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In this article, we will be exploring the inspiring story of Olympic track & field athlete Allyson Felix. Parts of her story include injustice and difficult trials, but her triumph over those things is truly encouraging to women everywhere. In 2004, at 18 years old, Allyson Felix won her first Olympic medal for the US. After that, her track & field career skyrocketed. Her subsequent world records and gold medals were proof that Allyson was where she was meant to be. Even working through a devastating ankle injury in 2016, Allyson continued to dominate her competition and rise in world fame. Winning races, however, was not her only life-goal: “Throughout my career, I always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to be a mother.” When Allyson became pregnant with her daughter, she experienced a saddening lack of support from the Olympic running industry. Her long-time footwear sponsor, Nike offered her a 70% pay cut and would not fight to protect her against performance penalties due to childbirth. Unfortunately, this was not an uncommon response. Female athletes who were pregnant or who were performing post-pregnancy tended to see this type of opposition. "I had all this fear surrounding starting a family, because of what I had seen. I had seen contracts be paused; I had seen my friends hide pregnancies to be able to secure new contracts. I felt like maybe I was safe; maybe I had accomplished enough…I was wrong.” After delivering Cammy, her beautiful daughter, Allyson found herself looking toward her fifth Olympic appearance, without a footwear sponsor. In addition to using her platform to speak out for maternal athlete protections, Allyson decided to start her own footwear label, called “Saysh.” Allyson and her brother, Wes became business partners and began designing women’s running shoes. This shift allowed Allyson to be honest about what she saw, and to petition for reform in the women’s sports industry. Despite having won countless medals, Allyson sees her accomplishments in the maternal rights movement as even more meaningful. “I understood the power of my platform, the power of my voice…” In the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Allyson Felix became the most decorated track & field athlete in history, wearing her own shoe label. Her story became one of empowerment and triumph, especially for future mothers. While recounting her story, Allyson reflects on that feeling of seeing her daughter for the first time and understanding why maternal justice and equality matter: “I remember very vividly just looking at Cammy. There was this moment where I was moved. It just felt like there’s no way I’m gonna let her and her generation take on this fight.” Now, Allyson focuses on creating beautiful and functional footwear for women, future female athletes, and mothers. Her brand is built on equipping and empowering women to feel their best. LC Medical & Support Services knows that mothers are some of the toughest people out there. We also acknowledge the struggle women face when they are denied support throughout their pregnancy. Our goal is to provide women with the information, care and services they need so they can feel rightly supported. Our world is sadly prejudiced against mothers and pregnant women, but our message is that mothers are strong, capable and valuable. Interested in supporting us? There are so many ways to do that! Visit our donor website to get involved with LC Medical & Support services: www.friendsoflc.org Sources Allyson Felix: Starting Blocks. Starting Blocks | Episode 2: A Race for What? (youtube.com) Saysh - About Us Page. About Us (saysh.com) Allyson Felix (@allysonfelix) • Instagram photos and videos

At LC Medical & Support Services, a defining factor of our organization is that we are unshakably committed to the idea of valuing life. This concept defines our work, our staff, and our mission. We believe that every human life is inherently valuable and deserving of love. The services we offer are designed to remind people that they are important and worthy of care. It is our goal to help create a world that values every single stage of life, beginning at the moment of conception. While we are absolutely committed to this goal, we know that it will take more than just what we do at LC Medical & Support Services. Positive societal change may start with a small effort, but it takes entire families, churches and towns to truly shift our communities towards valuing life. Why Do We Value Human Life? The answer to this question is very simple to us at LC Medical & Support Services: we value life because God values life. It’s no secret - we are a faith-based organization, grounded in biblical truth. We serve a God who is constantly reminding His creation that He loves, cares and protects. Humans are God’s most-prized beings of His creation. He makes that abundantly clear in His Word. We value human life because we know that every human being is an image-bearer of the Lord. God shows how much He values human life through His mercy and salvation through Jesus Christ. God died for human lives to be saved and restored, not just on Earth, but also in eternity. We are in awe of the dignity and power that the Lord showers on us by calling us His own. We know that every single human being is worthy of life and forgiveness, because He says so. To devalue human lives, to refuse them care, to be unloving…this goes against the very character of God. That is why valuing life is so important, because every human is precious and beautiful by definition. What Does Valuing Life Look Like? Below are some practical ways that you can commit to valuing human life. We’ve broken these ideas up into a few different categories, because valuing life can start small and grow to community-wide efforts. At LC Medical & Support Services, our work is just the beginning. We thank you for your desire to join us in our mission of loving and valuing every human life. Valuing Life as an Individual As with most things, choosing to value life starts on an individual level. Sometimes, people may struggle to value the lives of others, simply because they struggle to value their own life. It is so sad, but we see so many people who walk around and have no idea how valuable they are as a person. They think their choices and experiences are meaningless, and they feel no sense of self. Valuing life starts with believing what God says about you. All throughout the Bible, there is the truth that you matter. Your choices matter. You have a purpose. You are loved. This is a huge step of faith, but we challenge you today to consider the truth that your life is inherently valuable. Valuing Life on a Peer Level Oftentimes, showing that you value someone’s life begins simply by noticing them. This means opening your eyes to truly see the people you interact with. What are their lives like? Do you listen to their stories? Do you see their struggles? Do you act in a way that leaves them feeling respected and safe? We are at a point in society where most of the time, our eyes are down. Our attention is often fixed closely on what is right in front of us. Committing to value life means a daily effort to lift up your eyes and acknowledge the lives around you. Talk to someone kindly. Offer to help a neighbor. Open your heart to care for someone you may not know very well. Small things like this can transform your interactions and let others know they mean something to you. Valuing Life Regardless of Age or Station Valuing life