Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be very stressful. Sit down, take a deep breath, think and pray. The decisions you make in the next few months will affect you for the rest of your life. Give yourself time to make the best decision for you and your baby. There is hope for your future.
Index: I’m pregnant, now what? Here are 5 helpful tips for making brave decisions.
- Remember you are not alone.
- Talk with a counselor
- Look at your options
- Go to the doctor
- Make a plan
1. Remember you are not alone
Call or text Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach at (979) 764 –6636 at any time of day, any day of the week. APO is here to walk step by step with you through this process with absolutely no judgment. Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be very stressful and that’s why we are here to sit with you and help you make the best decision for you and your baby. Wherever you are, there are people ready to help you.
2. Talk with a counselor
Here at APO in Bryan College Station, we offer FREE counseling during and after your pregnancy. It is absolutely normal to be scared and unsure in an unwanted or unexpected pregnancy. Many people find that talking with someone confidently can relieve a lot of the stress. Your counselor will listen to and talk with you through every question, fear and celebration. She will also help you understand your pregnancy symptoms and what to expect in the future. All of your conversations here at APO are completely confidential. Your counselor can also help you with your physical needs. She can take you to the grocery store, help you find housing and even be with you as you give birth if that’s what you decide.
3. Look at your options
It can be easy to feel pressure from different people in your life to make the “right” decision. However, it is important to remember that what someone else thinks is right might not be what is best for you and your baby. Considering all the options of single parenting, marriage, adoption or abortion can feel overwhelming, but we encourage you to remember that there is hope for you and your baby’s future.
- Single parenting: When trying to decide if single parenting is the best option for you and your baby, consider your current situation as well as your future hopes and dreams.
- Marriage: Children require security and stability. When their parents are living in a loving and harmonious relationship, the child will feel loved and secure. But marriage requires commitment for the long haul. Even the most mature and “in love” man and woman may one day fall “out of love” with the other. It requires commitment to stay together even when you don’t feel like staying.
- Adoption: Placing your baby with an adoptive family is a truly brave decision. Even if a mother is not ready to be a mom, a mother can be strong and make smart choices. She can turn nine months into a lifetime, and turn a couple into a family. Friends, family and even strangers can be eager to tell you what to do, but your situation is different from everyone else’s and only YOU know all the issues that are being thrown at you. Open adoption joins two families together and allows you to share a very special, loving relationship with your baby. If you decide to place your child with an adoptive family, we will be here to support you as long as you want.
- Abortion: It is completely normal to feel stressed, alone, or nervous about having a baby, but it’s important to remember that motherhood starts when you become pregnant. You are a mom right now and your baby is depending on you for everything. The choice for abortion ends your baby’s life and it is a choice you cannot “undo.” If you feel backed into a corner and abortion seems the only way out, remember you are not alone. We are here for you.
4. Go to the doctor
We can connect you with a doctor and help you locate any pregnancy services or insurance that you need. Your counselor can walk you through all the details and paperwork and she can even provide transportation to any appointments that will follow.
5. Make a plan
As soon as you know that you are pregnant, you can start taking care of your baby and begin making a plan.
- First, acknowledge that your body is changing and allow yourself more time for rest. Start taking pre-natal vitamins, exercise and adjust your diet. Here are more details for having a healthy pregnancy.
- Secondly, begin looking toward the future. We can be by your side and guide as you explore your options for parenting or adoption. We can help you make a list of the next steps that seem best to you.
Making a plan is a very big, brave step towards a hopeful and successful pregnancy, birth and future.