
(800) BABY-DUE (toll-free)
 
Florence Crittenton’s Center for Pregnant & Parenting Teens
901 North Harris Street
Helena, Montana, 59601
Phone:  406 442 6950
 
Religious resources (For referrals and information):
Catholic
Lutheran
 
North Dakota
Public Assistance
Community (Note: Some family planning services offered. This list includes abstinence, contraceptives, and natural family planning.)
St. Gianna Maternity Home
Religious resources:
Catholic
Lutheran
 

South Dakota

Public Assistance
 
Alpha Center
801 East 41st Street
Sioux Falls, 57105
Phone: 800-99-ALPHA
605-361-3500
 
Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center
2401 W. Main St. Suite 2
Rapid City, SD 57702
Email: carenetprc@rushmore.com
Phone: (605) 341-4477 *Answered 24 hours/day
 
Religious resources:
Catholic
Lutheran
 
Wyoming

Public Assistance

Serenity Pregnancy Resource Center

1614 Beck Avenue

P.O. Box 3185

Cody, Wyoming 82414

Phone: (307) 213-5025

Email: info@serenityprc.org

 

Legacy Pregnancy Resource Center
847 Coffeen Avenue
Sheridan, WY 82801
Phone: (307) 673-4757

1.800.395.HELP

 

Religious resources

Catholic Charities

 

I truly hope this helps the next time you have a patient needing resources.