Do you know a woman in the midst of a crisis pregnancy? Perhaps you met her at church, outside of an abortion clinic, or maybe she is a neighbor, friend, or family member. Navigating the complex waters of a crisis pregnancy can be daunting, but there are simple things you can do to help.

One of my favorite ways to promote life is through a baby shower. When a woman in crisis has expressed interest in continuing her pregnancy or has experienced a complete change of heart in favor of life, offering support in a fun, uplifting, and helpful way can further solidify her life decision.

When I ran my pro-life club on my college campus, one of our most successful events was the baby shower we threw for two local students. One was pregnant and expecting her son soon. The other had already given birth to her son a few months prior, but never had a baby shower because her family tried to quietly sweep the situation under the rug.

This event was well-attended, but I measured the true success in the impact we had.

This was an incredible opportunity to celebrate these young mothers and their decision to continue life. We were able to provide tangible resources through gifts like clothes, diapers, detergent, wipes, gift cards, and toys. We even collected donations of gently used items from the community including cribs, strollers, bottles, bassinets, high chairs, etc. We enjoyed delicious food, played themed games, and got to know one another better.

Most important of all, we showed these young mothers that they were surrounded by a loving community to support them through the joys and difficulties of motherhood.

To this day, this baby shower is my favorite pro-life event because it made me feel like we were really making a difference and living our pro-life values. I can’t speak to what effect the event had on the mothers and their children. However, I believe this is an incredible tool that all pro-lifers can utilize to show women in crisis that they are loved and cherished.

A woman facing an unplanned pregnancy often just needs some kind words and someone who believes in her. It’s one thing to say you support a mother in crisis; it’s another to show it. Throwing a baby shower to celebrate a mother’s life decision and set her on the right path with some helpful resources can really make all the difference in the world for her and her unborn child.