Contact: Virginia Cline, Heartbeat International, 614-885-7577 ext 112

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Women faced with an untimely pregnancy who rejected the choice to abort their babies, and instead chose life for their children, are delivering a clear message to Congress on October 6, 2011: "Pregnancy centers are good for America." Heartbeat International developed Babies Go to Congress to give women, served by their local pregnancy center, the opportunity to bring their babies, who were at risk of abortion, to Capitol Hill to visit their elected officials.

"Every woman should have all the information she needs to protect her child. No woman should feel so alone, coerced, or hopeless that she ends her child's life through abortion," said Heartbeat International Director of Public Relations and Public Policy Virginia Cline. "Women have been thanking pregnancy centers for this life-affirming help for decades and we wanted to give these women an opportunity to tell their stories to Congress. These are real mothers with real names and real appreciation."

"I was so amazed to see my baby's heart beating steadily at 7 weeks. I then realized that my previous abortion had really taken a little life," said Susan Thibault, who will share her firsthand account of the invaluable work of the pregnancy center with her elected officials through Heartbeat's Babies Go to Congress. "I needed emotional support to choose life for this baby and I found that in the compassion, encouragement and unconditional love at Tender Care."

"Heartbeat's pregnancy centers serve women with unexpected pregnancies without any financial motivation. Our main objective is to provide women with the emotional help and practical resources needed to welcome a new life. This includes helping women to recognize their own inherent value," added Cline.

Heartbeat affiliates provide all the facts on abortion -- from post-abortion trauma to possible medical complications -- that abortion clinics often leave out. Heartbeat affiliates provide emotional support and practical help needed to welcome new life. They set the standard for true reproductive healthcare for women in America.

Heartbeat International (www.HeartbeatInternational.org), founded in 1971, is an interdenominational Christian association of nearly 1,200 pregnancy help centers, maternity homes, non-profit adoption agencies, and medical clinics across the nation and in 50 other countries. Heartbeat provides www.OptionLine.org (800-395-HELP) to connect women with the local pregnancy center for the help they need.