is a relatively simple concept, but that doesn’t always make it effortless. At LC Medical & Support Services, we are founded on the truth that human life begins at the moment of its conception, and we work hard to save the lives that are unexpected and unwanted. This dedication does not only apply to unborn children, but to any human life that is overlooked. Coming to the conclusion that every human being is deserving of life and a chance can mean ridding yourself of prejudices and going out of your way to speak for those who are voiceless. A human’s value does not change based on their age, station, beliefs, or past mistakes. Challenge yourself to do something that restores dignity and value to a life that has otherwise been forgotten. Valuing Life on a Community Level By now, anyone can see that the task of valuing life is no small thing. Our individual actions are wildly important, but imagine if entire communities were also committed to valuing human lives, no matter the cost? How can we make this happen? One amazing way to do this is to support organizations like us! LC Medical & Support Services is 100% non-profit, so our services are offered completely cost-free. Through pregnancy confirmation, options information, and parenting support, we aim to diminish the pressures that drive women towards abortion. We believe in those women and those babies. Their lives and stories matter. Your support helps us to be a free community resource that values every life. In addition to us, there are many non-profit organizations that also do incredible work to care for the lives in your community. Research ways that you can get involved with an organization and join in the life valuing-mission. Have good conversations with community members about the importance of human life. Don’t shy away from addressing the issues you see around you. Encourage others to consider committing to value life. Ignite change and spark ideas for how we can better see the under-valued in our towns and neighborhoods. Your voice is powerful. If you see a need in your community, you can do something about it! Write to your local government and be honest about things that concern you. Gather friends and family to do good in your community. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” - John 10:10

What pressures drive women towards an abortion? In this article, we will explore that question using research from the Guttmacher Institute, as well as explain how LC Medical & Support can offer women some relief from these pressures. Whenever a woman is considering an abortion, we know that every decision is a difficult one. In our experience, if a woman desires to schedule an abortion, she is most likely under extreme pressure in her current situation. This pressure can be internal, external, or a bit of both. The decision to abort may often feel like a woman’s only option, which we understand. Researchers at the Guttmacher Institute helped establish a few of the primary reasons that a woman might feel pressured towards an abortion. Take a look at their findings below, along with our efforts to relieve these various pressures. Research Findings In a study that included over 1,200 abortion patients, the reasons most frequently cited for their abortion were: Having a child would interfere with her education/work or ability to care for dependents (74%) She could not afford a baby now (73%) She did not want to be a single mother or was having relationship problems (48%) How Do We Help A Woman Who Feels These Pressures? Before we dive into what we do, we just want to say that these pressures and emotions that women may feel are very real and understandable. An unexpected pregnancy comes with a whirlwind of new decisions and feelings. We get it, and we care deeply for any woman experiencing any of this. In no way are we minimizing or ignoring the difficulty one may have with the news of an unexpected pregnancy. 1. Offering Her a Calm & Supportive Environment One of the very first ways that LC Medical & Support can relieve pressure in a woman’s life is by creating a safe and tranquil place for her to come for answers. We are constantly looking for ways to communicate our compassion towards our clients and their situations. When a patient is in our office and considering her options, we listen to her, we answer her questions, and we help her process her emotions. We are here for her health and well-being. Above all, we offer her support and a hopeful outlook on her situation. Because for us, no situation is hopeless. 2. Empowering & Taking Care of Her As stated above, many women looking for an abortion think that having a child will negatively interfere with her aspirations or responsibilities. Unfortunately, our world is often repeating this idea to women, even before they become pregnant. It is so disheartening to hear the message that a woman has to forfeit her dreams and duties because of her pregnancy. At LC Medical, rather than giving up on women, we empower them! Moms are some of the toughest and most driven people in our society. There are so many stories of women who became pregnant and still accomplished all that she wanted and more. An unexpected pregnancy may change your situation, but that does not close the door on a degree, a career, or any of your goals. We are here to offer you the resources and support to be the strong and capable woman that we know you are! 3. Offering Her Helpful Education So many women come to us with a variety of questions and uncertainties. The education we offer at LC Medical is intended to equip these women with answers that will make them confident and courageous. We offer information on all of a woman’s pregnancy options, including a lot of information on abortion. Our list of free classes includes topics like: Trimester Expectations, Budgeting, Childbirthing, Parenting Toddlers, Infant Development, Personal Nutrition, and many more. There is virtually no question that a woman can have that we will not be able to help her with. Because women deserve to be educated and to have the resources she needs to make wise and informed choices for her life. 4. Being a Free Resource in Her Life Finally, when it comes to an unexpected pregnancy, a big pressure on a woman is her financial well-being. We know that a pregnancy can be financially difficult, which is why every single one of our services comes at absolutely no cost to her. Pregnancy testing? Free. Options counseling and informational materials? Free. Confirmation ultrasound? Free. Classes and baby materials? Free. Health referrals? Free. Support and care? Free. In a world where everything is expensive, LC Medical is proud to never charge our patients for any of our helpful services. Because your health matters to us. You have a right to the resources that you need. At LC Medical & Support, it is our mission to remove stress and pressure from the lives of women who feel like abortion is the only way to handle an unexpected pregnancy. The goal here is to provide a safe and welcoming environment where women can process through their options and goals. We never shame a woman for considering abortion; we want everyone to leave our offices feeling completely loved. If you know any woman who is considering an abortion, please connect her with us. We understand the pressures that drive women towards an abortion and can help relieve a bit of stress in her life. Our goal is not to increase the pressure, but to give her space to make an informed and confident decision. Visit our contact page for all of our contact information!

