What to do if you have an Accidental Pregnancy

If you have an accidental pregnancy, you first need to take a deep breath and try to ease your nerves. A surprise pregnancy can be a terrifying and overwhelming time, but remember that you are not alone. Do not try to deal with the situation on your own. There are many resources available to you, and it is important to get the correct information so you can make the best decisions for yourself and your baby. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the things you need to know if you find yourself in this situation.

Can a surprise pregnancy really happen to you?

A surprise pregnancy can be a shock to any woman, no matter her age or relationship status. Many women believe that they are doing everything they can to prevent pregnancy, but sometimes birth control fails or is used incorrectly. In other cases, a woman may be raped or have unprotected sex while intoxicated, leading to an accidental pregnancy. Whatever the circumstances, a surprise pregnancy can be a difficult situation to navigate.

Confirm that you are really pregnant

This might be confusing to you, as perhaps you didn’t have unprotected sex, or maybe you have been getting your period, and you are completely caught off guard. Unfortunately, contraception isn’t 100% effective, and sometimes women can get pregnant even while on birth control or when a condom is used.

If you are feeling or seeing the signs, though, things like breast tenderness, nausea, exhaustion, or other pregnancy signs, it is important not to ignore them and to take care of yourself.

Your first step, no matter how you may feel about this pregnancy, is to actually confirm that you are, in fact, pregnant. This can mean taking an at-home pregnancy test or scheduling an appointment at a provider such as Planned Parenthood or your doctor’s office so that you can be fully sure that you are, in fact, pregnant.

Choose a doctor to help with prenatal care

It is important for all pregnant women to get prenatal care, whether they aren’t sure if they are going to keep the pregnancy or not. Even if you are strongly considering abortion, it is so important that you get checked out by an OB-GYN to make sure that you are healthy and that everything is okay.

Looking at options for an unwanted pregnancy

Once you have established that you are pregnant, it’s time to think about your options regarding the unexpected pregnancy. A question you might be asking yourself is whether you want to be a mom right now. Or, if you already have kids, are you in a place where you can parent another child?

If you are fully confident that this is an unwanted pregnancy, and not only do you not want to parent, but you don’t even want to carry, then abortion is likely the option for you. Depending on how far you are in your pregnancy, you may be able to get medication for an abortion. Or, if you are further along when you make this decision, you might have a need for a surgical procedure.

While abortion is a very hot topic in the United States right now, there are certain states where you can access a safe, legal abortion. We can help you get these services should you need them.

Learn more about the three options available to women facing an accidental pregnancy to help you determine what is best for you. These options are:

Adoption
Abortion
Parenting

How do you know what is best for you?

There is no easy answer to this question. It is important to think about all of your options and make a decision that is right for you. You may want to talk to your parents, a trusted friend or family member, or a counselor before making a decision.

What if I decide to keep the baby?

If you decide to keep the baby, you will need to start thinking about prenatal care and delivery. You will also need to think about whether you want to raise the child on your own or if you will have help from family or friends.

What if I decide to have an abortion?

If you decide to have an abortion, you will need to make sure that you are getting the care from a safe and legal provider. You will also need to think about how you want to pay for the procedure.

What if I decide to place my baby for adoption?

If parenting is not something you are interested in, but termination doesn’t feel right to you, adoption might be the option for you to learn more about. We can work with you to help you learn more about adoption and all of the incredible adoptive families that are ready and waiting to adopt a baby.

Should you want to learn more about adoption as a solution for your accidental pregnancy, give us a call anytime at 1-888-OPENARMS. We are available 24/7 to help you. And, if you aren’t quite ready to reach out, take a look at some of our adoptive families that are prepared and excited to adopt by visiting our Waiting Adoptive Families page.

What are the risks involved with each option?

There are risks involved with every decision that you make in life. It is important to think about the risks and benefits of each option before making a decision.

Pros and cons of parenting after an accidental pregnancy

Pros:

You get to experience the joys of parenting
You get to raise your child the way you want to
You have the opportunity to bond with your child

Cons:

You may not be ready to be a parent
You may not have enough support from family or friends
You could have financial difficulties
Your child could have health problems

Pros and cons of choosing abortion for your pregnancy

Pros:

You get to choose when you want to become a parent
You don’t have to worry about raising a child you don’t want
You don’t have to worry about the father’s involvement

Cons:

You may have complications from the procedure
You may have emotional difficulties after the procedure
You could be sued by the father of the baby

Pros and cons of choosing adoption for your baby

Pros:

You get to choose the family that will adopt your child
You can have an open or closed adoption
You can still be involved in your child’s life after placement

Cons:

You may have a difficult time placing your child for adoption
You may not be able to find an adoptive family that you like
You may have emotional difficulties after placement

Final thoughts

No matter what you decide to do, we are here to support you. We understand that this is a difficult decision, and we want to help you in any way that we can. Please call us at 1-888-OPENARMS if you would like to talk to someone about your options. We are available 24 hours a day to help you.