Unplanned Pregnancy…Now What

About 46 percent of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned.  Which would mean that if you are reading this, you have found yourself in that same situation or know of someone who is. Perhaps you or a friend are seeking advice on what to do next.

When facing an unplanned pregnancy, the first thing that happens is that you are in a state of disbelief.  Maybe such disbelief that t is hard to know exactly what to do next.  When in disbelief, we just want it to go away. The crisis like situation that was not planned for certainly can be overwhelming and even isolating.  It can be difficult to think through what to do next or where to go from here.

While going through this, it is essential to seek out professional information and consider all your options.  It is also essential to take the time to research, seek professional resources, weigh pros and cons, self-reflect and ask yourself specific questions.  Good decisions are not usually quick decisions and not meant to be made alone.

You have 3 choices in your unplanned pregnancy: abortion, parenting or adoption.  Each of those choices are life altering and require you to fully understand each one. You may experience having a fear of telling others and fear of judgment. You most likely have a lot of questions.

• What kind of abortion procedure would I have, how much does it cost, and what are the risks involved?
• What does my current support system look like to make each of these choices?
• What are the risks medically, physically and emotionally of each choice and what is the long term impact?
• What resources are available to me to make these choices?

You owe it to yourself, your future, and your unborn baby to slow down and make a healthy decision.

I recall facing an unplanned pregnancy at the age of eighteen.   I had recently graduated from high school and left home to live with friends.  I had my agenda of attending college and living “La Vida Loca”.  Finding out that I was pregnant, I was afraid of what people would think or say, especially after leaving my home without my parent’s approval.  I was not in the right place with the father of the baby and did not have a healthy support system.  However, I knew I was at a crossroad of what to do and believed there was only one solution: abortion.

I decided I needed to speak to someone about my unplanned pregnancy.  While driving, I saw a clinic and called and made an appointment to be seen and weigh all my options.  Upon arriving, I felt scared and wondered what they were going to think of seeing a young girl pregnant.  I wondered what they would think about me wanting to have an abortion. What I experienced was quite the opposite where I felt welcomed and not judged.  These strangers provided professional services like an ultra sound and genuinely cared and helped me lay out all three options.

I felt empowered and encouraged, and by the end of that evening, I choose to have my baby and parent.  I was not aware of how I was going to pull this off, but I knew abortion and adoption were not for me.  Twenty-five years later, that has been one of the best decisions that I made.  What seemed to be the worst time in my life brought a great outcome for me. Today I have a son and I can’t imagine my life without him.

Here at Choices Women’s Clinic, we can first provide professional medical services to help you assess your options like ultrasound, a medical consultation and a pre-abortion screening.  We equip women and men to make an informed pregnancy decision. We believe and respect the fact that each person is capable of making a healthy decision when given the proper information. We are here for you regardless of your circumstances or your decisions. Choices Women’s Clinic can provide no cost medical services, non-judgmental consultation and resources to answer any questions and address any issues you may be facing with an unplanned pregnancy.