Are you looking for a New Year’s resolution that is totally attainable? Resolve to become your own health advocate in 2024! At LC Medical & Support, we have made it our goal to provide services that promote individual health, especially in the younger portion of our population. Through education, health services, and support, we do just that. Our goal is to inspire and equip people to become their own health advocate. What Does Becoming Your Own Health Advocate Mean? The word, “advocate” can be synonymous with the word “supporter.” A health advocate is a person who supports and promotes the health of a specific person or people. At LC Medical, we advocate for your health as soon as you walk through our doors. We love to support and aid the health journeys of our patients. But our goal is to show patients that the most important health advocate they can have is themselves. It is completely possible (and often necessary) to become the one who speaks on behalf of your own health and safety. Why is This Important? In a world with so many different voices and opinions, it can be very difficult to figure out who to trust. At LC Medical, we know that this is also true from a healthcare standpoint. You need to stay alert and educated as you navigate your health decisions. Unfortunately, there are individuals and organizations who claim to value your health, yet do the exact opposite. Becoming your own health advocate can help you stay careful and safe. This is especially important to remember when you interact with those who financially profit from your medical decisions. Becoming your own health advocate means that you are in charge of making the healthiest decisions for your life. It means that you have committed to protecting you and those you care about. It may sound daunting, but we’re challenging you to make it your New Year’s resolution! Here are 5 steps to becoming your own health advocate in 2024: #1 Evaluate Your Ambitions Knowing where you want to go is crucial in figuring out how to get there! Visualizing your goals is a big step in becoming your own health advocate this year. We say this because your health often has a large impact on your life. Being motivated by your dreams and ambitions can make prioritizing your health a lot easier. This involves taking the time to think about what you really want out of life. Sit down, grab a piece of paper, and start thinking about some goals you have for yourself this year, then 5 years from now, and finally some lifetime goals. Just a simple exercise like this can help you determine what decisions need to be made about your health. #2 Protect All Areas of Your Health Becoming your own health advocate means that you are taking up the challenge of becoming healthy in every area of your life. This means more than just eating veggies and running on the treadmill; overall health is more complicated than that. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” When you are committed to keeping your health protected, you must acknowledge your physical, emotional, intellectual, social, financial, relational, and spiritual health. Ask yourself how you are doing in each of those areas. Find ways to grow in all of them. Surround yourself with friends who are also choosing to make healthy choices in these areas. Be honest about habits or lifestyle choices that could be unhealthy for your future. Often this can become uncomfortable because we don’t often want to make the healthiest choice all the time. But the more you choose health, the easier those decisions become. Trust us. #3 Speak to Yourself Kindly Let this be the year that you commit to speaking to yourself in an uplifting way. Becoming your own health advocate means recognizing that you are deserving of good health. Unfortunately, not every message you’ll hear this year is going to be helpful or positive. Take it upon yourself to be your #1 cheerleader in 2024! Remind yourself that it is okay to ask for help. Maintain a healthy body image and work to become confident in your own skin. Give yourself compliments when you wake up in the morning! Don’t let the negative words of others stick in your mind. #4 Know Your Resources A large responsibility that comes with becoming your own health advocate is knowing the help that is offered to you. Stay up to date on the resources that are around you. These can be health clinics (like us), educational materials, community events, and organizations dedicated to providing helpful services. The good news is that many resources like these are completely free, and we can help you find them! LC Medical is part of a non-profit organization that has been offering free health services and information for over 36 years. In that time, we have collected so much information that can help you find the resources you need! #5 Do Your Research This step may be the most important one in the list. Good research is absolutely necessary if you are making your own health decisions. Be very thorough when researching healthcare centers, health procedures, and medical prescriptions. Make sure that you are getting your information from unbiased and verified sources. It is also important to take note of your own beliefs and emotions as you are making your health decisions. Do not substitute your own feelings or desires for the facts. Your safety is so important to us, and we want you to know that here at LC Medical, we care about you. We care about your future and your well-being. It is our goal to give you trustworthy information and helpful services so you can become your own health advocate!

At Life’s Choices, we work diligently towards improving maternal health. This is a big part of why we exist, because we value the lives and stories of babies and their mothers. Read more below about how we accomplish this task. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, centers like ours have received mixed attention. While support from others has often been overwhelming, there have been quite a few instances of misinformation being shared about clinics like us. This type of negativity often comes from a simple lack of understanding as to who we are and what we offer. The truth is that our efforts are focused on promoting and improving the health of individuals and families, particularly those experiencing a pregnancy, and we are ready to prove it! Here are just a few examples of how we are improving maternal health in our communities. – Early Pregnancy Confirmation – One of the most important steps to promoting maternal health is through early pregnancy confirmation. If a pregnancy is confirmed in its early stages, a woman has more time to review her options regarding her pregnancy. The sooner a pregnancy is confirmed, the sooner certain care can be obtained for the mother and her baby. How do we offer early pregnancy confirmation? Through our pregnancy testing and ultrasound services. At Life’s Choices our pregnancy tests are 99% accurate when used from the first day of your expected period. Our laboratory grade pregnancy tests detect the presence of the pregnancy hormone, hCG in a patient’s urine. This type of pregnancy test is much preferable to the tests a woman can find at a convenience store. And of course, our services are all offered at no cost. Women who may be pregnant deserve accessible and quality care, and that starts with a pregnancy test. Our next step in early pregnancy confirmation is providing women with access to an ultrasound. This is something we happily offer at our Kutztown office. If a woman’s pregnancy test is positive, we highly encourage her to schedule an ultrasound with us. Our trained sonographer will be able to ascertain that the pregnancy is implanted in the uterus and determine the gestational age. Both of these pieces of information are vital to maternal-fetal health. If the pregnancy is not implanted in the uterus as it should be, that should be known as soon as possible, to keep the woman safe. The gestational age helps the woman know what her next steps are in caring for herself