Mobile pregnancy clinic provides resources to women in need
Stateline Pregnancy Clinic in Beloit is taking its services on the road to provide resources for women in need. It’s the first mobile clinic of its kind in Rock County.
“It really expands our ability to outreach not only in Beloit or Rock County but in the state line area,” Registered Nurse Diana Fogderud said.
Fogderud has worked as a registered nurse for more than two decades. Now, instead of her clients coming to her, she is taking her services on the road.
“A lot of our clients who come in here are not necessarily connected with an OBGYN. We provide a beginning ultra sound. It’s the verification of the pregnancy beyond the pregnancy test,” Fogderud said.
Using a former ambulance, the mobile pregnancy clinic will provide the same resources as the clinic’s current site including ultrasounds, pregnancy tests and prenatal vitamins free of charge.
“Many clients are underage or in a socioeconomic state where they are unable to be mobile. They don’t have the ways or the means to even get to a clinic,” Stateline Pregnancy Clinic Executive Director Marybeth Karstaedt said.
Karstaedt said providing woman with information is important.
“The client is valuable, we care about them. And when clients come to us, it doesn’t matter if they are 15 or they are 45, when facing an unplanned pregnancy it’s like internally they are facing a cyclone going on,” Karstaedt said.
If pregnant, staff will discuss the woman’s options. Women who express an interest in parenting are connected to WIC and other agencies. The pro-life clinic will give medical information in relation to abortions, but will not refer women to abortion clinics. Karstaedt said if women choose abortion, they will also provide information on support and healing groups.
“We all know that when we make a choice based in fear, we do not make good choices. Having all the options played out for us helps us understand what’s best for us,” she said.
The clinic treats close to 700 clients a year. Karstaedt hopes bringing resources to the community will help ease the burden on future mothers.
“There are people out there who need our help, who need our support. They are facing life and death decisions regarding their own personal lives and the lives of their future children,” Karstaedt said.
Stateline will debut its mobile clinic in Roscoe, Illinois, on June 2 at Hope Evangelical Church from 1-4 p.m. The clinic will travel in a 15 mile radius around the Rock County and Stateline area. Prospective clients can call to make an appointment through SPC’s office at 608-365-5433.
