BIRTH CONTROL

Birth control is a device, substance or method that prevents pregnancy. Using a birth control method can significantly reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy. There are many forms of birth control, including abstinence, condoms, birth control pills, and hormone shots. It is important that you find a method that suits your body and your lifestyle. If you wish to discuss your birth control options, contact your family physician, gynecologist or the organizations that are listed below.

A Note About Abstinence: Abstinence (the abstaining from vaginal, oral or anal intercourse) is the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy and STDs, including HIV/AIDS.

Blue Mountain Clinic - 610 California St. - 721-1646
Intermountain Planned Parenthood
219 E. Main St. - 728-5490

University of Montana Student Health Service
634 Eddy St. - 243-2122
Services are available only to UM Students who have paid their student health fee.

PREGNANCY TESTING

There are several ways to determine whether you are pregnant, and you should find out as early as possible. Urine or blood tests administered by a doctor are the most accurate. You can also purchase a home pregnancy test at a grocery or drug store, but there is a chance the results may be inaccurate. If you want more information or need a pregnancy test, contact your family physician or one of the following groups:
Blue Mountain Clinic - 610 N. California St. - 721-1646
Pregnancy tests are $7.00

First Way Pregnancy Support Center
127 E. Main St. #203 - 549-0406
Pregnancy tests, counseling and support for those continuing their pregnancies are free.

Intermountain Planned Parenthood
219 E. Main St. - 728-5490
Pregnancy tests are priced on a sliding scale.

Missoula City/County Health Department
Outpatient Clinic - 301 W. Alder St. - 523-4750
Pregnancy tests cost $20.00, and are administered Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri 8am-9am. Refrigerate the sample if it is collected early.

University of Montana Student Health Service
634 Eddy St. - 243-2122
Cost varies. Service is only available to U of M students who have paid their student health fee.

UNPLANNED PREGNANCY

There are counselors available to help you make a decision if you are faced with an unplanned pregnancy. If you would like information about options counseling, contact your family physician or call:

Blue Mountain Clinic - 610 California St. - 721-1646

Catholic Social Services of Montana - 420 W. Pine
Betsy Robel at 728-5429, or toll free 1-800-BABYDUE (1-800-222-9383) 24 hours a day
A non-profit, licensed agency in Montana established in 1953. CSSM offers free, confidential counseling for those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. We provide help with pregnancy decision-making and pre/post natal counseling for birth parents and their families. CSSM offers open adoption services for birth parents and their families, so that children grow up knowing who they are and understanding the love and care that surrounds their adoption. Open adoption with CSSM means that you can build a lasting, loving relationship with the adoptive family, staying in contact with your child, if you choose. People need not be Catholic to use the agency services. Please call if you are pregnant or considering placing your child. CSSM also serves families in Montana interested in adopting infants through an open adoption program. We also provide quality pre/post adoptive services for those adopting trans-racially, through private adoption, or internationally.

First Way Pregnancy - 549-0406
Offers practical help for women facing an unplanned pregnancy. Free pregnancy tests and counseling, information on all options, support groups. No appointment necessary.

Intermountain Planned Parenthood - 219 E. Main St. - 728-5490
Provides reproductive health care, education and advocacy to the people of Western Montana improve their individual and family lives.

Lutheran Social Services - Counseling is non-denominational - 725 W Alder #2 - 549-0147
Offers pregnancy decision-making, counseling, adoption services, and some limited counseling for individuals, couples, and families.

Young Families Program - Missoula County High School, 901 South Avenue W. - 728-2400, ext. 7050
A service offered to any girl aged 14-19 who is pregnant or who has recently had a baby. This program offers an opportunity for students to meet their educational, social and emotional needs in a positive alternative setting.

TEENAGE PREGNANCY

If you are a teenager and you are pregnant, you are NOT alone. There are people and services in the Missoula community that can help you. If you have been having sex, you could be pregnant—even if you are very young, even if you’ve had sex only once, even if you have been using some method of birth control. If you think you might be pregnant, it is important to get a pregnancy test to make certain. See the section on pregnancy testing above and ask someone to help you.

Missoula City-County Health Department
301 W Alder - 523-4750
Provides information about free or low-cost health insurance options for children.

Neighborhood Nurse Program - Missoula City County Health Department, 301 W. Alder - 523-4750.
The neighborhood nurse program focuses on the special needs of clients and their families, providing guidance and education that supports the teen in reaching a healthy pregnancy outcome and developing parenting skills. The program staff works closely with the high school Young Families Program and other teen support services.