and her pregnancy. – STD Screenings – If a woman is pregnant, she must take extra care that she is as healthy as possible, which includes STD screenings. When a pregnant woman is coming to our office for care, we always offer testing for the two most common sexually transmitted infections, chlamydia and gonorrhea. If a mother has a sexually transmitted disease/infection, that could significantly impact her health during her pregnancy. In addition, a sexually transmitted infection/disease could create some complications for the growing baby. We can offer treatment for the two aforementioned infections, and we have referrals for further testing/treatment options. Life’s Choices also offers education and information about STD prevention, so that she can maintain sexual health throughout the rest of her pregnancy. – Educational Follow-Up – Finally, Life’s Choices is improving maternal health by providing educational follow-up care with our Baby Bundle and other classes. Women sometimes come to us with questions and we do our best to make sure she leaves with answers. A future mother has a lot to think about, and could be feeling overwhelmed. We offer a huge variety of class options for mothers (and fathers) in all walks of life. Our class topics include pregnancy health, the childbirth process, infant and toddler nutrition, and plenty more. At Life’s Choices, our services are designed to provide support for women and families all throughout the pregnancy and even beyond that. We care so much about the health of children and their parents. Maintaining maternal health is a big task, and we are here to help women and families do just that. We know that a pregnancy is a lot to handle, especially if it is unexpected. A woman can come to our office for care, and for support. She can evaluate her options and get a few of her big questions answered. At Life’s Choices, our goal is to promote the health of our community, specifically by supporting individual lives. Hear from a recent patient about how Life’s Choices played a key role in improving maternal health in her situation: “We were having our first baby and all the info and guidance from the Life’s Choices staff helped to ease so much of my anxiety. Then, when I lost my job while on maternity leave, the resources that we were given like the grocery gift cards and baby essentials helped make ends meet with no income coming in. We are so, so profoundly grateful and hope one day to also be able to give back to pay the blessings forward.” LC Client

What You Need to Know… At Life’s Choices, one of our main health services that we offer to women is a free ultrasound, which can provide vital information, including verifying that the pregnancy is implanted in the uterus. When a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus it is called an ectopic pregnancy. In this article, we will answer some of the most common questions that women have regarding an ectopic pregnancy. While ectopic pregnancies are quite rare, it is important to learn what they are and to be aware of their symptoms. What is an Ectopic Pregnancy? An ectopic pregnancy can also be referred to as a “tubal pregnancy.” An ectopic pregnancy is one that is growing in the wrong place in your body. While a pregnancy normally grows inside the uterus, an ectopic pregnancy can be in the fallopian tubes (where the egg and sperm meet) in the ovary, cervix, or the abdominal cavity (belly). Can an Ectopic Pregnancy Survive? A pregnancy cannot survive outside the uterus. In order for the pregnancy to continue as normal, the fetus needs to receive nourishment while implanted in the uterus. Unfortunately, the pregnancy cannot be placed inside the uterus, so it must be removed. Did You Know? A pregnancy test will come back positive for an ectopic pregnancy. Even though it is not a normal or healthy pregnancy, the test will show its presence. What are the Symptoms of an Ectopic Pregnancy? With a tubal pregnancy, you may not experience any bleeding. You may have: Sharp or stabbing pain on one side only that may come and go and vary in intensity. The pain may be in the pelvis, abdomen, or even the shoulder and neck due to blood from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy gathering up under the diaphragm. Vaginal bleeding, heavier or lighter than your normal period. Gastrointestinal symptoms Weakness, dizziness, or fainting How are Ectopic Pregnancies Discovered and Treated? Ectopic pregnancies are confirmed or ruled out by blood tests and a repeat pregnancy test, pelvic exam, and/or ultrasound. At Life’s Choices, when we offer women who may be pregnant an ultrasound, we are scanning for many pieces of information: To confirm that the woman is indeed pregnant To determine if the pregnancy is implanted in the uterus (viable) To detect a heartbeat which also confirms viability To determine the gestational age of the pregnancy These pieces of information will help women to determine which next steps are necessary for their health. We encourage all pregnant women to contact a physician and discuss their pregnancy plan. If a woman is diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, medical attention is needed to maintain her health. An untreated ectopic pregnancy can become extremely dangerous for women. Medication may be used to safely treat an ectopic pregnancy. In some cases, surgical intervention may be needed. What Do I Do if I Think I Might Have an Ectopic Pregnancy? It is important to contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing sharp pain that lasts more than a few minutes or if you have bleeding. If you do not already have a doctor, go to the emergency department of a nearby hospital. If you are not experiencing these symptoms, but you believe you are pregnant, please contact Life’s Choices to receive no-cost pregnancy testing and ultrasound services. We will be happy to help you get the information you need to stay healthy and informed. At Life’s Choices, we are committed to giving you the answers you need. Only you can make the final decision concerning the outcome of your pregnancy. However, in order to do so, you need accurate information, which we are happy to give you. American Pregnancy Association: Promoting Pregnancy Wellness c2016 Available from: http://americanpregnancy.org/ Ectopic Pregnancy: Symptoms, Causes, Risks, And Treatment c2016 Available from: http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/ectopic-pregnancy/ #ectopicpregnancy #pregnancy #womenshealth

If you follow our organization, then you have probably noticed a few recent changes to our overall look. Our social media pages, our materials, and language we use for our ministry has lately been in the process of a soft rebrand. New names, new colors, updated logo…why make all of these changes? Explore our reasoning and thought processes for the LC rebranding in this article. Here at Life’s Choices, we are constantly in the process of evaluating how to reach more people in our communities. If someone finds themself in need of something we offer, we want their process of finding us to be as easy as possible. The changes we have been making lately are all directed toward the goal of becoming more approachable to the public. Two Centers, Two Sets of Services Our first step in the LC rebranding process involved consolidating the services offered at our two centers. Previously, both Life’s Choices centers offered all of the same services (except ultrasounds, which was only in Kutztown). Each office offered pregnancy testing, options consulting, STD testing/treatment, parenting/pregnancy classes, relationship mentoring, baby materials, and a few other services. This worked well, but it was a difficult load for our staff to handle. It also made it difficult to create an atmosphere where women considering an abortion were not surrounded by baby-themed items. Our goal is to educate on the facts and risks of abortion, while also providing support and encouragement toward choosing life, but we want to do that without making the