The Practical Guide can be obtained for free or a minimal price through contacting Catholic Life Offices who offer materials and training courses. It is also available as part of the DVD Resource Pack.

Some suggestions from the Practical Guide:

Focusing exclusively on the unborn child can lead to women feeling resentment and can be counterproductive. Here are some things you can say that will show you are supportive of her.

Say: “How are you feeling?”

Ask her how she is feeling. Her feelings might change a lot during this time: one minute she may feel excited, the next scared and anxious.

Say: “It’s okay to feel that way, I’m here to listen.”

Don’t jump to any early conclusions about what her decisions might be:a listening ear, encouragement or practical help may be all that she needs.

Say: “What can I do to support you?” “What do you need from me at the moment?”

When she brings up a concern,

Ask her: “Tell me more. Let’s see what we can do about this.”

If you would like to share your own ways of supporting women, contact the Catholic Life Office in your state.