Young Families Program
901 South Ave. W 728-2400, Ext. 7050
This program helps pregnant girls and teenage mothers finish high school. Along with the required high school curriculum, students will also take “Young Families” classes in parenting. The Young Families Program also helps to link students with resources in the community such as housing and health care. This program also offers on-site nursery care to teenage mothers as they complete school. This program is open to students from Missoula County.

ADOPTION

Whether you are a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy or a couple wanting to provide a child with a home, adoption may be a consideration. If you are interested in learning more about adoption, contact the following groups:

Catholic Social Services for Montana - 420 W. Pine
Betsy Robel at 728-5429 or toll-free 1-800-BABYDUE (1-800-222-9383) 24 hours a day
CSSM is a non-profit, licensed agency in Montana established in 1953. CSSM offers free, confidential counseling for those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. We provide help with pregnancy decision-making and pre/post natal counseling for birth parents and their families. CSSM offers open adoption services for birth parents and their families, so that children grow up knowing who they are and understanding the love and care that surrounds their adoption. Open adoption with CSSM means that you can build a lasting, loving relationship with the adoptive family, staying in contact with your child, if you choose. People need not be Catholic to use the agency services. Please call if you are pregnant or considering placing your child. CSSM also serves families in Montana interested in adopting infants through an open adoption program. We also provide quality pre/post adoptive services for those adopting trans-racially, through private adoption, or internationally.

1st Way Pregnancy Support Center
127 E. Main, Room 203 - 549-0406 - 1-800-332-0406

Lutheran Social Services (LSS)
725 W Alder #2 - 549-0147
An adoption service that is committed to ensuring the well-being of the children entrusted to their care. LSS also offers post-placement services to birth families and adoptive families designed to meet parents’ needs in the years following the adoption.

ABORTION

Abortion is the ending of a pregnancy. There are two general abortion types available to women in the U.S.: surgical and non-surgical or “medical abortions”. The majority of abortions are surgical and occur within the first three months of pregnancy. If you would like more information about abortion services, contact the following groups:
Blue Mountain Clinic - 610 California St. - 721-1646

Intermountain Planned Parenthood - 219 E. Main St.
728-5490 or 1-800-230-PLAN

INFERTILITY

Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system that impairs the body’s ability to conceive children. The American Society of Reproduction Medicine reports that one-third of infertility cases can be attributed to male factors, another one-third to female factors, with the last third being a mixture of problems between the partners, or an unexplainable problem. Most infertility cases are treated with conventional therapies, which may include prescription drugs or surgery. For more information about infertility treatment, contact your gynecologist for a referral to an infertility specialist, check in the yellow pages under “Physicians-Infertility”, or contact the following group:

RESOLVE - 1310 Broadway, Sommerville, MA 02144
(617)-623-1156 — www.resolve.org
This is the national headquarters for RESOLVE, a group devoted to educating and helping couples with infertility problems. Call or write to the Massachusetts address in order to obtain referrals to fertility specialists. RESOLVE also provides information about infertility and infertility treatments.

PRENATAL CARE

The term “prenatal” describes the time when the fetus develops inside the woman’s body prior to birth. Prenatal care is the medical care of a pregnant woman and her baby throughout her pregnancy, and may include nutrition, exercise, and any pre-existing or newly arising health problems. A woman usually receives prenatal care from the doctor or midwife who will help her deliver her baby. If you would like more information about prenatal care services in Missoula, reference the yellow pages in your phone book under physicians “obstetrics” or contact your family physician or obstetrician.

Community Medical Center
2827 Fort Missoula Rd - 327-4009
Offers family life classes to help parents prepare for the new baby.

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies - 1-800-421-6667
Sends packets of pregnancy/prenatal information and a baby calendar to expectant mothers. They also provide additional packets with information on health and safety issues to parents with children under age 18, as well as information on health insurance options for children. Phones are answered from 8:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m., Mon-Fri. .

March of Dimes - 643 Grand Ave.,
Suite B - Billings, MT 59101 - 1-800-597-7116
The March of Dimes’s mission is to prevent birth defects. It focuses on healthy mothers and healthy babies. Educational materials such as films and pamphlets are available for free. Films can be used for a two-week period. The chapter is also a referral center for parents. March of Dimes does not give direct financial aid to patients.

Maternal/Neonatal Emergency Transport
Community Medical Center, 2827 Fort Missoula Road
1-800-584-7500
Medical staff-supported air and/or ground transport for high-risk mothers and newborns.

Missoula Early Head Start
2121 39th St. - 251-9410 x313
Provides services to families with children 0 to 3 years and to pregnant women whose children will be in the program. Designed for families whose incomes are at or below the federal poverty level. Early Head Start provides comprehensive services focusing on child development and parent-child interaction. Health services include assistance in accessing health insurance, medical and dental providers. Program also includes a Registered Dietician on staff for nutrition services, health screenings, health & safety education and intensive prenatal services.

