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Let’s be honest: it can be hard to tell if you’re pregnant when some period symptoms are similar to pregnancy symptoms. If you think you might be pregnant and live in Kutztown or Hamburg , PA, we at LC Medical want to help you determine with certainty if you’re experiencing a monthly period or are pregnant. Overlapping Symptoms  There are numerous overlapping periods and pregnancy symptoms. The reason for this is that during both your period and pregnancy, your hormones fluctuate. Overlapping symptoms include but are not limited to: Cramping If you’re on your period, the cramping occurs because the uterus is preparing to and will expel its lining. If you’re pregnant, you may cramp due to your uterus expanding . Breast Changes If your breasts are tender, swollen, sensitive, heavy, or you’re experiencing pain or discomfort in them, these are all symptoms linked to pregnancy and period. Fatigue Have you ever noticed before your period, you can feel lethargic with little to no energy? This symptom can be associated with the onset of your period or pregnancy. Period fatigue  can be caused by hormonal changes, low iron, a dip in your blood glucose, or disturbed sleep. Pregnancy fatigue  occurs most often because of doubling the amount of blood production and hormonal changes. Both the increase in blood and the production of progesterone causes you to feel fatigued during your first trimester.  Headaches When it comes to your period, a headache can be triggered by  fluctuating hormonal levels , specifically estrogen and progesterone. The same can be true for first-trimester headaches , but the increased blood flow can also cause headaches for pregnant women. Appetite Changes Although food cravings are commonly associated with pregnant women, women who are experiencing PMS or on their period may also experience food cravings. Here is a hint: chocolate. Additionally, food aversions, along with nausea, can happen to women who are pregnant and women who are on their period.  Pregnancy Symptoms There are two symptoms unique to pregnancy. They are: Missed Period This one is easy to spot if you experience regular periods. However, if you don’t it can be hard to know. A normal menstrual cycle  is from 21 to 35 days. If you have gone past that timeframe, you have missed your period. It is possible to skip a period due to high levels of stress or drastic weight loss. However, if you have been sexually active, you may be experiencing a pregnancy.  Nipple Change Although your breasts will get sore during your period, your nipples typically remain the same. However, if you’re pregnant, your areolas become darker . Keep in mind that nipple changes typically occur in the second trimester.   How You Can Be Certain You’re Pregnant or Not In order to be certain if your period is late or you’re experiencing a pregnancy, you must take a pregnancy test followed by an ultrasound. An ultrasound is the only way to know without a doubt if you’re pregnant. Additionally, an ultrasound can detect if the fetus is in the right position, if you’re pregnant with twins, how far along you’re in your pregnancy, and if there are any abnormalities with your pregnancy.  Don’t wait; put your mind at ease.  Schedule your appointment   today!

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

A positive pregnancy test (including a home test) is an indication of pregnancy, but not a confirmation. An ultrasound can confirm your pregnancy and it can indicate how far along you are by using measurements to estimate the gestational age of the fetus. We offer limited ultrasounds to anyone who had a positive pregnancy test at our center. Our medical personnel will determine if you are eligible for a limited ultrasound after you have had a positive pregnancy test at our clinic. REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT What Does an Obstetric Ultrasound Do? At our center, in most cases, we can determine: how far along you are. if a heartbeat is detected. if there is a potentially life-threatening tubal pregnancy. if your pregnancy is developing under normal conditions. whether or not you are carrying a single fetus or multiples. If you are considering an abortion, an ultrasound should be performed to determine how far along you are and can also determine the cost of the abortion and if you qualify for the abortion pill. (The abortion pill at Planned Parenthood, an abortion clinic, or another online abortion provider could charge $300-$500.) If you are considering making an adoption plan or desiring to parent your child, an ultrasound may not be required by your doctor but it can be a crucial part of your prenatal plan. What Can I Expect? At your first appointment, we will provide a free pregnancy test at our center. Depending on your last known period (LMP) and our availability, we will either perform an ultrasound during your appointment or schedule one for a future date. Before your ultrasound appointment, the nurse may direct you to drink several glasses of water to ensure a full bladder. This can help our medical personnel see more clearly during an intravaginal ultrasound. If you are in your second or third trimester, an abdominal ultrasound could be performed. You can also talk about your medical history, pregnancy concerns, or ask questions about the abortion pill or the various types of surgical abortions. What’s Next? Find out if you qualify for a free ultrasound with us . Book now to come in for a free pregnancy testing appointment. If the test is positive, we will schedule an ultrasound and talk about all your options. Note: We do not perform ultrasounds to determine the gender of the fetus.

