On Monday morning, a small group of pregnant Amish women arrived at the Pregnancy and Family Center, 1 S. Jefferson.
They were there on the recommendation of midwife Anna Yoder of Fall River, taking advantage of a free weekly ultrasound service.
Yoder served as an assistant midwife for about 20 years and has been doing midwifery for about 10 years off and on. She tries to find free or inexpensive resources for expectant Amish mothers, as most do not have health insurance.
She and the mothers hire a driver to take them to Iola, about an hour one-way. It’s much cheaper than going to a hospital for an ultrasound.
The mobile ultrasound van comes from LifeCare Center of Ottawa, an organization similar to the Pregnancy and Family Center. It’s an anti-abortion organization that offers free pregnancy tests, counseling, educational family classes, a store where families can purchase necessary items like clothing, and more.
The mobile ultrasound van also offers free tests for sexually transmitted diseases.
Ultrasounds are limited. They are not diagnostic, which means they will not reveal abnormalities or other problems with a pregnancy.
They can, though, indicate the baby’s gestational age and heartbeat, and show if the pregnancy is located inside the uterus. The images can be sent to a woman’s physician, if desired. If the nurse sees something that might need further review, she would suggest the patient see a doctor, LifeCare’s Director of Nursing April Crabtree said.
The ultrasound can give the mother a peek at the growing fetus, and staff will provide photos.
Because the organizations providing the service are pro-life, they want mothers who might be considering abortion to see their unborn baby before making a decision.
“We can’t change their minds if they’re abortion-minded, but we can show them what their baby looks like and educate them about that process,” Crabtree, who also works as a nurse in the emergency department at AdventHealth in Ottawa, said.
“I love that LifeCare is faith-based and I get to share God’s calling. This is my calling, and I’m lucky to share my gifts with these women.”
About three to four women visit the van every week when it comes to Iola on Mondays. It arrives at 9 a.m. and leaves at noon. Appointments are not required but can be scheduled by calling 785-242-4500.
The service is free and available to everyone.
Allen is one of seven counties on the van’s schedule.