MOMercise - Community Medical Center
2827 Fort Missoula Road - 327-4257
Water aerobics for pregnant women and new mothers to improve flexibility and strength, increase endurance, and minimize weight gain. The class fee is $36 for two sessions per week for six weeks.

Prenatal/Infant Care Class, the Nurturing Program at the Parenting Place, Box 3805, 728-KIDS (5437)
For parents and children pre-natal through 18 months. Topics include Stress Management and Handling Troublesome Feelings, Touch and Talk, Safety/Baby Proofing, Nurturing Routines: Diapering, Bathing, Bedtime. Free Children’s Program offered with the class.

Prenatal Yoga - SPH Wellness Center - 329-5895
Yoga provides many benefits throughout the childbearing years. They include: awareness of posture; improved muscular balance, flexibility and strength; increase in energy by focusing on breathing; decrease in back pain, tiredness, anxiety, headaches, and other common complaints; and quieting of the mind.

Rocky Mountain Neonatology Center at Community Medical Center - 2825 Fort Missoula Rd., Ste 130
327-4234

Rocky Mountain Women’s Health
2835 Fort Missoula Rd., Building 3, Suite 304 - 549-0978
Maternal-fetal medicine for high-risk obstetrics.

CHILDBIRTH PRACTITIONERS

Childbirth Practitioners help deliver babies. There are three general types of childbirth practitioners: obstetrician/gynecologists, family practitioners and midwives. Since different practitioners have different approaches to the issues surrounding childbirth (routine ultrasound, drugs during delivery and surgical intervention), find a practitioner who makes you feel comfortable. The childbirth practitioner you choose will also provide you with the prenatal care you need to have a healthy baby.

Obstetrician/gynecologists
An obstetrician/gynecologist (sometimes called an “ob-gyn”) is a licensed doctor who is a specialist in the care and treatment of the female reproductive system and childbirth. An ob-gyn’s post-college training includes four years of medical school followed by a 3-7 year long program, called a residency, which specializes in women’s reproductive health care and childbirth. Ob/gyns deliver four out of every five babies in the United States, making them the most popular choice in childbirth practitioners. If you would like more information, check the yellow pages under “Physicians-Obstetrics” or contact the following group:

Missoula City/County Health Department (MC/CHD)
Public Health Nursing Program
301 W. Alder St. - 523-4750
The neighborhood nurse program encourages early enrollment in comprehensive services for all pregnant women and serves women who encounter any barrier to care, a need for support or information. Program staff includes nurses and social workers that provide health care, prenatal education and assistance in arranging referrals to medical and social services.

Family Practitioners
Many women rely on their family doctor for prenatal and obstetrical care. A family practitioner is a doctor who is regularly consulted by a family or person in time of medical need and does not limit her or his practice by gender, age, organ system or disease type. A board-certified family practitioner has completed medical school and a three-year training period after medical school. This training period includes a minimum of three months of obstetrical and gynecological training. Some women prefer to see their family doctor because they have established a good patient/doctor relationship or because they like the continuity of care. However, not all family practitioners have obstetrical experience, so it is important to talk with your family doctor if you would like her or him to help you during your pregnancy. If you would like more information, contact your family physician or check in the yellow pages under “Physicians.”

Midwives
Midwives monitor the natural birth process and aid a woman during her pregnancy, the delivery and after the baby is born. There are two types of midwives:

Certified Nurse Midwife: A certified nurse midwife is a woman who has obtained her degree as a registered nurse, completed at least one year of obstetrics training in an approved graduate midwifery program, passed the national certification examination given by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, and is licensed by the State of Montana. Nurse midwives typically work in a hospital. If you would like more information about nurse midwives, check the yellow pages under “Midwives.”

Direct-Entry Midwife (or Lay Midwife): A direct-entry midwife is a birth practitioner who is licensed by the State of Montana and is board-certified by the Alternative Health Care Board of Montana. This type of midwife usually works with women who have decided to have a home birth. If you would like more information about direct entry midwives in Missoula, check the yellow pages under “Midwives.”

PREGNANCY AND BIRTH RESOURCES

Missoula Birth Network - www.missoulabirth.com
The members of Missoula Birth Network, a Missoula non-profit organization, believe that the birth of a baby is a major transforming event in the life of a woman and a family; the birth experience itself and the care the family receives plays a powerful role in the family’s mental health. Health care decisions should be based on research evidence for the optimal health of mother and baby, and families should have the opportunity to explore all options that are available in order to make choices that are uniquely best for them. Unfortunately, we believe that some maternity health care decisions are driven by profit motives, convenience, or fear of lawsuits, sometimes to the detriment of the family. Missoula Birth Network is a consumer group committed to helping families educate themselves about their birthing options, side effects of medications and interventions, and rights and responsibilities during birth. Check out our schedule of events listed at www.missoulabirth.com and the new books donated to Missoula Public Library.