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

When a woman or couple finds out they are unexpectedly pregnant, adoption is one of the pregnancy options they may consider. Life's Choices is not an adoption agency, but we are an organization that supports women facing difficult pregnancy decisions. We have free resources and information on women's pregnancy options to help women make informed decisions. Adoption is a complicated, difficult, and wonderful choice for many moms. It’s more common than you may think: an estimated 120,000 adoptions happen in the U.S. each year, and over half of all Americans know someone who has been adopted, adopted a child or placed their child for adoption. However, many people have an initial negative response to adoption. Here are some common questions we hear from pregnant clients, many of them based on misconceptions. Will choosing adoption make me a bad mother? Isn’t it selfish? By choosing adoption and fully engaging in the process (such as taking care of herself during pregnancy and selecting the best possible parents to raise her child), a birth mother is making a sacrificial and loving choice for her child. Studies show a baby raised by adopted parents will enjoy many of the same positive life outlooks as children raised by two biological parents. I’ve known too many foster children who have been mistreated. How can I let that happen? This is a complicated but honest question. It’s important to realize that: When you place your child for adoption, they do not go into the foster care system. Approximately 2 million families are waiting to adopt a child, and out of those 2 million, the birth mother gets to vet and choose which family she wants to adopt her baby. She is in control. She determines the future of her child, not the foster care system. Birth mothers get to choose what kind of adoption, whether it is closed, open, or semi-open. When a birth mom picks adoption, she is in the driver's seat. She should work with a reputable adoption agency and be given a choice of parents who could potentially adopt her child. While the timeline and laws vary by state, a birth mom has lots of options going forward and even the opportunity to stay in contact with her child once the adoption is final. Will my baby feel abandoned? It is common for adopted children to potentially struggle  with psychological issues including fear of abandonment and feelings of grief and loss. These are challenges of adoption that will need to be cared for by the adoptive parents and the communities supporting them. However, open adoption  creates an avenue for birth mothers to maintain a close relationship with their child, with terms stipulated and designed by the birth mother. This can heavily mitigate the otherwise negative psychological issues adoption can have on children, and also allows the biological mother to maintain an emotionally rewarding relationship with her child, even though she is not ready to assume all of the responsibilities of financially and physically supporting and caring for a child. Life's Choices is Here For You At Life’s Choices, we have classes, videos, and resources to help birth moms decide if adoption is the right choice for them. We also can provide a list of reputable adoption agencies to consider and a non-judging environment to talk things through. Whether you’re considering parenting, adoption, or abortion, please contact us today for free educational resources as you make your decision.

Curious about Life’s Choices? We can answer your questions! Whether you are visiting us for a pregnancy test, an ultrasound, an STD test, or for parenting resources, we’ll be happy to see you. Here are a few things you can expect to see at your first appointment! – A Clean & Inviting Space – At both of our office locations (Hamburg & Kutztown), we make it a priority to keep our space warm and professional. When someone new walks through our doors, they will be welcomed and comforted. Between comfy seating and cared-for spaces, clients will know that Life’s Choices notices the details and strives for excellence. Our goal is to give you helpful information and services to maintain your health. But in addition to that, we also want to make sure you know that we care about you. Our spaces are designed to help you feel protected and supported! – Confidential Care – Confidentiality is something that Life’s Choices is heavily committed to every day. When a new client is introduced to our system, we make sure that all of their information is secure and protected. We follow HIPAA guidelines with all of our client files, and we will not share any of your information with anyone besides yourself, unless otherwise directed by you. If you receive services that require a follow-up appointment or phone call, we have several measures that make sure only you will be notified or receive sensitive information. No matter what your circumstance is, we give you our promise that none of your information will be shared with anyone outside of Life’s Choices. – An Easy, Streamlined Process – We know that you have a life and that you probably have places to be after your appointment. Therefore we have made our check-in forms as easy and simplified as we can. When someone visits Life’s Choices for the first time, they will not receive hundreds of forms, just some very basic documents before we can begin the appointment. No need to worry about hours of filling out papers, we want to serve you as quickly and as efficiently as possible! At our office, your time and your schedule will be valued. We can be very flexible, which allows you to come at a time that works for you! Our goal is to share helpful information and provide healthy services whenever people need them. Life’s Choices is here to serve you! – Openness and Compassion – All of our staff and volunteers understand that life does not always go as we planned. We know that not every situation is squeaky clean. It is