Clinic offers parents a helping hand

Sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy or becoming a new parent can be difficult to navigate. Hannah Shady, executive director of the LC Clinic in Creston, said those people shouldn’t feel alone.

Over the past 10 years, 24 birthing centers in Iowa have closed which may contribute to the trend of declining birth rates in Iowa. Many clinics were in rural areas, so places like the non-profit LC Clinic provide important resources to people who otherwise might not be able to afford them.

Iowa births declined in 2020, as they have been since 2014. The number of births in the United States during 2020 was 3,605,201, a 4% decrease from the previous year. The U.S. birth rate (births per 1,000 people) over that period increased by 0.09% to 11.99.

The clinic offers free obstetrical ultrasounds, since the Knights of Columbus helped them with the equipment through their Ultrasound Initiative. Doctor Tom Mallisee is a radiologist in Des Moines who volunteers to help with the ultrasounds.

Shady said LC Clinic is privately funded and noted federal funds are sometimes on the chopping block, so she doesn’t want the clinic to be dependent.

Shady said she’s, “grateful for all the donors and volunteers of the LC Clinic,” including the contractors who built their new location in Atlantic which will open some time in the near future.

The clinic does not offer abortions or birth control, but it does provide information resources to help clients learn about the different types of birth control and potential risks. They also have free pregnancy tests, abortion recovery support, peer counseling and healthy relationship education.

They offer free testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, which Shady said are the two most common STIs. For more comprehensive testing, they refer patients to the Inner Visions Clinic in West Des Moines, which is also free. LC has a unique program to treat the partners of those who test positive.

“We have what’s called an EPT program, which is expedited partner treatment,” Shady said. If a client tests positive and their partner is too busy to come in, they can sign a waiver to get antibiotics for their partner.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health fewer STI tests were performed in 2020, but syphilis spiked by 53% and gonorrhea 30% compared to 2019 rates.

LC also provides parenting classes through their “Earn While You Learn” program. They have classes on newborns, infants and toddlers, covering everything from breastfeeding to dealing with tantrums and special courses for both moms and dads.

Shady said dads are often overlooked and that they need guidance too.

“Our clients will come in and take classes and they will earn what we call mommy money and daddy dollars,” she said. “Then they can exchange those for things that are in the baby boutique for items like diapers and wipes. We have maternity clothes, baby clothing, baby care items. If a client has trouble and they don’t have a crib or bassinet, we can purchase those things for them.”

Shady said diapers and wipes are a major expense for new parents. She said the estimated cost of diapers from birth to toilet training for one child is $2,000. Sometimes LC gets donations of baby food and formula, which they give out for free when they can.