Pregnancy centre helps mums in time of need

PRAISE: Shana Bainbridge, pictured with her son Koru, 10 months, has nothing but praise for the Pregnancy Choice centre's volunteers. PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK

When Shana Bainbridge found out she was pregnant with her seventh child, the love and support of Pregnancy Choice Centre volunteers helped ease the shock.

Miss Bainbridge is one of the 420 women helped by the Pregnancy Choice centre since it opened its doors on October 16, 2013 to those who unexpectedly find themselves pregnant.

Miss Bainbridge suspected she was pregnant 19 months ago and, after hearing a glowing recommendation from a family member, visited the centre for a pregnancy test.

"I ended up finding out I was pregnant and freaked right out. It was very overwhelming because it was my seventh baby. I had given away all my baby stuff. Karen [a counsellor] just made me feel great. After a few months, I settled in and started coming in collecting bits and pieces. They gave me almost everything."

Miss Bainbridge is paying it forward, bringing in the gear her boy Koru, now 10 months, has outgrown to be re-gifted.

She has nothing but praise for the centre's volunteers.

"They are a fabulous bunch of ladies. I would recommend this place to anyone."

Centre director Janice Tetley-Jones said there was a gap in the market for support for unexpectedly pregnant women.

"They need ongoing support. They need to just be able to download and talk about the things that are worrying them. Then they can feel like they can go on."

The centre's clients have been building steadily. "Last month we did 26 pregnancy tests. That's our biggest month yet. We want it to build so everyone in Tauranga knows if they are pregnant, the Pregnancy Choice centre is the place they can come for their test, for information and for that support."