If you are looking at options for an unexpected pregnancy, chances are good you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the information flooding at you thanks to one small Google search. How do you know what to believe? Who to believe? Before you give in to tears,
We are here to help you, to give you the honest, unbiased information you are looking for, to answer your questions, and to support you every step of the way.
Three Options
When considering your options for an unexpected pregnancy, you have three—abortion, parenting, and adoption. While all options can sound scary when you’re in a spot you don’t want to be in, once you have a chance to take a closer look at them—and give them serious thought and consideration—you’ll come away with a pretty strong gut feeling on which path is right for you. We can help you take a closer look, give you any information you are missing, and guide you through the decision-making process.
When considering abortion, you have a time frame ahead of you. Abortion in Missouri is only permitted up to the gestational age of twenty-one weeks, six days. Also, as of May, 2018, women are required to receive counseling, meeting the state’s informed consent laws, then waiting 72 hours before having the procedure done. The counseling must be done in person, before the waiting period begins, and administered by the same doctor who will perform the abortion.
Missouri’s informed consent law further requires women, during the counseling session, to view an active ultrasound and sign a form pledging that they’ve read the Missouri Informed Consent Booklet.
The parenting and adoption options allow you more time to decide because they both let the pregnancy to go full term. We can also provide detailed information on these options and give you a list of community resources that can help you.
Your First Steps
Even though you’ve probably taken a home pregnancy test, your first step is to come see us at Willowbrook Women’s Center for a no-cost, lab-quality pregnancy test to confirm your at-home results. Once a positive test has been confirmed, you’ll be offered an ultrasound.
An ultrasound is done to confirm the pregnancy is viable, that it is progressing. It also will tell you how far along in the pregnancy you are, an important piece of information if you are considering an abortion.
When it comes to abortion, 80% of all miscarriages happen during the first trimester. The pregnancy may self-terminate. If the pregnancy isn’t viable, you may not have to worry about making a decision. If an ultrasound reveals an ectopic pregnancy, then immediate medical care will be required to remove it.
When considering abortion, then testing for STDs should be done. If a positive result comes back, treatment is needed (antibiotics) and you will be given a referral. Left untreated before an abortion is done, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) can develop afterward. It can cause chronic pain and affect long-term reproductive health and fertility.
Come See Us
Make an appointment to come in and see us. Our caring, supportive advocates and medical staff are here to listen to you, to answer your questions, and to help you make a confident decision about your future and which path you will take.
