Coping with pregnancy makes moms 'grow up fast'

Robert Henry Becker Arizona Daily Wildcat Evonne Reyes spends time with her baby boy, Dominic, as she juggles the responsibilities of being a mother and student. Reyes has cared for her 5-month-old son with the help of family and friends after breaking up with Dominic's father.

Evonne Reyes, a mechanical engineering junior, discovered she was pregnant about a year ago.

"My initial reaction was terror," Reyes said. "I just started crying."

Reyes, who had been dating her baby's father for a few months, had stopped talking to him only two weeks before finding out she was pregnant.

She said she knew immediately she wanted to keep the baby. When she told the baby's father, Reyes said he was supportive at first, but his interest gradually died out.

"My parents were very supportive," she said. "Their number one concern was whether or not I was going to get through college.

"I never thought about dropping out. My baby's dad isn't involved, so I need to think about both of our futures. It's just him and me," Reyes said.

She gave birth to her son, Dominic, five months ago.

Fortunately, Reyes had a friend who supported and understood her situation, having been there herself.

Three months before Reyes learned of her pregnancy, she helped communication junior Caroline Auza, who has been Reyes' friend since sixth grade, shop for maternity clothes.

Auza has also decided to juggle motherhood and her studies.

But Auza's situation differs from Reyes - she is supported by her husband. Tom Auza, who graduated from the University of Arizona in 1995 with a degree in sociology and criminal justice, married Caroline Auza just two weeks ago.

"It's not like I was going to turn my back and walk away," he said.

Caroline and Tom share responsibility of 8-month-old Hayden.

When he first learned of her pregnancy, Tom Auza said he "was in denial for three months.

"I felt like we both weren't ready, but we knew we weren't the type to have an abortion," he said. "We accepted the responsibility."

Caroline Auza took a semester off last year to take care of Hayden, while Reyes missed only two weeks of classes after giving birth.

"It's not like I even knew anything about babies," Reyes said. "The hardest part was being alone and being back in school full time."

This year, 464 students were tested for pregnancy at the Campus Health Center, said Theresa Shirley, administrative secretary for Campus Health. She said the number of students who were pregnant could not be released.

The Family Maternity Clinic, a state-run, not-for-profit organization, counsels clients on options such as abortion, along with information on proper prenatal care and nutrition.

"I see about seven to eight patients a day for pregnancy tests," said Janet Nodine, certified nurse and midwife for the clinic. She said the average age of the women she has tested is 18.

About two to three pregnancies she sees per year are aborted, Nodine said.

There are several local organizations that provide assistance for expecting mothers.

The Family Maternity Clinic provides access to Baby Arizona, a program that offers free care for low-income Arizona women who are pregnant.

The guidelines for Baby Arizona are higher than other Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System programs in the state, meaning more people are accepted, said Misty Gomez, office manager for the Family Maternity Clinic.

Baby Arizona provides free cab fare to and from the clinic. The service also pays for prenatal care, delivery and medical costs for the baby up to its first birthday.

Other Tucson services include the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Tucson, Planned Parenthood and the Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Hotline.

CPC gives its clients maternity clothes, diapers, furniture and other baby necessities, according to CPC literature.

Planned Parenthood offers no prenatal care but provides pregnancy testing for $10.

The Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Hotline, a phone service answering questions about prenatal care and breastfeeding, provides callers with the names of doctors in their area, said Debbie Carter, receptionist for the hot line referral service.

The hot line can be reached at 1-800-833-4642 and is also affiliated with Baby Arizona.

These organizations, designed to educate new parents, can provide helpful advice for UA students making decisions about pregnancy.

Deciding whether to have a baby is a heavy issue for many students.

Martin Rivera, an optical engineering freshman, said, "I think it would be up to the girl. Either way I would be there."

Cheyenne Hawk, a business sophomore, said that although having a child in college would be difficult, she would not have an abortion.

"I know once I had the child I wouldn't have any regrets. It's an irreversible process and no one can give you back your first child," Hawk said. "It would be more painful to go through life wondering 'what if,' and knowing that you extinguished that potential life."

Both Caroline Auza and Reyes stress the importance of education in motherhood.

"If you don't think you're stable enough, you shouldn't have a kid. You have to grow up really fast," Caroline Auza said.

Campus Health offers the morning-after pill and other contraceptives.

A free class on contraceptives meets at the Campus Health Center Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Room A.