Missoula Pregnancy and Birth Resource
www.missoulabirth.com
The Missoula Pregnancy and Birth Resource features information about natural child birth and home birth in Missoula, including: access to a network of local midwives and doulas, birth stories, monthly articles, local resources, and pregnancy-related web links.

CHILDBIRTH CLASSES

Childbirth classes teach women about pregnancy and prepare expectant mothers (and fathers and other family members) for the birth of their babies. These classes cover everything from choosing whether to give birth at home or in a hospital to breathing techniques during labor. The classes can be a good way to meet other expectant mothers and can help women form their own support network of new moms. Expectant mothers are encouraged to bring a partner, but it’s not required. If you would like to learn more about childbirth classes in the Missoula area, contact Community Medical Center or look in the yellow pages of your phone book.

Lamaze Method: The Lamaze Method teaches women what to expect during labor, and how labor changes as the baby moves toward birth. The method guides women through exercises that they will use during labor, including different types of breathing for the various stages of labor. The method also explains what will happen at the hospital and the purpose and tasks of the medical staff.

Blue Mountain Clinic - 610 California St. - 721-1646
Community Medical Center-Education Department
2827 Fort Missoula Rd. - 327-4009
Offers “Birthing Basics” classes for first-time mothers and refresher courses for women who are repeat moms. The class covers delivery options, labor, breathing techniques and welcoming the new baby into your life. The center also offers Momercise Water Aerobics classes. The fee for the Birthing Basics class is $65 per couple.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES

For information about agencies that can help you financially during your pregnancy, contact the following groups:

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
126 W. Spruce St. - (406)-829-4200
This free program is for limited resource families and pregnant women. Assistants do home visits and help individuals stretch their food budgets, choose foods that are healthy and plan nutritious meals.

First Way Pregnancy Support Center - 127 E. Main St. #203 - 549-0406
Offers diapers, baby clothes and maternity clothes.
Garden City Harvest - 523-FOOD
A project that distributes locally grown produce to people in need. GCH will teach you how to grow your own vegetables, or, for every four hours you volunteer in the gardens you will receive a share of vegetables.

Missoula City/County Health Department (MC/CHD)
Public Health Nursing Program - 301 W. Alder St.
258-4750
The Neighborhood Nurse Program encourages early enrollment in comprehensive services for all pregnant women and serves women who encounter any barrier to care, or who are in need of support or information. Program staff includes nurses and social workers that provide health care, prenatal education and assistance in arranging referrals to medical and social services. Assistance can also include help with paperwork for the Medicaid process.

Missoula Early Head Start - 2121 39th St.
251-9410 x313
Provides services to families with children 0 to 3 years and to pregnant women whose children will be in the program. Designed for families whose incomes are at or below the federal poverty level. Early Head Start provides comprehensive services focusing on child development and parent-child interaction. Health services include assistance in accessing health insurance, medical and dental providers. Program also includes a Registered Dietician on staff for nutrition services, health screenings, health & safety education and intensive prenatal services.

Montana’s Child Project - 1-800-421-MOMS
A community service program for Mothers To Be and for those who care about them. The Montana’s Child Project asks pregnant women to obtain early and ongoing prenatal care. This care should start in the first three months of pregnancy. Call the number above to obtain information about prenatal care, funding for women in need and access to the health care system.

Office of Public Assistance - 2677 Palmer, Suite 100
329-1200
Administers Medicaid, food stamps and financial programs for low-income parents and their families. Provides temporary assistance for needy families. The OPA offers a wide range of assistance programs to help men, women and children. Assistance with applications is available.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) - 301 W. Alder St.
523-4740 - 1-800-823-4740
Provides food assistance and nutrition education to low-income pregnant and nursing women and children up to the age of five.

BREASTFEEDING RESOURCES

Community Medical Center - 2827 Fort Missoula Rd
327-4219
Offers inpatient and outpatient breastfeeding consultation services, including assistance over the phone and information about breastfeeding at childbirth classes.

La Leche League
For expectant and breast-feeding mothers; fathers and siblings welcome. Free on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30am downstairs at the Missoula Public Library, 301 E. Main. Lending library, 24-hour help line, and information on nutrition, parenting, Medicaid, and legal resources.

WIC Lactation Specialist - 301 W. Alder St.
258-4740 - 1-800-823-4740
WIC offers breastfeeding information and support, office visits, phone consultations, classes and referrals for low-income women.