An unplanned pregnancy can be one of the toughest things to deal with. Shaky hands and an unsteady feeling certainly don’t help as the emotions, the fear, and the tears come on hard and fast.
At Willowbrook Women’s Center, we are here for you. We know what you are going through, and we are committed to helping you through it. We have no doubt that you can and will make it through, but sometimes it’s nice to know you’re not alone, and there is someone you can talk to who will support you and not condemn you.
As you consider which path you will choose, there are some options for you to consider—abortion, parenting, and adoption.
Abortion
Abortion stops the pregnancy from moving ahead. This is done in a variety of different ways depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy. It is time-dependent, so if you are considering this as an option, you should know there is a point at which this is no longer an option.
The timeframe allowing for abortion changes from state to state. For instance, Wisconsin allows abortions to take place up until 20 weeks gestational age. Other states, such as New York, Massachusetts, Florida, and Nevada allow abortions up to 24 weeks. In Missouri, abortions are allowed through 21 weeks, 6 days.
The different options for abortion range from the abortion pill, which is actually two pills taken a couple days apart, to surgical procedures that increase in scope and risk the farther along you are in your pregnancy.
You will surely have a lot of questions, and we are here to answer every one of them.
Parenting
About half of women facing an unplanned pregnancy choose the parenting option. That doesn’t mean it’s an easy decision to make, and it comes with its own set of questions: Am I ready to be a parent? How will I support myself and a baby? What if my relationship isn’t stable?
Experts suggest writing down your feelings—all of them—and then write down how your values and beliefs affect the way you look at each of your options. What are your goals, plans, and dreams, and where does pregnancy fit within them?
Adoption
Concerning adoption, it used to be said that you were giving up your baby, as if you were failing. Today it is said that choosing adoption means you have done careful planning and put a lot of emotional effort forth together with some sacrifices. It’s done with love, bravery, and selflessness.
When looking into adoption options, there are some places that will let you create your personal adoption plan, including choosing the perfect adoptive family, deciding how you want your hospital experience to go, and determining the type of relationship you want to have with the child after adoption.
Come in For Support
Each of these options requires strength, and we know you have this strength within you. No matter which path you choose, you are strong enough to see it through. However, you may not be so sure you have the strength. We will help you find and see that strength, so you will have the confidence to choose the road that you believe is the best one for you.