woman feel uncomfortable or pressured. She has enough of that in her life already. To remedy this, we consolidated all medical services to our Kutztown location and all social support services to Hamburg. In Kutztown, we now only offer STI testing/treatment, pregnancy testing, ultrasound services, health referrals and pregnancy/abortion information. In Hamburg, we now only offer parenting/pregnancy resources, classes, baby/maternity items, relationship mentoring, case management, and social service referrals. This helps each office to focus on professionalism and excellence in their category. Both offices are still very much connected, and there will often be some overlap between what each office can provide for a patient. We simply wanted to make it easier, so if someone calls us and needs a specific service, we know exactly where to direct them so they can get the quality help they deserve. New Names Our next step in the LC rebranding was to figure out how to present these two offices to the public, while also communicating that they were part of the same organization. This began a conversation about our name. For years, our centers in Kutztown and Hamburg, PA have been known as “Life’s Choices” offices, but we are now moving in a slightly different direction. After much deliberation, we decided upon replacing “Life’s Choices” with “LC” and naming our centers based on the services they offer. Our Kutztown center will be known as “LC Medical” and our Hamburg center will be known as “LC Support” Please know that our overall organization is still Life’s Choices. Our donors and supporters will know us as Life’s Choices – and our mission and purpose will not change. The change to “LC” was directed toward effectively marketing to our potential clients. As we rebranded, our goal was to make it easier to 1) find us and 2) understand what we offer. Advertising and promotion are vitally important to communicating our message and maintaining our image. Potential patients, especially in the college-age range, have to know that we are a reputable, legitimate, and necessary resource to the community. We wanted our name and our look to communicate that very clearly. Updated Look Since we were making changes to the names of our centers, we figured it was a good time to also update our overall look. Nothing was wrong with our old look, but doing something new is fun! There was some talk about replacing the lotus flower with something different, but we liked the message of the lotus flower so much that we couldn’t do that. The symbol of the lotus brings thoughts to mind of refreshment, calmness, and new life. These are three things that we are committed to promoting at our centers. So, the flower stayed, it just got a bit of sprucing up, along with our colors. Our main color is now a bright, inviting blue, along with a few complimentary colors. Both centers will be sporting this new look, so keep an eye out for new signs, promo materials, and LC merch to get our name out there! New Color Palette To close, we wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years. It is such an honor to partner with you and to share these fun updates with our people! We do this work as a result of generous donations from people who care, and we hope that these changes will help our presence and our reach grow exponentially. As a reminder of why we work so hard to be excellent in all we do, here is a quote from a recent client. We were so happy to be there when she needed us! “I just wanted to say thank you to you guys because if it wasn’t for that 1st appointment with you guys and hearing her little heartbeat I don’t know what we would have done. But I’m extremely grateful that we decided to be parents, I honestly can’t imagine my life without my daughter. So thank you!”LC Client, Kutztown

Life’s Choices is all about women’s health! Sadly, many other health resources that profit from abortion services neglect to do their duty to women and withhold valuable information about the abortion pill. In order to respect your right to know what the abortion pill is and what it can do, here are 8 facts about the abortion pill that every woman should know. We love to see strong and capable females making the best choices for their lives. A big part of choosing the best for yourself is having all of the information you need to make a healthy decision. This is especially true if a woman is considering an abortion. One of the most common abortion procedures is something known as a medical abortion. This is also known as the abortion pill. Abortion Pill? Abortion Pills is More Accurate A medication abortion is a two-step process that involves two different drugs. The first step requires the oral ingestion of Mifeprex, which blocks progesterone, interrupting pregnancy development prompting detachment of implanted embryo. 24-48 hours after taking Mifeprex, the second drug, Misoprostol, is taken. Misoprostol induces contractions to empty the uterus. If these drugs are taken, a follow-up appointment at a healthcare center should be done to ensure the abortion is complete. 2. 10-Week Time Limit This method of abortion is only for women who are within 10 weeks pregnant, about 70 days since their last menstrual period. Women with later-term pregnancies are seriously warned against the abortion pill, as it can cause complications. The abortion pill will not work as intended and could lead to dangerous health situations if taken too late. It is important to know how far along you are before committing to a medication abortion. An ultrasound will be able to give you a reliable age of the pregnancy (something we offer to women at no-cost!). Contact us today by calling/texting this number: 610-683.8000 3. Online Rx: Fast, But Not Always Reliable Abortion medication like Mifeprex can be purchased over the internet, but it may not be the same that is offered at a medical office. Do not buy Mifeprex over the internet because you will bypass important safeguards designed to protect your health. Mifeprex has special safety restrictions on how it is distributed to the public. Drugs purchased from foreign internet sources are not the FDA approved version and are not subject to FDA manufacturing controls or quality inspections. 4. The Pill’s Track Record is Far From Perfect There is an 8-10% failure of abortion pills, requiring a surgical abortion to complete the termination. This means that as many as 1 in 10 medication abortions becoming a multi-step health process, costing the patient more money and putting her at serious health risk. This failure of the abortion pill can be especially scary for someone who has bought the medication from a web source. They do not have a medical professional set up specifically to help with this sort of care, so a completely new appointment will have to be made. In addition, there will be no way for medical professionals to ascertain what exactly was in the pills taken. 5. It is FDA-Approved…Kind Of The FDA has approved Mifeprex for use only up to 70 days from LMP (last menstrual period). Deviations from the approved regimen increase the risk of harmful complications. Mifeprex is not proven to be as effective after 10 weeks since your LMP. Women with abnormal cycles are especially warned to be careful about Mifeprex. *This FDA-approval is not ensured if you order abortion pills over the internet; it is incredibly difficult to know if mail-order drugs from foreign websites are safe. 6. Fetus Development at 10 Weeks May Be More Than You Think Not much is happening in those first 10 weeks right? Maybe think again. That fetus is definitely growing. Many women aren’t aware that these changes are happening very early on in the pregnancy: Heart begins to beat Brain, spinal cord, and nerves develop Face takes shape with eyes, nose, ears, and upper lip All limbs form with bones along with fingers and toes Internal reproductive organs are forming Brain connections are forming Movement begins 7. Mifeprex and Misoprostol ≠ Tylenol The abortion pill is sometimes advertised to be as simple and safe as Tylenol, or some other over-the-counter drug. Unfortunately, many women can attest that this is not the case. Hemorrhaging (failure to stop bleeding), cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, infection are a few side effects associated with a medication abortion. The abortion pill is not advised for women with anemia, bleeding disorders, liver or kidney disease, seizure disorder, acute inflammatory bowel disease, who have an IUD, or are unable to return to a healthcare facility for a follow-up visit. 