Facing Unintended Pregnancy

 So, you just took a home pregnancy test and it was positive and you’re not sure what to do about your unintended pregnancy. Your immediate thought may be abortion, or perhaps you have no idea what to do. You might be asking yourself, how can I tell my family? How can I afford this? I’m still in school, how can I have a baby? You may feel a bit panicked, fearful, confused, and excited all at once. Well take a deep breath, relax and we’ll walk through two basic steps to help you process this.

Step 1. Have your unintended pregnancy confirmed.

If you took a home pregnancy test and the test read positive, schedule an appointment to have a nurse-administered pregnancy test AND confirm your unintended pregnancy through an ultrasound. There are three reasons why an ultrasound is beneficial: ¹⁾ It tells you how far along you are (also known as the gestational age). ²⁾ It confirms that the fetus has a heartbeat. ³⁾ It helps to know if the fetus is growing in the uterus; if not, this could be an ectopic pregnancy, which can be a serious medical concern. It is important to note, by Virginia state law, an ultrasound is required prior to having an abortion.

Step 2. Determine your options before making a hasty decision.

The key here is to understand that YOU HAVE OPTIONS. If you are considering abortion, you’ll want to educate yourself on the procedures and risks involved. For more information click here. While you may feel like abortion may be your best or only option for your unintended pregnancy, there are alternatives. Have you ever thought about adoption? There are adoption agencies available to help you with this process. There are also different plans to choose when considering an adoption plan. In an open adoption, you have a large role in selecting a family to parent your baby and can be involved in the child’s life. In a partially or semi-open adoption, you can choose the type of family the child is placed in, but have limited interaction with the child and parents. In a confidential, or closed adoption, you will have no contact with the parents or child. If this doesn’t sound appealing to you, have you considered carrying the baby to term? There are plenty of resources available in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham community that will help meet your needs if you decide to parent. If you haven’t deliberated on your options, sit down, take a deep breath, and spend a few minutes alone to meditate on them. Consider your resources, your support system, and the long-term impact of your decision.

While you may be feeling so many different emotions regarding your unintended pregnancy, it’s important to take your time and not to panic. Many women have this same situation every day so you are not alone. At AVA Care you can talk one-on-one with our licensed nurses and client advocates who will help you through this difficult time.

AVA Care is here to Advocate for you, Validate your concerns and provide Answers to your questions. We are here for you – no matter what you decide. Schedule an appointment online or call 540.434.7528 today.