Pregnancy may be a complicated, uncertain and overwhelming time in some women’s life, but for residents of Natchitoches, the Women’s Resource Center Pregnancy Help Medical Clinic exists to offer women and families support during pregnancies.
Nicole Woods, the executive director for the Women’s Resource Center, understands the first hand impact that the resource center can have on someone’s life. She explained that she first learned about the resource center from a friend’s mom who volunteered there and recommended her when she was a student at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
“I was a client in the Women’s Resource Center in the early 90s,” Woods said. “I was newly married, I was a student at Northwestern and I wasn’t anticipating on having my first child so early but I did.”
Though she has only been in the role of executive director for a few weeks, she is ready to offer the same support she received when she walked in years ago.
In the resource center’s brochure, the opening paragraph says, “We help women assess their choices and options. We offer hope, enabling them to make educated decisions.”
The resource center has been open since 1989 and was an idea led by a woman who saw a need in the community and got her friends to help her make this resource come true. According to their website, the resource center opened up their Pregnancy Help Medical Clinic in 2006 to provide more services while keeping their same mission.
Their staff consists of almost entirely trained client advocates such as two registered nurses, a childbirth educator, a breastfeeding educator and other volunteers. Their website also added that Martin Aviles, medical director and OBGYN at the resource center, oversees all medical issues.
It’s estimated that the resource center has helped over 430 women each year, according to their website. Within walking distance of NSU, the resource center has serviced women from all over the north Louisiana region.
During a woman’s first visit to the clinic, they will meet with a client advocate and will be offered a free pregnancy test, medical history and first supply of prenatal vitamins. At the second visit, the nurse will meet with the client to talk about health and nutrition during the pregnancy and some clients may have their first limited ultrasound.
Sandy Keller is the program manager at the resource center and explained that the limited ultrasound allows the visitor and their family to be in the room and see the baby on the ultrasound machine. “They’ll get a few pictures and things like that to take home with them as well,” she said.
On the third visit, the client will learn about prenatal education and talk with an advocate about goals, ways to relieve stress and baby preparations which will lead to recommended group classes offered by the center, according to the center’s brochure.
Aside from being an additional support system, the resource center offers group classes like child safety, child birth education, breastfeeding education, healthy beginnings, carseat safety and financial literacy.
Keller explained how the resource center’s work is possible through volunteers and donations from the community.
“Everything that is donated we go through it, make sure it’s in good condition, clean, fold it up, set it up, hang it up and make it look nice,” Keller said.
The resource center offers its visitors an opportunity to discuss their specific situation. If it goes beyond one of the resource center’s volunteer’s training, the center helps them find another source of help.
“We do refer out to other agencies so if we can’t help, we definitely try to make sure we find somebody who can help them in whatever other area they have a need of,” Keller said.
After entering the main part of the office, there is another space called the Rose Long Educational Center. This annex was established in 2023 and named after Long who was a board member and a donor to the Women’s Resource Center.
The Little Rose Baby Boutique is on the first floor and on the second floor of the building is a room where all the group classes are taught. Mothers can shop and use their “baby bucks.”
“They get baby bucks every time they come in and do anything. It’s kind of like monopoly money,” Keller said.
Keller and Woods explained that through partnerships with the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Engage Federal Credit Union, the Natchitoches Parish District 6 Fire Department and other community partners they work together to teach each group class.
Josie Martinez is a senior child and family studies major who has been interning for the center since January. She chose the center because she believes in the organization’s mission and its advocacy work.
“The relationships and connections I have made with the staff here are amazing and the volunteers here and just seeing everybody coming together from different walks of lives to be able to love on these women and these families where they are at. I think it is the greatest story of them all and something I will forever hold with me,” Martinez said.
Anyone is welcome to receive services. “There is no group that we are not willing to share not only the love of Jesus, but the love of our advocates and the support system we offer here,” Woods said. “We help them throughout their whole pregnancy, whether it’s an individual or a couple, mother-daughter, whoever they’re support system is, we work collectively with them.”
For more information on the resources offered by the center check out their website. The center is also always looking for volunteers or organizations to partner with, if interested visit the center at 107 North Street, Natchitoches, La 71457 or call their office at 318-357-8888. The center is opened Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.