8. Side Effects of the Abortion Pill: Not Just Physical An abortion is a physical procedure which can have some physical side effects, but many women have reported mental and emotional side effects after having an abortion. Here at Life’s Choices, we have no desire to put unnecessary pressure or negativity into your situation. But as a woman, you deserve to know all of the possibilities of an abortion. Women who undergo the experience of an abortion, no matter which method, tend to experience some of these general side effects: Feelings of Sadness or Loss: 55.8% Fears concerning future pregnancies: 36.9% Nightmares: 30% Withdrawal from family and friends: 30% Increase in alcohol or drug use: 26.7% Difficulty controlling anger: 24% Relationship ended with partner: 19.8% We encourage women to continue their research and dig deeper into what the abortion pill really entails. In our experience (and we have a lot of it), abortion is never as easy or simple as providers claim it to be. These 8 facts about the abortion pill are trustworthy and research-based. Women, you deserve so much more than glossed-over information or hidden facts. You deserve honesty, and you deserve optimal health. We are a reliable source of information and do not profit from your decision. To learn more or to talk to someone who cares, call or text Life’s Choices! We’d be happy to offer you reliable resources, pregnancy information, and no-cost health services! Kutztown Office Phone Number: 610.683.8000 (call or text anytime) These 8 facts about the abortion pill are all backed by research from reliable scientific sources: Glover V Fisk, NM “Fetal pain: Implication for Research and Practice” Rue, Coleman, Rue, and Reardon “Induced Abortion and Traumatic Stress” https://medscimonit.com/download/index/idArt/11784 Babbel “Post Abortion Stress Syndrome (PASS) – Does It Exist?” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/ blog/somatic-psychology/201010/post-abortion-stress-syndromed-pass-does-it-exist Anderson “Abortion and the Risk of Breast Cancer: Information for the Adolescent Woman and Her Parents” https://acpeds.org/position-statements/reproductive-choices-of-young-women-affecting-future-breast-cancer-risk https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmaket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/mifeprex-mifepristone-information https://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/your-baby/fetal-development-week-by-week_10406730 #abortioninformation #womenshealth #berkscounty #abortion #kutztown

It seems like the autumn season is becoming more anticipated every year. PA residents can’t seem to get enough of fall. We love fall colors, fall sweaters, and especially fall flavors; people have been ordering their pumpkin coffee since mid-August! Our staff is not immune to this fall craze…any fall-enthusiasts definitely have a friend in Life’s Choices! We love to encourage parents, and while some of our resources are heavily educational, sometimes we just like to have fun! If you have a few little ones running around at home, we have some creative ways to have some fall fun! In this article, we’ve assembled a few ideas that would be fun for children at/under the first-grade age. For any parents of older children, consider using these ideas as springboards for activities to do with your kids. We’ll have some suggestions for how to do that at the tail-end of each idea! Fall Fun Activity #1 – Apple Decorating Afternoon Apple slices and caramel: the yummy fall-alternative of celery and peanut butter. Make snack-time a creative experience by challenging your kids to a decorating war! Set out the apple slices and whatever toppings that sound good to you. Caramel does not have to be the only spread; peanut butter, hazelnut spread, and honey are all good options. The great thing about apples is that they make a great base; they can go with a lot of flavors! If you’re not afraid to try some interesting combos, this could be a good way to clean out your snack cabinet! Topping Ideas: Chocolate chips (mini ones work great) Peanuts Cinnamon sugar Sprinkles Pretzel bits Trail mix Cereal Granola Mini marshmallows Tips and Tricks: Definitely try to use a plastic tablecloth because things can get messy! To make things easier, buy caramel in a squeeze bottle (like an ice cream topping). If you cut up the apples beforehand, store them in a ziploc bag, in the fridge, with a bit of lemon juice mixed in. This will keep the apples from getting brown. Have a wet rag handy. Caramel is deliciously sticky. For Older Kids: Have them invite some friends over to join in the fun! Set everything up in a charcuterie board style! Have them decorate whole apples (use thicker caramel & refrigerate before slicing) Fall Fun Activity #2 – Finger Paint Mini Pumpkins Usually for little ones, pumpkins are just a bit too large to handle, and knives are usually out of the question. But it would feel incomplete to go through fall and not decorate pumpkins. Fingerpainting is so simple, but so fun! The novelty of using a pumpkin instead of a canvas might make your less artistically-inclined children more interested in this activity. Larger pumpkins work just as well, but using mini pumpkins offer a lot of options for different ideas. Your little ones might have fun if you name a theme for each pumpkin and then let them go wild. In no time, you’ll have an array of brightly colored decorations to place all around your home. Pumpkin Painting Theme Ideas: Cats or dogs Your child’s favorite color A bowl of ice cream Super heroes or cartoon characters Funny faces Something spooky Tips and Tricks: Use washable, kid-safe paint. Disposable bowls or plates make great paint palettes. Let the pumpkins dry completely before moving again. Try working together on a pumpkin, it’s a great way to bond! Make things educational by going over all the colors or counting the pumpkins! For Older Kids: If carving a pumpkin is still a scary thought, older children can have just as much fun painting a pumpkin! Maybe get some larger pumpkins and print out stencils for them to use! Have a small assortment of brushes to use instead of fingerpainting. Find a painting to copy and have fun mixing the paints to get the exact color. Invite your child to be the paint instructor and have them “lead a class” Bob Ross-style! Fall Fun Activity #3 – Attend A Harvest Festival Bounce houses, apple cider, hay rides…what’s not to love about a festival? Often held on weekends, harvest/fall festivals are an easy and cheap way to spend a few hours with your family. Festivals often have tons of kid-focused games and activities that your children are sure to love! Most of the time these types of events have free admission, making this a low-cost, low-commitment trip. Consider looking for a local festival and meeting up there with some friends! We love this activity idea because it involves virtually no planning for parents. Just head over and have a great time! Making a Festival Trip Great: Bring a wagon to tote around your ones with shorter legs and pile it with cozy blankets! Check the festival policy and see if you can bring your dog along! Pick a festival that has some interesting stuff for adults, this is your fun day too! Have any fall family photos yet? Use this as an excuse to dress nice and take a few pics! Tips & Tricks: Look for events advertised on Facebook/Instagram. Keep an eye on stores’ bulletin boards; they typically have festival posters! If going with