Handling an Unexpected Pregnancy During a Worldwide Pandemic.
As if a worldwide pandemic wasn’t enough, you find out you’re unexpectedly pregnant. Even though it may feel like it, know that you are NOT alone. Let’s talk about what you can do, where you can go for help, and what resources are available to you.
Woodbury Options for Women Staff - 04.18.2020
W h a t S h o u l d I D o ? W h e r e C a n I G o ? I s T h e r e H e l p A v a i l a b l e ?
Not to state the obvious but, unexpected pregnancies happen. Worldwide pandemics typically don’t.
Which means that you might be stressed out and overwhelmed - to say the least. You are not alone, almost half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unexpected. (CDC, 2019) Give yourself space to just breathe for a second. Maybe you are wondering what options are available during a quarantine. Is abortion available? Is adoption an option? The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone, and there are things you can do and places you can go to figure this out and get the resources you need.
So, What Should You Do?
Confirm that you are pregnant. Contact Woodbury Options for Women or another pregnancy resource center near you for free pregnancy testing and a limited obstetrical ultrasound. It is crucial to determine how far along you are. That will determine your next steps and what options are available to you in that stage of your pregnancy, and allow health care professionals to offer you the best care according to Maureen Phipps, MD, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. (Johnson, 2015)
Know your options. Pandemic or no pandemic, your three options are abortion, adoption, or parenting. Contact us for a pregnancy options consultation today. Sometimes it helps to have someone on the outside walk you through your options - compassionately and objectively.
Know you’re not alone. The staff at Woodbury Options for Women is ready to welcome and empower you to make the decision that is best for you.
Take Care Of Yourself.
Remember to take care of yourself during this time. It’s all too easy to let the situation overwhelm you.
Schedule social time.
Confide in people you know and trust. If you don’t have a strong support system, we are here for you. But whatever you do, make sure to surround yourself with people who care about you. You should never feel like you have to go through an unexpected pregnancy alone.
Embrace the quiet.
In the midst of the panic, try and take advantage of this quarantine to think about what your values are. How does each option to abort, adopt, or parent align with those values? It’s so easy to be short-sighted when you find out you’re unexpectedly pregnant. Try and think about the long-term effects of each option. Ultimately, this time to contemplate and align your decisions with your values will make all the difference, allowing you to make a thoughtful and intentional decision.
Take care of your physical health.
Start taking a multi-vitamin with folic acid. If you do decide to parent or create an adoption plan, you want to make sure your baby is strong and healthy. Folic acid decreases the chance of brain, spine, and spinal cord defects (CDC, 2018).
If you are using drugs or drinking alcohol, make sure to stop. Not only is excessive use harmful to the growing baby, it can be harmful to you and your health as well.
Talk to someone. If you are feeling depressed or overwhelmed, don’t bottle it up. Make an appointment to discuss your options or see a licensed therapist or psychologist.
Whatever you need, we are here for you.
We care about you and want you to know that you have a safe place to go. Call 651.340.9062 or request an appointment online. Whether you just need a listening ear, free pregnancy testing, or a limited ultrasound, we are available. If you decide to continue your pregnancy, we’ll be with you the whole way, offering adoption or parenting help. We have the resources you need. You can do this.