okay if you aren’t feeling as put-together as you want to be. At your first appointment (and every appointment afterwards), whomever you interact with will have a heart of openness and compassion. We just love people here and we want the very best for you! There will be no judgment or false information given to you. We will listen patiently and offer truthful information that you can trust. Our services come at no cost to you. We are a non-profit organization that is committed to cherishing the value of human life. Everything at Life’s Choices is done to uphold personal dignity and support those in need of our services. You will be absolutely welcomed and helped. – Simple and Speedy Communication – Even on days when our offices are not open, we make it a large priority to stay connected to our communication lines! Whether you send us an email or type out a text to us, you can be sure to get a very quick and helpful response! No one wants to be stuck waiting on a reply, especially if they are in need of some important health information. Whenever someone contacts Life’s Choices, we are immediately notified, and will begin working on a helpful response. In an age where thousands of messages/calls are made each minute, you can be assured that Life’s Choices values your communication. We make sure that clients find it very easy to contact us. Simply send us a text and we will respond very shortly! Life’s Choices is here for anyone who is interested in no-cost health resources. There is no need to be anxious because these things are what you can expect at your first appointment (and any following appointments with us)! If you find yourself in need of our services, please do not hesitate to contact us today! Contact Life’s Choices #pennsylvania #berkscounty #kutztown #parentingclasses #ultrasounds

We get it, relationships are a lot. They’re a lot to handle, a lot to think about, and they take a lot of work! Among other issues, Life’s Choices is extremely committed to helping people create and strengthen healthy relationships with the people around them.  Building and cultivating healthy relationships will not only affect individual lives, but can also bring positive effects to entire communities! Humans are designed to be in relationship with each other, romantically, as friends, as families etc. Despite this fact, relationship health is one of the greatest needs in our world today. We are here to help you navigate the world of relationships and to be a resource for building health into your life. Here are 3 ways that Life’s Choices is here to help you have healthy relationships (for free)! #1 Relationship Mentoring One of the lesser-known services that Life’s Choices offers is our relationship mentoring. We would absolutely love to sit down and talk with you about the relationships in your life. Sometimes, you may just need someone to listen to your story and offer some insight. Our staff will encourage you, pray for you, and point you in the direction of some awesome resources!  Life’s Choices sponsors a healthy-relationship education program for students throughout the school year. We have all sorts of lessons and materials from that program which can inspire some great conversations. No matter what your situation is, you are welcome in our office for a talk. We can be your advocate, promoting health, truth, and safety for your relationships! Text us today with questions, or to set up a time to chat with us! Text 484.660.3526 for a Hamburg representative and 610.683.8000 for a Kutztown representative!\ #2 STI Testing, Treatment, and Information When it comes to romantic relationships, we understand the need for sexual health and safety. Both of our offices offer free testing and treatment for our nation’s 2 most common STIs. We also can give you information regarding further testing and treatment at other healthcare facilities.  Not every romantic relationship has to deal with this concern, but if you and your partner are sexually active, it is strongly recommended that you both are tested regularly. All of our services are free and confidential. We have trained medical professionals who will help you and offer education about how you can make healthy sexual decisions. You can be assured that when a client comes to our office for a test/result, they are always treated with absolute respect, care, and professionalism. It is our goal to inform, protect, and care for everyone who receives services from Life’s Choices! If you do not need a test, but you are interested in learning about STI prevention and how to stay sexually healthy, our office is open to you! Come for a visit and get some free materials and information that could be very helpful in maintaining your health! STI Testing Information #3 Parenting and Family Classes Parents, we see you! Working on relationships does not stop when kids enter the mix! Having a child (or children) can be one of the most rewarding experiences as a couple. But we know that not every step of the way will be easy. Kids can bring parents closer together, but sometimes the stress that comes with parenting can put some extra strain on a mother-father relationship. Our parenting classes are designed to relieve some of the stress and negative emotions that can spring up with parenting or a new pregnancy. We have so many class options that can be taken together or individually as parents. Our classes include tips for bonding with your children, how to parent as a team, ways to keep calm in your life, and so many other great topics! Spending some time learning how to parent well can not only affect your relationship with your child/children, it can also strengthen the respect and bond between you and your spouse/co-parent. Prioritize the relationships in your home and consider taking a parenting/family health class with us! We know relationships are a lot to handle, but that is why we’re here! Healthy relationships are our thing! Not everything is easy, but oftentimes the things that you work hard for can offer the best rewards. Let Life’s Choices be your first step when it comes to relationship help! “The giving of love is an education in itself.