Women’s Support Centers Are Making a Difference

Our Women’s Support Centers (WSCs) are making a tremendous difference in the lives of Russian women who are seeking an alternative to abortion.  Today, we have seven centers that offer pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, prenatal care, vitamins, and help with hospital costs to needy women who are pregnant.  Since 1998—the year we opened our first center—we have assisted more than 10,000 pregnant women who have come to us for help.

Some Historical Background

In 1920, Russia became the first nation in the world to legalize abortion.  The law presented women with the opportunity to legally end a pregnancy at a state hospital at no cost.  It remained in effect until 1936, when Stalin outlawed abortions in an effort to increase the number of Russian workers and soldiers.  Illegal abortions then became the norm until 1955, when the law was overturned.  The new reasoning was that legalized abortion was necessary to “prevent the carnage of illegal abortions and to help keep women in the labor force.”

Many women openly admit to having 25 or more.  In truth, the numbers are difficult to pin down, as some abortionists report not that they are performing the procedure, but that they are conducting surgery to “regulate the menstrual cycle.”  Others, who operate private clinics, will not report all the abortions they perform in an effort to reduce their stated income and the income taxes they must pay.

Our Response

From the time of their arrival in Vladivostok, Russia, in 1992, Frs. Myron Effing and Daniel Maurer knew that pro-life concerns would be among their highest priorities.  That year, they translated and published the booklet “The Early Church Fathers and Abortion” from the American Life League.  Since then, they have published a variety of Russian-language materials on fetal development; have arranged for training of pro-life counselors; and have established the Women’s Support Centers to provide prenatal care, counseling, and assistance to women seeking help.  These Centers are the first such facilities in the entire Russian Far East. 

Anton and his mother

Changing Minds and Hearts

While the workload is daunting, there is evidence that hearts and minds are changing.  The gynecologist director of one Russian medical center states that only a few years ago, fellow physicians scoffed at any suggestion that abortions had moral repercussions. 

Today, she says, several of her colleagues will explain to their patients that the fetus “is not just a bit of mucus, but a human being.”

In 2005, Vladivostok gynecologists held a program called “Doctors Against Abortion” and refused to perform the surgery for a day.  Instead, they tried to dissuade their patients from having abortions, using the example of our Women’s Support Centers.  Better still, one local gynecologist, after reading our pro-life literature, surprised everyone with the announcement that she had decided to stop performing abortions altogether!

How You Can Help

Much like similar centers in the U.S., our centers rely heavily on the generosity of donors and volunteers.  Women who come to us usually have many needs and limited funds.  Thus, we are a long way from being self-supporting.  The cost to operate just one center for a year can run upwards of $9,300.   This includes staff salaries, phone and utilities, rent, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and much, much more. 

Read on for one of our success stories or click here to donate.

The Babies Given by God

written and translated into English by Mrs. Olga Berdnikova, the leader of the second women's support center in Vladivostok

This message we'd like to share with you the joy of good results of our work doing to safe the life of pre-born babies. Though the second WSC [women’s support center] is too young (it had been opened last year), this autumn we are celebrating birthdays of the first babies save by support of volunteers-counselors serve here, in this center. Now we'd like to tell you the brief stories of the first babies' birth.

One day of February, Irina, young lady came to our center. She knew about her pregnancy but she would like to share this problem with someone else. Unfortunately her boyfriend was on sail and she had no ability to talk him about her pregnancy. As for the girl's mother she suggested Irina to do abortion. She told to her daughter that the abortion was the only way to solve her problem as Irina was not married.

We remember the first Irina's visit to the center--she was really depressed and frightened--and her first words: "Please, help me I don't know what to do. My boyfriend is not here, but my mom force me to do abortion! Furthermore I don't know how he would take the knews about my pregnancy." During the talking with the girl we'd found out that only Irina's youngest sister was glad to accept the baby. Her sister had even shared the good knews with her girlfriends at school and told them she would be an aunt soon. We'd calmed down Irina, told her about growing pre-born baby, and suggested to send express-message to her boyfriend.

Bogdan and his mother, Irina.

For all her pregnancy we tried to be beside girl as her mother (and also prospective grandmother) wasn't still accepting her pre-born grandson. WSC counselor responsible for the girl came for several times to girl's home to talk Irina's mother asking her do not disturb Irina any more. It took the counselor two long months to convince prospective grandmother to accept the baby.

One summer Irina had been sent for sonography. But sonographer and Irina's attending gynaecologist, as they had found any deformation in her growing pre-born baby, told her bad things about her baby and suggested her to do abortion.

Soon, late of summer, Arthur came back to Vladivostok. Considering what the attending gynaecologist said about their baby and our referral they decided to do sonography again. But new sonographer didn't see any deformation in their baby!

One month later, September, 18, they became father and mother! On this happy day there was born a son, named Bogdan. On October Arthur and Irina got married.

Now Arthur's and Irina's mothers appreciate us for the great work we are doing to save the life of pre-born babies. Both of them say to us that they can not imagine now their life without beloved Bogdan.

Next story is about the birth of baby-girl. Natasha, 21 years old girl, came to our center in early spring seeking for help and condolence. Her boyfriend left her as soon as he knew about her pregnancy. Fortunately the girl's mother as religious woman, who also went through the same situation at her early age and did abortion, asked the daughter to keep the life of baby. Natasha lives together with her mother and youngest brother in very small 1-room apartment. This is very poor low-income family: Natasha and her mother work as cleaning women at local factory. Natasha's brother is a schoolboy. When he was 10 their parents were divorced. We tried to take care of the girl for all her pregnancy buying medicines and vitamins needed for her, preparing everything for the baby (baby-carriage, baby clothing).

One day of October she came to us with a good news smiling: soon she would become the mother of baby-girl! And she added that she's going to name the girl Katherine in memory of her beloved grandmother.

It goes without saying all of us were waiting for Katherine's birth very much. And soon the time has come! On October, 25, Natasha's mother called me to Caritas office to tell me about her newborn granddaughter (weight - 3,300 g; height - 55 sm). She is so lovely!

On this remarkable day we visited Natasha at Maternity Hospital #5 and presented wonderful baby dress to her newborn Katherine. But we were pleasantly suprized to meet Natasha's father there--he'd also come to see his granddaughter. Who knows may be Katherine's birthday would become the first step to unite their family? We are praying for the babies, their families and all pre-born babies of Russia. Happy birthdays to you, Bogdan and Katherine!

To help us assist more mothers and to protect and save more babies, click here.