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Pregnancy Center Offering Ultrasounds

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: November 21, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Now with a larger location, the West Pasco Pregnancy Center is expanding into a medical center by adding ultrasound procedures and other services.

Women who are pregnant 7 to 20 weeks can get a free picture of their unborn babies Nov. 27 through Dec. 8, according to Marion Bauer, executive director of the nonprofit agency.

"Our nurses are in the process of finishing their ultrasound training," Bauer explains. "We are in need of pregnant ladies that would like to volunteer for a free ultrasound. This training will be under the supervision of a licensed ultrasonographer and a medical professional."

Morning and afternoon appointments are available at the center at 5330 George St. near Community Hospital. Call 727-846-9999 for an appointment.

Dr. Melvyn Drew is medical director for the center. Dr. Mahnee Dinsmore and Dr. Thomas Umstead assist Drew.

More than 500 women received free help last year at the 21-year-old agency, Bauer recalled. She expects that number could increase once ultrasound services are added.

Pasco Imaging donated the ultrasound device, Bauer said.

"It turned out to be a blessing for us," Bauer has said about relocation of the center.

Expansion plans at Morton Plant North Bay Hospital displaced the pregnancy center early this year. Its former home was on Ohio Avenue, Bauer recalled.

North Bay executives helped relocate the center in office space on George Street near Community Hospital of New Port Richey, in January.

With about double the space, the center will be able to offer more.

About 280 people attended the recent Champions of Life banquet, which raised $19,000 for the pregnancy center, Bauer reports.

Nevertheless, "We are still in need of continuous financial support to cover all the expenses for our medical conversion and all the programs that we are offering," Bauer said.

For instance, pregnancy center officials are considering starting a program to help fathers cope with parental responsibility.

"A lot of people are falling through the cracks and they just need a little help," Bauer commented in a recent interview.

While most women who come to the center fall in an age bracket 18 to 23, the center has helped some girls as young as 14 and some women in their late 40s, Bauer pointed out.

"A crisis pregnancy can affect anybody" Bauer remarked. "An unplanned pregnancy can throw anybody's life around. We found out (with) some of our programs they can break cycles of abuse or neglect."

"We are committed to helping women and families as they deal with any pregnancy related issue, no matter what their situation or background is. Facing an unplanned pregnancy is hard. Before the woman decides, she deserves to know all the facts. They always receive an honest and open answer."

The center offers pregnancy testing, confidential counseling, education on abortion when requested, post abortion counseling, adoption support, abstinence education, special classes for prenatal and newborn care combined with material assistance, childbirth classes, parenting program and life skill classes. All services are for free.

"The majority of our clients chooses parenting. Each year we have some clients that are placing their child for adoption (and) we work together with a network of adoption agencies and lawyers to guide them through the process. We also offer a special post abortion program for those that need our help in this area."

Go online for more information about the center.

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