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Six Questions to Ask an Abortion Provider (before scheduling an appointment!) The key to getting good information is knowing what questions to ask. Here’s some help! If you or someone you know is facing an unintended pregnancy, we understand that every choice you have is a hard one. In the state of Pennsylvania, abortion is a legal option for you for up to 24 weeks. However, there is a lot to research and learn before you confidently make that decision. It is your right to have access to safe, reputable healthcare. These questions are designed to help you screen abortion providers to help ensure the clinic, physicians and other medical professionals are operating according to state guidelines. There are many important facts and details that must be considered before scheduling an appointment at an abortion clinic. Remember: Right now, you are your own reproductive health advocate. Your health and well-being is in your hands. Do not hesitate to ask questions and find answers. Here are 6 questions to ask an abortion provider before scheduling an appointment with them. Question #1 Is the physician who will see me licensed in this state? Before any medical procedure, it is wise to research and verify the provider who will see you. Request the name of the physician who could be helping you at the abortion clinic and ascertain their licensure. This will help you know if you will receiving adequate services. Question #2 Will the procedures and risks be explained to me? It is so important to be educated on the details and risks of the abortion procedure. With both surgical and medical abortion (the abortion pill), there are so many vital things to know before you choose that option. Before scheduling an appointment, you need to know whether you will be given accurate and comprehensive facts. The truth is that there are risks, and there have been many negative effects recorded for women who have had abortions. Make sure you discuss all of this with them. If they are negligent in this area, know that they are not being truthful or transparent. If you would like some information, Life’s Choices has reliable resources that can help you stay educated about abortion. Question #3 Will I be able to view an ultrasound before the procedure is performed? This is a critical step that is designed to keep you safe. We strongly recommend any woman who is considering an abortion to have an ultrasound beforehand. This quick procedure gives you essential information that will be needed to maintain your safety, should you decide to abort. Among other reasons, an ultrasound will help determine the gestational age, which directly impacts the type of abortion you are eligible for. If a pregnancy is further along than you think, that will create complications, especially if you take the abortion pill (plan C). An ultrasound will also determine if the pregnancy is ectopic, which you need to know to keep yourself safe. An ectopic pregnancy will not be removed by the abortion pill and needs to be identified as quickly as possible to keep you safe. If you will not be allowed to view an ultrasound before your abortion procedure, that is a major red flag. You are your own health advocate and you should be able to access all the details of your pregnancy. Life’s Choices offers FREE ultrasounds and options-counseling appointments so you can know everything you need to know about your pregnancy! Learn More Here Question #4 If complications occur, will the doctor at your clinic provide follow-up care or would I need to see my own physician? This is an incredibly important topic to discuss before you begin to schedule your abortion appointment. Abortion is not always as effective, painless, or simple as many people think. You will need to know what to do if this should happen to you. Open conversations about the risks and possible complications of abortion will help you protect your safety. Feel free to contact us to talk about what sort of complications might arise from an abortion so you can stay fully informed! Contact Us Question #5 What is the full cost of the procedure? This is always a good question to ask, not just with medical procedures, but in life! Abortions can be costly, so you will want to know exactly how much money will be needed for your procedure. Unfortunately, as stated in the above paragraph, some abortions develop complications, which will add to your medical bill, should you need further care. At Life’s Choices, we are your Free First Step! All of our resources, information, pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and other services are completely free, 100-percent of the time. Not everyone has access to medical insurance, funds for medical care, or information about pregnancy options. We are here to be your first step in determining how to handle your pregnancy. No judgment, no lies, no cost! Book an Appointment Question #6 Will I be able to bring a support person with me to my appointment? An abortion procedure is a big choice, often with strain on a woman’s mental and emotional health. Having a support person in the room with you, to help you make your choice and advocate for your safety is something we strongly suggest. A support person can help make sure that you get the information and care you need. If the abortion clinic does not have this as an option, we consider it a big red flag. You deserve the ability to have a supporter with you during your appointment, so you can feel safe. Even if you take the abortion pill, please let someone know and have someone with you so they are there for support. These are just a few of the discussions that you need to be having with any potential abortion provider. We want you to be safe and to know exactly