Many women seek out abortion because they’re facing an unplanned pregnancy. They may be in abusive relationships, experience discrimination at work or school, or struggle with the ability to afford a child’s care. For these women, abortion is a choice made out of desperation, not desire. And for these women, one organization can be the lifeline that gives them the chance to choose life instead.
Welcome Baby USA provides low-income mothers with the care they need to help provide for their children in the first four weeks of life. Each mother gets one box filled with essentials: diapers, wipes, rash creams, a baby carrier, a grooming kit and thermometer, bottles, swaddle blankets, clothes, pacifiers, and more. These items can cost hundreds of dollars, but for someone living in poverty, that’s an insurmountable sum — and on top of all that, it’s during a time when women are recovering from giving birth and are adjusting to major bodily changes.
READ: Report: Pregnancy resource centers served nearly 2 million people in 2019
According to the Welcome Baby USA mission, this is a critical time for new families. “Babies who lack diapers, wipes, rash creams, and comfortable clothes frequent doctors’ offices and emergency rooms more often, further tilting the balance against them, exacerbating the strain on resources, and increasing the emotional toll on new mothers,” the website explained, adding, “Studies have shown that mothers who cannot provide for the basic needs of their newborns struggle with postpartum depression at a higher rate, experience high levels of stress, and lack competence.”
An estimated five million infants and toddlers live at or near the poverty line, with approximately 21% of children living in poverty, a number that has been steadily increasing over the last 15 years. These issues are only exacerbated with the COVID-19 pandemic, as millions of parents have lost their jobs and their ability to provide for their children. Without something as simple as a baby carrier, these parents can’t even safely leave the house to buy groceries or look for a new job. And other non-profit organizations, which previously helped families in crisis, are also struggling due to the pandemic.
Welcome Baby USA was founded by Sarah Steinhardt, a former producer for Good Morning America and World News Tonight, and Juliet Fuisz, a writer and producer for CNN. “We are calling on all mothers to band together and support each other,” they wrote about the need to help mothers who are struggling. “We are united by the innate drive to see our babies thrive; we are bound together by the bonds of motherhood and sisterhood. If you are in a position to help, and now is the time to take action. This is a moment of genuine need and the stakes rise with every passing day.”
“Like” Live Action News on Facebook for more pro-life news and commentary!
