Pregnancy Support Care
Relax. This is a safe space.
Whether a pregnancy was part of your plan or not, the LPC is here for you as you plan your next steps. The LPC provides physical, spiritual, and emotional care as you determine what to do. Our services are offered free of charge to you in a confidential and caring environment. We do not pressure or force our opinions on you, and we do not condemn your decisions.
Our goal is to listen to you and learn more about what is happening in your world so we know how best to support you.
What to expect at your appointment
We provide peer-to-peer counseling with a Care Coach, a pregnancy test, and a nurse consultation during your first office visit. Or, you can speak privately to a Care Coach about your needs and concerns over the phone prior to an on-site visit if you wish. Our goal is to listen to you and learn more about what is happening in your world. We want to know and understand you to figure out how best to support you.
We’re here for you. Call today: 301.776.9996
Schedule an appointment
Initial Pregnancy Consultation
Ultrasound or other care*
Ongoing Support
What will this appointment be like?
Your appointment at the LPC will begin when you check in at our reception desk. Here you will meet with your care team, consisting of a nurse and a Care Coach, who will be with you through your appointment. Our Care Coaches are people who have been trained and vetted for this position, and have a genuine desire to support you with care and respect. For more on who our Care Coaches are and how they are vetted and trained, click here.
While you have a private conversation with the Care Coach, the nurse will run a medical-grade urine pregnancy test and collect your medical history and current medical information. Our Medical Director will review your information, and the nurse will offer you an ultrasound exam if applicable.* We will never force an ultrasound; it is always a client-led decision. If you decide to have an ultrasound exam, you will schedule another appointment for this procedure.
You will be asked questions to better understand your individual needs and situation, but this process is led by you. You won’t be forced to talk about anything that you do not feel comfortable disclosing.**
Above all, you can expect to be treated with compassion and respect.
What happens next?
That is up to you. At the LPC we desire to be good listeners and walk with you during this part of your reproductive journey. Our goal is to sit with you in this moment and give you what you need emotionally, physically, and spiritually. We can offer you counseling-based services including relationship support, general medical information on your choices, prenatal education, and material support for pregnancy and parenthood.
Your Care Coach is committed to walking alongside you, she will be invested in your journey, whatever it looks like, and will keep in touch with you. Your care will not be affected by the outcome of the pregnancy test or your choices. Our Care Coaches feel honored to listen to the stories of our clients. They respect your boundaries, and will not force you to discuss anything you do not feel comfortable with.** If you are open to it, the care relationship with your Coach can last as long as 18 months.
Prenatal Education
Parenting 101 is our prenatal education program designed to educate and support first-time, expecting parents. Qualified community professionals provide instruction in a safe, comfortable group setting where parents are encouraged to learn, share, and ask questions. The three-stage format is designed to walk anyone through their pregnancy and beyond. The program is split into three parts and is progressive in nature, but you can join at any time. The entire series is roughly ten classes with different topics each week. Parenting 101 is offered three times a year.Part 1: Pregnancy Basics
In this cluster of classes, we will address such questions as, “Now that I’m pregnant, what is going to happen to my body? What does my baby look like? What should I eat (or not eat)? Should I exercise? Is it safe to smoke?”
Topics may include: Fetal Development, Pregnancy Nutrition
Part 2: Baby Basics
This set of three classes will address questions such as, “What will labor and delivery be like? Do I want to breastfeed or bottle feed? How do I find a doctor for my baby?” All of these questions are common when preparing to bring a baby into your life. With these classes, we hope to ease the anxiety of the unknown. We want to make ure you are equipped to enjoy the new arrival into your family.
Topics may include: Childbirth and Infant Care, Immunizations: what are they and why does my baby need them?
Part 3: Family Basics
Building a strong foundation is important to having a healthy family. You’ll benefit from and be challened by asking the following questions: “How important is a dad? How do I discipline my chlid? What do I believe about God and want to pass on to my child?”
Topics may include: Loving Disciple and Attachment; The Dad Factor; Household Safety; Kid-Friendly Menus
Material Support
The LPC offers material support to our clients throughout their first year of parenthood, as well as resources and beyond that.
We recognize that life is messy and sometimes you find yourself in a place where you just need help. If you are a parent who already has a baby and/or small child and you need material support, we are here for you, too. We can offer you some diapers and wipes to assist with your urgent need. We can also get you connected to some other resources that may be able to assist with other material needs, such as clothing items, formula, cribs, strollers, and more.
Will I be safe here?
The LPC prides itself on being a safe refuge during life’s challenging times. Your information is confidential. You will not be encouraged toward any decision or outcome. You will not be chastised, condemned, or admonished. We have no hidden agenda, we are not political, and there are no strings attached to your care. Our ministry “agenda” is to be present with you when you need support.
We encourage you to read our Who We Are page to learn more about what we stand for and how we treat clients like you.
*The Medical Director has set the parameters for which clients are eligible for an ultrasound exam here at the LPC, and the parameters will be followed, without exception, by our nurses.
**The LPC does not release personal and private health information to outside individuals or third parties unless – 1. we have written consent, 2. we are under a court order or subpoena, 3. we are mandated by law to report, or 4. a client is a threat and/or danger to self or others. By law, we are required to report any cases of abuse, homicide, suicide, or child neglect. We are not mandated to report absences to educational organizations (if a client is absent from school while visiting the LPC). We are not mandated to report the presence of a minor to her/his parents or legal guardians or disclose conversations, content of Care Coach appointments, or other private information to parents or guardians without the written consent of our client. We can treat clients regardless of age or dependency status.