friends, consider carpooling to make parking go smoother. Pack a few snacks, just so you don’t buy every food item you see. Even if it’s nice out, pack a hat/gloves; if you stay long, it may cool down. For Older Kids: Maybe they can have a friend sleep over the night before and come with you! Write down a scavenger-hunt list to use at the festival (eg. “find a hay bale” or “count the number of tractors you see”) Use this as an opportunity to get them to try something new! Could be trying a new snack or participating in a festival activity, just get them excited to branch out! These are simply a few ideas just to get your gears turning as we celebrate the autumn season. Find ways to turn these activities into your own fun traditions! Encourage other parents to join with you in creating some special moments for your small children together. Some parents may see this little list and become easily overwhelmed. “What if I don’t make it as fun as it looks?” “What if my kids get bored” “What if I can’t make as much time for this stuff as I should?” If these types of thoughts are running through your head, we just want you to know that you are still killing it as a parent these days. Celebrate your little milestones and remember that you can enjoy this season in your own way. Fall doesn’t have to be this picturesque, perfect time where your family magically enjoys every single moment of every day. You can also be encouraged by the fact that autumn is not a one-time event. It does come every single year. The leaves will change colors again, apple cider will be sold in stores again, and pumpkins will take over our porches next year. Same time. Your children will have plenty of fall fun this year, as long as you are there loving them and listening to them and letting you know you care. #berkscounty #family #familyfun

You are in the bathroom, staring at the double line of a positive pregnancy test. Maybe this was planned, or maybe it is a complete surprise to you. Emotions, thoughts, possibilities, and maybe some fears fly through your head. Questions start to pop up: “Who do I tell?” “Where do I go?” “What is my next step?” If you have recently had a positive pregnancy test, and you are experiencing a bit of this internal chaos, here are 3 things that Life’s Choices needs you to know. #1 It Is Important to Have Proper Confirmation There have been countless times when a woman has come to our office thinking that she was pregnant and that ended up being false. It does happen sometimes that a pregnancy test can give inaccurate results. In addition, there are often pregnancies that begin and end naturally in a short span of time. This is why having proper confirmation of a pregnancy is important. At our Kutztown location, Life’s Choices offers free pregnancy testing and free confirmation ultrasounds, which can greatly help a woman who thinks she is pregnant. An ultrasound is able to give a wealth of good information about a woman’s pregnancy. There are many questions that a pregnancy test alone cannot answer, but that an ultrasound can! Is the pregnancy viable? How far along is the pregnancy? Is the pregnancy ectopic or normal? All of these things can be determined by a confirmation ultrasound at Life’s Choices. If you think you may be pregnant, consider calling our office today to set up a free appointment with us. Call or Text 610.683.8000 #2 You Have Plenty of Time to Figure Things Out Often, when people start to become stressed, they lose their sense of timing. Everything in the future suddenly becomes an issue to deal with in the present. When a woman sees that positive pregnancy test, the stress can quickly get out of control. What most women forget is that they have way more time than they realize. It is okay if you don’t have everything figured out 20 minutes after your positive pregnancy test! It can feel like you need to rush to answer every question and have a perfect plan by the end of your day, but you have way more time than that. Your options are open for longer than many women expect them to be. Remember to breathe and try to stay as calm and rational as possible. Try to talk things over with someone whose wisdom you trust. Give yourself some time to process and understand what could be happening. Not everything in your situation has to be decided right away. You do have time. #3 Emotions Are Terrible Decision-Makers As an organization staffed completely by women, we understand the power of emotions! They can be great indicators of how we are feeling, and can definitely help inform our decisions. But emotions by themselves are pretty terrible decision-makers. Think about how many emotions you have within an hour; our feelings are constantly changing! In the human brain, logical thinking and emotions are represented by two separate sections. If we are letting our emotions do all of the decision-making, our logical part of our brain is left in the dust. A stressful or unexpected situation can easily awaken the emotional part of our brain. This is totally normal and perfectly fine, but can lead to some interesting things. Emotions are not good or bad in and of themselves, they just exist. It’s all about what power we give to our emotions that can lead to healthy or unhealthy choices. If you are looking at a positive pregnancy test, we know that you probably have some big emotions happening. That’s okay. Acknowledge those feelings. A possible pregnancy is an emotional situation. But just remember that emotions are really bad at remaining calm and making rational decisions. Try to calm yourself down enough so that your logical brain can regain control before you make any quick decision regarding your pregnancy. One last thing to remember is that if you have a positive pregnancy test, Life’s Choices is absolutely your first step. We have been offering pregnancy resources and information to women for over 35 years. No matter what emotions your feeling, or what options you are considering, we are here to help you. Our services and information is helpful to every woman who might be pregnant. Life’s Choices is here for you! #freeultrasounds #kutztown #pregnancy #ultrasounds

Hey young people! This is for you! Here are 3 steps to creating a parent-positive environment and why it is important to do so. All around this country, many individuals are working hard to make sure that minorities and all sorts of people-groups are well represented and welcomed. But there may be a group that’s been overlooked. Parents, especially young ones, are often subjected to harsh stereotypes and attitudes from the people around them, often including their friends. Think about it. What do we say to someone who has a new baby? “Well, say goodbye to your sleep schedule and your social life!” Or how do we let the label “parent” influence the way we see somebody? Aren’t parents often automatically considered less fun and more boring? You may think that these attitudes are harmless or even true, but this sort of stigma surrounding parenthood could have some large effects. If parenthood is seen as the end of your fun, how could that affect someone expecting a baby? Or if everyone’s view of someone shifted when they became a parent, how could that affect parents’ mental health? That’s why Life’s Choices is encouraging young people to consider becoming parent-positive individuals who work to make parent-positive environments! What does “parent-positive” even mean, you may ask? Parent-Positive Adjective. Describing an attitude or lifestyle. Intentionally working to reach out and encourage new/young parents in your life. Evaluating the emotions and thoughts that come to your mind when you consider parenthood, and working to realize the blessing that parenthood is! Odds are, you know (or know of) a young parent. They might be a co-worker, a family member, a friend…in any case, they are someone who could probably benefit from having a parent-positive person around. Here are three steps to creating a parent-positive environment! #1 Invite Your Parenting Friends Out (and keep inviting them!) Just because someone is now a father or a mother does not mean that they don’t like to hang out any more. Yes, their schedule may look different, and they definitely will be pretty busy most days. But we encourage you to take the initiative to make plans with your parenting friends! Friendship and fellowship are great encouragers; a few hours with a friend might be exactly what a parent needs to recharge! They might be too distracted to make plans themselves, so an invite to something you’ve planned could be just what they’re looking for. And don’t forget to keep asking them to do things. If they have to cancel one night, or an invite gets turned down, odds are they appreciated your effort and they’d totally say yes to something else. The parents in your life need time with friends and family, and if you work together, you can make it happen! #2 Think Ahead and Baby-Proof Your Space If you are having some parents over, and they are bringing their little one(s), it would say so much if you baby-proofed your space before they arrived. What does this say? It says that you acknowledge the potential challenge of bringing their child along so they could spend time with you. It says that you’re aware of the many things they have to think about, and you care about making them feel welcome. That way, when the parents arrive, they see that you have made an effort to understand their life at this stage. Most people hear “baby-proof” and think they need to buy a baby gate. When in reality, it just takes a few moments to assess your area for safety. Take 10 minutes and look around the room for any exposed outlets, any dangerous objects within reach, and anything on the floor that isn’t supposed to be there. Close any doors to rooms that could contain a hazard for a small child. Invite your guests to hang out somewhere that is not close to an open staircase. Small thoughts and actions like this can be quite the addition to your parent-positive environment. #3 Watch Your Words About Parenting We say so many things throughout the day, a lot of them we don’t even remember afterwards. But a huge part of creating a parent-positive environment is being very intentional about the language and words you use about parenting. Have you ever said anything like this to a group? “Ugh, I never want to have children!” “Wow they must be so tired, couldn’t be me.” “I hope she doesn’t bring her kid along.” These statements may be truthful to some extent but think about how a parent would feel if they heard those words said in a thoughtless tone. Our words have such a strong power, they can build up and tear down so easily. The young/new parents in your life have undertaken a big job in choosing to take care of a child. They need encouragement and positive words to let them know their community is with them. No matter your own desires when it comes to having kids, you need to be careful about how you are speaking about parenting in general. Parenting is a blessing. It is an important stage of many people’s lives. It is also difficult and exhausting at times. We need to make sure that these superheroes (moms and dads) feel safe and taken care of too! Use these tips in creating a parent-positive environment in your world today! #encourage #parenting

As a community clinic dedicated to reproductive health, Life’s Choices understands the very real need for finding post-abortive support. Many women who have had an abortion experience negative emotional effects that can be difficult to overcome. For several years, Life’s Choices has offered Surrendering the Secret as a post-abortive support group and Bible study for women. In this article, the group’s two instructors give their thoughts about the program and post-abortive healing. For women who are curious about this incredible resource, we asked Marie Perry, one of our Surrendering the Secret instructors a few questions about her experience leading the program. Read Marie’s thoughts about finding post-abortive support through Surrendering the Secret. 1. What is Surrendering the Secret? “A healing bible study to work through the regret and shame of a past abortion through the love and forgiveness of Jesus.” 2. Why do you recommend this program to post-abortive women? “Most times, we bury our abortions deep down inside of us… maybe we don’t even realize how much it affects us, but it does affect us in more ways than we know. If you have abortion in your past, you really do need this study because you can’t heal without it!” 3. How have you personally been impacted by leading this program? “For starters, I was blessed to co-lead with a wonderful woman (Katie) who, although I’ve known for years, I was able to see a truly loving and beautiful and compassionate side of her that I began to appreciate in so many ways. I was impacted by the love and grace she gives to those who come through the class for healing, as well as the grace she shows me as I try to minister in the same way but through my personal experience with abortion and finding Jesus. She is a beautiful example of Christ, and I am thankful to lead alongside her. I’ve also been impacted by leading when I experience watching someone receive and understand the forgiveness and rest that they can only find in Jesus after time of carrying the burden of abortion. It’s truly amazing to see someone find that freedom in Christ, be able to forgive herself, and to shed that weight and be redeemed, right in front of my eyes!” 4. What does a typical evening look like? “We welcome and greet each other, and share our highs and lows for the past week.  If there’s any topics from lesson the week before, we discuss them.  Then we watch a video session of the study.  Each session follows 7 women and the author of the study, Pat Layton, as they share their stories and their struggles as they worked through the study themselves.  You really feel as though you know these women, as if you were right there in the study with them, feeling endeared to them. Afterwards, we go through some of the questions in the book for that session.  We pray whenever it’s needed, and our friendships grow while our hearts are healed! 5. What can a woman expect from the program? “She can expect to feel free from the shame and regret that she may have been carrying for the loss of her child. She will learn that Jesus was there, in every awful moment of it, and He still is right here beside her. She will learn that God’s forgiveness is bigger than anything she will ever know.  She will learn that she can forgive herself, because Jesus already gave his life for her. She will learn that God chose the women who are leading the class just for her, to be alongside her, to comfort her in the pain and to celebrate her in the healing!” 6. If a woman is anxious about signing up, what would you say to her? “Just take the first step. It won’t be easy, but every step gets easier and you’re not alone.  But most importantly, it will be worth it, and you’ll wish you would have done it sooner (although God’s timing is ALWAYS the right time!)” Here at Life’s Choices, we know that abortion can leave emotional wounds in a woman’s heart. Living with pain like that can be very exhausting, and we want to help. Marie’s genuine and meaningful words show her heart for post-abortive women, which matches our heart as well. We are blessed to work with her as we offer Surrendering the Secret as a free resource. Surrendering the Secret is held at various times throughout the year by Katie Bailey and Marie Perry. Katie is the Patient Services Director at Life’s Choices and Marie is a faithful supporter of our organization. We are happy to announce that our next offering of this study will begin on Monday, September 25th, 2023. If you or someone you know is interested in finding post-abortive support, please consider this free resource! More details are available upon request. Email Katie at katie.lifeschoices@gmail.com or contact our Kutztown office today! Contact Us #abortion #abortionhealing #hamburg #howwehelp