Compassionate Care
At the heart of Lexington, SC, LaVie Pregnancy Care Center is a non-profit organization devoted to offering Christ-centered support for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals facing difficult pregnancy decisions.
Executive Director Malaena Richardson and her team lead the only center of its kind in Lexington County. With 13 years in pregnancy center ministry, Richardson’s compassion is evident in the five-star reviews from clients who found solace through LaVie’s care. “LaVie—French for ‘Life’—reflects our mission to honor and support life by caring for both mother and baby,” said Richardson. “We want every woman to know her life, and her child’s, are deeply valuable.”
Some clients find LaVie by searching the internet, through word of mouth, or via the center’s website. Donors and churches often discover LaVie the same way.
Services
Clients receive free, confidential services from the start. LaVie can provide a pregnancy test and an ultrasound for clients who have not yet established care with an OB. The ultrasound confirms three things:
1. The pregnancy is in the uterus and is not an ectopic pregnancy.
Clients consistently praise LaVie’s staff for providing spiritual and practical support throughout pregnancy, birth, and beyond—serving women from all backgrounds without judgment.
2. There is a measured heartbeat.
3. How far along the pregnancy is, based on the measurements of the baby.
LaVie does not provide prenatal care, so they include a list of local obstetricians with clients’ discharge paperwork.
During her appointment, LaVie walks each client through the full range of resources available both in the community and offered at LaVie.
The BrightCourse program delivers video-based pregnancy and parenting classes directly to clients via text, allowing them to learn at their own pace, with up to 85 classes available covering infant care, CPR, immunizations, development, and car seat safety. Clients receive five classes at a time and earn points for each one completed. LaVie adopted the program after recognizing that financial barriers—such as the cost of gas—kept many women from attending in-person classes.
Clients can use their points to shop at LaVie’s baby boutique, stocked with car seats, strollers, swings, bottles, pacifiers, clothing, and more; if an item is not available, LaVie will seek donations to meet the client’s needs.
After birth, LaVie provides monthly assistance with diapers and wipes, serving families until children are potty-trained. LaVie also assists with formula. Most clients can apply for WIC, however, eligibility and supply can vary, and LaVie helps bridge those gaps. Women who connect with LaVie later in pregnancy can schedule a resource appointment, receive referrals for housing or food assistance, and begin earning boutique points through BrightCourse right away.
Community Engagement and Support
Each year, LaVie hosts a Christmas Pop-Up Shop and a Mother’s Day Open House, where clients receive wrapped gifts—many for the first time. These events reflect LaVie’s deeper mission: not just telling women they are valued, but showing them.
“Women seek out LaVie knowing it is a safe, confidential place. They know that we love them. We genuinely care about them and want them to know they are valued, capable, and never alone,” said Richardson.
“Non-judgmental” is a word that appears repeatedly in client reviews. Every woman who walks through the door receives free resources and compassionate care, leaving them equipped and knowing LaVie is there for her in whatever way they can.
LaVie is sustained by a generous community. Churches run baby bottle campaigns—filling bottles with coins, cash, or checks—during events like Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. Some congregations host church-wide baby showers, while small groups and Sunday school classes adopt LaVie as their monthly mission.
Even children get involved—running lemonade stands, hosting bake sales, and birthday drives, and asking for diapers instead of birthday presents. Kids bring the items directly to the center, inspired entirely on their own.
Community members donate new or gently used items such as swings, bouncy seats, and clothing. For urgent needs, pre-made emergency clothing bags of 15 items are available with no points required.
Two years ago, a Christmas Pop-Up Shop helped 14 clients buy gifts for their children—and unexpectedly, the moms received gifts too. They were deeply touched, reminding staff that mothers rarely think of themselves.
Last year, LaVie hosted its first Mother’s Day Open House for 24 clients—complete with breakfast, wrapped gifts, and a balloon arch for photos. Many were unaccustomed to being celebrated. LaVie now holds these events annually at Christmas and Mother’s Day.
“We can tell our clients how valued they are all day, but what truly matters is showing them through our actions,” Richardson said. Some women stayed for hours, feeling the love. Many say they know something is different the moment they walk in. “This helps our clients feel supported and reminds them they don’t have to do this alone,” she said.
Options
LaVie discusses parenting, adoption, and abortion with clients. She notes that 90% of adoptions today are open, and that many women decide to keep their baby after birth. Her team works closely with adoption agencies throughout the process.
Richardson’s passion for adoption is personal—she was adopted and has an adopted daughter. “It is a wonderful opportunity to choose life for your child,” she said, a conviction that comes through in every conversation.
A Difficult Decision
The word abortion drives conversations to extremes, leaving many women hesitant to seek help. Richardson addresses it the way she addresses everything — with calm, thoughtful understanding. Statistically, one in four women has had an abortion, a sobering reality that shapes how LaVie approaches every client.
At LaVie, the topic is never avoided — it’s met with compassion, not judgment.
Richardson’s message to women considering abortion is clear: “If you’re contemplating an abortion because you can’t financially provide for that baby, we want you to know that we will help you. We don’t ever want someone to feel like they have to have an abortion because they can’t afford what that baby needs.”
She recalled asking former clients, “What if I told you we would help you with the material items this baby needs — would that make a difference?” Each woman chose life, and LaVie kept their promise.
“Whatever we say we’re going to do, we do.” Many clients hesitate to ask for help, not wanting to take from others. Richardson meets that with grace: “Let us remove the stress from you. You shouldn’t have to worry about this. Just accept what we’re giving you. We don’t know what you need unless you tell us.”
Richardson also encourages young women: “Talk to your parents. Give them the opportunity to choose to support you. Don’t assume how they’ll react.”
LaVie Pregnancy Center
1271 Calks Ferry Road
Lexington, SC
803-996-4673