what is going on. You should have ALL of the information that you deserve to know. Use these six questions to ask an abortion provider to keep yourself educated and informed about everything to do with the abortion process. If you want to talk more about abortion, pregnancy, or anything relating to your reproductive health, our doors are always open to you! We want you to be the best health advocate you can be for yourself! Disclaimer: This post is not encouraging young women to seek abortions; Life’s Choices does not perform abortions nor do we refer clients to abortion centers. However, we do see many young women who are considering that option, and we strive to give them the most helpful information they need to make an informed decision. That being said, one of our free resources is a simple list of good questions to ask an abortion provider. These young women deserve to have the essential information needed before scheduling an abortion appointment. #abortioninformation #berkscounty #education #kutztown

How kind words & warm hearts make a difference… Not every day at Life’s Choices is easy. There are times when we feel utterly discouraged and exhausted. After a particularly difficult day, it can be hard to see whether the work we do is actually making an impact in our communities. It’s a tricky business, trying to quantify our idea of what success looks like for Life’s Choices. Are we doing things right? Is Life’s Choices actually helping people? Do the services we offer actually help to improve lives? Sometimes, it is hard to answer any of those questions. But then we will receive an email, a letter, a text, a response from a client…and those insecurities melt away. Because just one encouraging story can be enough to convince us that yes, we are here for a reason, and kindness is always worth it. Here are a few short words from a number of our clients that have encouraged us to keep going lately. “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!” These clients came into our office full of questions. We are so blessed to know that we were able to help them work through their options and empower them when they decided to choose parenting for their child. It can be an emotional journey for our staff to counsel young people who are facing a potential pregnancy, but it is so worth it to know that with every appointment, we have the opportunity to listen and encourage someone who feels helpless. “Hello, we are so thankful for the opportunity to work with Life’s Choices. Life’s Choices has supplied us with so many resources to be able to provide for our family. We basically were starting from ground zero. We didn’t even have a place to live together with our baby. They prayed with us as we looked for housing and job opportunities, blessed us with so many baby items, and videos which taught us so much about parenting and how to take care of a newborn. We love working with Life’s Choices.” This is where we give a shout out to our amazing donors and supporters! Through your generosity and willingness to give, we were able to help this young family provide for their baby. Life’s Choices could not stay open and operational if we did not have an awesome network of individuals and organizations who support our ministry! When a mother or a family comes to us in need, it is our absolute pleasure to help them with their basic baby needs to relieve even just a bit of stress in their lives. “Life’s Choices is a literal Godsend to us. We were having our first baby and all the info and guidance from Kolleen and Sue 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.” That last line brings complete joy to our hearts every time we read it. After being open for over 35 years, we undoubtedly believe that our actions and words have a bigger impact than we realize. In every interaction with every client, we try our best to communicate love and respect.. Not only do we hope to make a positive effect in their lives, we also hope to see that spread to others’ lives, like in this client’s testimony. It is amazing (and humbling) to think that simple acts of compassion can have a domino effect. These stories are just a few of the meaningful words that we have recently heard from our clients. They help us keep our heads up while kindness is becoming rare to find in the world today. Our clients mean the world to us and we love to imagine the effect that our kind hearts and free services can have on the world. We are making a difference, with every act of love, with every bit of truth communicated, and with every word of encouragement we can give. To our clients, whose lives and triumphs bless us immeasurably.  “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12 Want to help us reach more clients? Your prayers and support are always appreciated! Donate Today #clienttestimonial #howwehelp #stories

College Students, We See You! There is an intentional and strategic reason that Life’s Choices has an office on Main St. in Kutztown, PA. And no, it is not because we are within walking distance of The Bagel Bar cafe… We placed our office there because it places us less than a block away from Kutztown University. Why so close? Because we care about college students! Here at Life’s Choices, we absolutely love the younger generation, and we want to do our best by them. Which means the bulk of our efforts centers around how we can be the best free community health resource for students at KU and any surrounding schools. We know that college life looks different for everyone, but some struggles are universal. Here is how we can be your advocate during your time at college. To the student who feels alone: Life’s Choices has its doors open to anyone. We work hard to make our space as open and inviting as we can, so that we can welcome and encourage the young people who walk in. To the student who needs to talk to someone: One of our favorite things to do is have meaningful and helpful conversations with