Heartline Pregnancy Center, 1515 Provident Drive, Warsaw, is rolling out a new ultrasound they were able to procure with grant money from the Knights of Columbus.
Brenda Whitehead, executive director, said Heartline has done ultrasounds for quite a while, but their current ultrasound is about 11 years old.
Heartline does pregnancy tests for verification if women need it for Medicaid or other purposes. Heartline also uses the ultrasound services to check the dating of the pregnancy to make sure everything is healthy. Heartline then does referrals for prenatal care.
“So about a year and a half ago, we started the process of applying for a grant for a new ultrasound through a program the Knights of Columbus have, which they have an ultrasound program. We kind of worked through that grant process. There were several different visits involved and things like that, but we finally received our new ultrasound machine in December,” she said.
While the ultrasound company worked with the Knights of Columbus, the grant was for around $30,000.
Whitehead said Heartline began implementing the use of the ultrasound as of Tuesday since training is complete.
“(The ultrasound) does have 3D capability, which gives us some additional ways to kind of see the baby and expands the ability to see beyond what 2D allows us to see,” she said.
Whitehead said Heartline was afraid they wouldn’t have ultrasound services due to the state of the 11-year-old ultrasound machine. The new machine will allow the center to have no interruption to services and have clearer images and better heartbeat detection.
“One of the things we’re excited for is this machine prints bigger photos. That’s one of the most meaningful things for moms especially that get that first photo of baby. We have bigger, clearer photos they can take home,” Whitehead said.
In celebration of the new ultrasound, Heartline held a ribbon-cutting and open house.
Sam Peña, Heartline Pregnancy Center Board president, recited Psalm 139:13-14 during Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting, which states: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Peña said “sometimes knowledge of the workings negates our wonder,” but knowledge of God’s workings gives people more reason to worship. Examples of that is the surgeon who has held a beating heart in their hands and a mother who gets to see a child in their womb.
After the ribbon-cutting, people were able to go on self-guided tours of Heartline.