Photograph of sign for Hope Clinic, Knoxville, US. Photo by stmaryathens via Flickr
I remember the moment I walked into Planned Parenthood like it was yesterday. I was 17 years old, unexpectedly pregnant, and I felt as though an abortion was my only option.
Remembering the cold stainless steel and barren white walls of the clinic still sends a chill up my spine – but worse than that, the pain of the procedure, and the casualness of it all still haunts me.
The sonogram screen was turned away from me, and I will forever wonder how things might have changed if I had a chance to see my baby and hear the heartbeat.
That day changed my life forever.
Two years after that horrific procedure, I found myself unexpectedly pregnant again. This time, I knew that I didn’t want another abortion, but I had no clue how to raise a child.
I did not have the support of my family or friends. A counselor I was seeing at the time recommended that I visit First Concern, a no-cost confidential woman’s center in Clinton, Massachusetts.
Before I walked in the doors of First Concern, I never had any women in my life really support me or tell me that I could be a good mom. When I met Meg and the other women at the center, they became my support system and told me that I could be a successful mom.
With their support, I gave birth to my beautiful son Jace in December of that year, and First Concern was with me every step of the way. They provided lactation consultants, taught parenting classes, and supplied all the necessary baby items I needed, including diapers, wipes, formula, clothes, and other essentials.
Their help gave me the confidence to raise my son. Six years later, however, that confidence began to waiver when I found myself unexpectedly pregnant again. I knew that I was strong enough to raise one child on my own, but two? This time, I felt like my back was pressed against the wall.
Despite the mental and emotional scars left from my previous abortion, I couldn’t imagine another option.
In my darkest hour, I remembered the support I received at First Concern and reached back out to the center. Immediately, I was wrapped in unconditional love and encouragement. They gave me the space to process my options and once again find my own strength and worth. Through First Concern, I was referred to a local clinic where I received a sonogram and upon seeing my baby, I instantly knew I would love this child for the rest of my life.
I soon gave birth to another precious baby boy, Julian – a beautiful event that would not have happened without the care and guidance from First Concern.
Looking back, it was not the diapers, supplies, or groceries dropped off at my doorstep that made the biggest impact during my pregnancies and early motherhood journey. It was the mental support, love, and guidance that I received from Meg and the other women at First Concern that was life-changing for both me and my babies.
They helped me put aside my fears and realize the strength I had inside all along.
Today, I am a confident mother to four beautiful children, and I am so proud of the strong and beautiful blended family that my husband and I share. While my story has not always been easy, it is proof that a woman’s journey does not define her destination, nor do her past battles dictate her future happiness. There are people that will walk beside you, love you, and support you.
I speak from experience when I say that pregnancy resource centers like First Concern are crucial to the well-being and success of pregnant women in need; making these resources inaccessible will negatively change the trajectory of many women’s lives.
My decision to have my babies was directly influenced by knowing I had the resources and support I needed. These resources should be safeguarded and protected, not attacked.
I didn’t have to write my story alone and neither should the hundreds of women throughout Massachusetts who find themselves in situations just like mine.
Melinda Bergeron is a mother of four who lives in Massachusetts.
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Photograph of sign for Hope Clinic, Knoxville, US. Photo by stmaryathens via Flickr 
