The possibility of being pregnant isn’t something you were planning on. Not now anyway. But if you’ve recently had unprotected (or maybe even protected) sex and your period is late, you might be pregnant.
Facing an unplanned pregnancy is very stressful. Try to take a deep breath and pause just for a moment. We are prepared to walk through this journey with you.
Every pregnancy, just like every woman, is unique. Some women experience every one of these symptoms while others don’t feel any. See if any of these other symptoms sound familiar to you.
It’s absolutely normal to be scared and unsure of an unwanted pregnancy. Many people find that talking with someone confidentially can relieve a lot of stress. When you come for free pregnancy counseling at Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach, we will help you sort through whatever issues you’re facing.
Our conversations are completely confidential. What would make you most comfortable? We can talk by text, phone, email, or in person. Best of all, there’s no cost to you. Just contact us. We are here for you!
Our pregnancy counselors want you to know you aren’t alone. There is a way forward and we want to help. Here are some immediate ways we can help you:
As you consider adoption, we recommend these first steps:
Call or text Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach at 979-764-6636. An APO adoption counselor will explain the details of adoption and answer all your questions. As with any big decision, it’s important to explore all your options. We’ll help you investigate parenting and marriage as other options to consider.
APO offers Open Adoption plans which allow you to choose the adoptive family that seems right to you. Open adoption allows birth parents to know and have ongoing contact with the adoptive parents and their child.
Ask yourself these questions.
If your answer is “yes” to any of these questions, open adoption may be the best choice for you and your baby
APO offers Open Adoption plans which allow you to choose the adoptive family that seems right to you. Open adoption allows birth parents to know and have ongoing contact with the adoptive parents and their child. You will view the Life Books of our adoptive families and meet the one(s) that you like the best. Meeting the couple in person really helps you know if they are the right one for you and your child. Once you are sure about a family, we call that a “match!”
The time from matching with a family until the baby is born is a great opportunity for you and the prospective adoptive couple to get to know one another better. Your adoption counselor will be with you all along the way.
Your hospital stay is a very emotional time. Your counselor will be with you just as much (or as little) as you want. After delivery, you can see your baby, hold your baby, name your baby, etc. You are the mother! That sounds so obvious, but it’s just a reminder that although you have made an adoption plan, it is only a plan until you make a final decision for adoption. That decision cannot be made until the baby is at least 48 hours old.
Any time after the baby is 48 hours old, you can sign the legal adoption papers called Termination of Parental Rights. If you are to be discharged from the hospital before you sign final adoption papers, temporary paperwork can be signed giving the adoptive family permission to care for your child if you like.
Although it’s an emotional time, this is also a special time as you entrust your child to the care of his or her new family. We use the term “placing” your baby for adoption and not “giving up” your baby. Words are powerful. Parents provide for their children. By placing your baby in an adoptive family, you are providing for your baby by giving him/her a two-parent family.
An Entrustment Ceremony is to commemorate this sacred event. While this is totally optional, the birth families who have done this in the past look back on the time with sweet memories. The “ceremony” can be as simple as exchanging some heartfelt words with the family about your hopes and dreams for your child. You can choose to have a very small, informal gathering in the privacy of your hospital room, or you can invite family and friends to join you in a chapel, at APO, or anywhere that is meaningful to you.
At APO, we know birth parents need continued support after placing their child for adoption. Our counselors provide one-on-one counseling through the years. APO also provides a regular support group in a confidential, emotionally safe environment for birth moms to gather, share their stories, and encourage one another through life’s ups and downs.
Be Bold, Be Brave, Be You.