people. We know how easy it is to feel isolated, especially in college. You can come by our office any time we are open; we’d love to sit and chat with you! To the student who is struggling relationally: We get it. Relationships are tough, and sometimes we just need some help. Whatever problem you are facing in a relationship, Life’s Choices is here for you with resources, help, and guidance. To the student who might have an STD: No one ever wants to have that fear. We offer free testing and treatment for the most common sexually transmitted infections. No charge, no insurance needed, completely confidential. Click Here to Learn More To the student who is seeking health information: We have it! If you want to keep yourself healthy through college, we can help you do just that! There are tons of resources and services we provide that can aid you in being the healthiest you can be! To the student who might be pregnant: You have so many questions. We can provide some answers. Life’s Choices provides free pregnancy testing and ultrasounds that can help you determine what your next steps are. We want to help you feel less overwhelmed, so you can get the best information and make the healthiest choices for your life. Click Here to Learn More To the student who is also a parent: We see you! We have so many ways that we can support you and help take some stress away from you. Whether it’s parenting classes, baby items, or any other need, we can help you fill it! Explore Parenting Classes To the student who knows the pain of an abortion: There is no judgment here, only love. Abortion can have an extreme emotional impact on someone, and we want you to know that our doors are still open for you to come and receive love and care. We can offer help and healing to you. And for any other students who find themselves in need of anything, Life’s Choices is here for you. If there is something you need that we cannot directly provide, we can help you find where you need to go and refer you to trusted resources. College students: We See You!

6 Things That Are Important to Life’s Choices: A Look at Our Core Values Last Autumn, a few of our dedicated staff members met together for the day and discussed the direction, mission, and values of Life’s Choices. Among other things, a result of that meeting is this list of values that our ministry holds. These values show our heart. If you wanted to tell someone what Life’s Choices is all about, or if you are wondering that yourself, here are 6 things that Life’s Choices really values. 1. Faith Our faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation for everything we do. Life’s Choices’ mission is based on Christian truths and beliefs. We do not hide this fact to our donors or clients; however, we absolutely respect everyone’s freedom to believe in what they choose. We do not force our beliefs on anyone, nor do we require any of our clients to be Christians. Everyone is welcome in our offices, and our services are available whether or not someone shares our faith. In no way do we push a message onto someone if they do not want to discuss religious matters; Life’s Choices will always respect someone’s right to say no. 2. Compassion We understand that when a woman considers abortion, all her options are hard ones. We understand that waiting for an STD test result to come back is a scary experience. We understand that parenting comes with challenges every day. Anyone who walks through our doors will be treated with open arms and a gentle heart. Life’s Choices is not here to shame, or convict, or look down upon any human. We are here to support and love our clients. 3. Truth We commit to promoting biblical, scientific, and medical truths. In an age where truth is hard to come by, we promise to always provide trustworthy information and resources to our clients. Everyone deserves to have quality, accurate, and relevant information so that they can make the wisest and healthiest for their lives. We will not provide incomplete or tainted information about sensitive topics, but will give the truth with gentleness and tact. 4. Authenticity We are confident in who we are and in our value to women seeking abortion. We have no need to pretend to be something we aren’t or to hide the truth of who we are. Pregnancy centers are commonly accused of using manipulation or false advertising to bring in clients. Life’s Choices will never give out false information about what services we offer. We have been a supportive resource to women and young people for over 35 years, which is a testament to our value to our clients. When someone interacts with Life’s Choices they are always told what services we do or do not provide. 5. Non-Judgement We recognize that all have made mistakes. Our services are not offered from a position of self-righteousness. Many people who walk through our doors have come from decisions and situations that are less-than-ideal. We do not let someone’s past, present, or future decisions change our love for them. Whatever choices a client has made or is thinking of making, we are committed to being there for them in a non-judgemental way. While we may not always agree with everyone, our offices will show acceptance to anyone seeking our services. 6. Integrity We pledge to use integrity in every aspect of our ministry, from advertisement to use of funds. Our clients will know that we are trustworthy, and we will always safeguard their privacy and safety. Life’s Choices operates through funding from individuals and organizations who share our heart for the community. We will always work in a way that is honorable and upright, so that our donors know their money is doing what they pledged it to do. Life’s Choices will always remain trustworthy and transparent. We are proud to say that every board member, staff member, and volunteer at Life’s Choices is committed to promoting and protecting these values. #freeultrasounds #berkscounty #values #about #pregnancy