The Charlotte Lozier Institute has published another useful resource on pregnancy resource centers and the impact these organizations have on babies, women, families, and communities. Their 2024 report, titled “Pregnancy Centers Offer Hope for a New Generation,” highlights how the nation’s more than 2,750 pregnancy centers have stepped up to meet the demands of a post-Dobbs world – increasing their medical services, material aid for mothers and families, and more. The report uses data from 2022.
Here are just some notable points from this report about how the pregnancy center movement has grown in the post-Dobbs era:
More medical services and paid medical staff. The percentage of pregnancy centers offering medical services of all kinds has increased between 2019 and 2022. Here is a breakdown of the types of medical services offered and the point increase of pregnancy centers offering them:
In addition, the number of paid medical staff for pregnancy centers has increased by 17.9% between 2019 and 2022.
Medical Mobile Units: These units allow pregnancy centers to offer ultrasound and other medical services to their community beyond the four walls of their clinics. Medical Mobile Units (MMUs) are largely operated through the nonprofit organizations Save the Storks and ICU Mobile. In 2022, Save the Storks (which operates under the leadership of its Medical Director, AAPLOG Member Dr. Karysse Hutson!) reported serving women through 87 “Stork Buses” (MMUs) in 30 states. ICU Mobile reported operating 37 MMUs in 22 states that same year.
Doubled abortion pill reversal provision. The percentage of pregnancy resource centers around the country that provide abortion pill reversal (APR) therapy has more than doubled from 11 percent in 2019 to 27 percent (or 738 clinics) in 2022. APR, or natural progesterone therapy to reverse the abortive effects of the abortion drug mifepristone, is around 70 percent effective at preventing the death of a fetus or embryo after a woman has begun a drug-induced abortion but changed her mind prior to taking the second pill. If you are interested in providing APR yourself, click here to learn more.
We are proud of the progress made by the pregnancy centers around the country, many of which operate under the supervision of our physician members. If you are not currently involved in your local pregnancy resource center, we recommend you look into it. These are important sources of life-affirming healthcare and support for pregnant women in need and many are serving women in areas with extremely permissive abortion laws. Even a few hours a month of your time can make a difference for these centers and the women they serve. If you would like to know more about how to get involved but aren’t sure where to start, reply to this email. We’d be happy to help!
