Pregnant Women are Not Alone
Etheridge, in conjunction with other on-campus support services, helped the student make the best decision for herself: life.
“Now she's married and older and wiser. It was a hard choice, but it wasn't a bad choice,” Etheridge said. “God gives us nine months so we can take this thing step-by-step.”
Notre Dame and Saint Mary's (a women’s college in South Bend) offer a variety of services to pregnant students seeking advice and support. Through health services, pastoral care and residential support, women facing an unplanned pregnancy are not alone.
Ann Thompson, director of University Health Services, said her staff provides confidential pregnancy tests and counseling. Regardless of the outcome, UHS will not disclose the test's results to anyone. Students can even arrange to pay for the test so records are not sent home to parents.
Saint Mary's brings a gynecologist to campus every Tuesday, and
therefore the school can offer the first prenatal exam to a student experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.
In Line with Catholic Belief
“We are a campus of women. We want to be supportive of women,” said Cathi DeCleene, the Health and Wellness director at Saint Mary's. “We encourage women to talk to their support system.”
Although prenatal health care facilities for pregnant women do not exist on either campus, Thompson said both schools provide transportation to any off-campus doctor's office. She said they especially recommend the Women's Care Center in downtown South Bend.
In congruence with the Catholic Church's beliefs, neither school
provides information about local abortion clinics or birth control methods.
“There's enough knowledge and education and marketing that you have to be responsible for yourself,” Thompson said.
Support is the Focus
Pregnant students are welcome to live on campus until the birth, as stipulated in both du Lac and the Saint Mary's Student Handbook.
“There's no disciplinary action. If students are pregnant then they are welcome to stay in the residence halls through the duration of the pregnancy,” said Jerry Madsen, assistant director of residence life at Saint Mary's. “Obviously, Saint Mary's discourages premarital sex, but it's not like we become the pregnancy police or the sex police. We encourage women to be careful.”
Not everyone thinks the University is doing an adequate job providing support for pregnant women. Kathleen Biddick, gender studies professor and faculty advisor to the Women's Resource Center, said improvements should be made.
“Maybe students feel more comfortable going to town. I feel that if things here were brought up in a more straightforward manner at the health center everyone would be better off. We deeply cherish health,” Biddick said.
Notre Dame student Rachel Jones, pregnant with her first child, agrees with Biddick.
“Pregnancy is a normal thing. Why are we ignoring it? There are no options. The University should advertise services to help women,” Jones said.
Regardless, Etheridge insists that support is the main focus.
“You don't have to go it alone. You don't have to make every decision within the first 48 hours,” she said. “Life is beautiful no matter how it is conceived.”
Living in a female dorm, she has witnessed incredible acts of spirit and generosity toward women dealing with an unplanned pregnancy.
“In every instance, friends rallied around the pregnant woman. We call ourselves a community — does that only mean in good times?” Etheridge said, adding that she has even seen a few dorm-sponsored baby showers over the years.
(This article courtesy of Steven Ertelt and the Pro-Life Infonet email newsletter. For more information or to subscribe go to www.prolifeinfo.org or email infonet@prolifeinfo.org.)
