You didn’t plan for this. Whether the test result was a surprise or a confirmation of something you already feared, you’re now facing a decision you weren’t ready to make. That’s a lot to sit with.
Before you decide anything, schedule a no-cost, confidential appointment at Pregnancy Help Center. Getting accurate information about your pregnancy is the first step, no matter what you’re considering.
What You Need to Know First
A positive pregnancy test only detects the pregnancy hormone, hCG. A pregnancy test does not tell you how far along you are, whether the pregnancy is located in the uterus, or whether the pregnancy is viable and progressing. Those details are not minor and directly affect which options are available to you and the timeline.
A limited ultrasound performed by a licensed sonographer at Pregnancy Help Center can give you that picture at no cost.
Your Three Options
Every pregnancy has three possible paths: abortion, parenting, and adoption. Here’s an honest look at each one.
Abortion
Abortion ends the pregnancy. There are two types: medical abortion (the abortion pill) and surgical abortion. Gestational age is a factor in both, which is one reason an ultrasound is an important step before making any decision.
Both carry physical risks, including heavy or prolonged bleeding, infection, and incomplete abortion.
Some women also experience emotional difficulty afterward, particularly if the decision felt pressured or rushed. Research suggests that women who feel pushed into an abortion are significantly more likely to experience lasting grief and disruption to their daily lives.
Parenting
Parenting is not something you have to figure out alone, and it does not require having everything in place before you begin.
Many women who did not plan for this moment have found that it was the most meaningful thing they have ever done. We can answer your questions honestly, and connect you with resources in the St. Louis area, from financial assistance to parenting education, so you can make this decision with a better picture of what support can actually look like.
Adoption
Adoption is not giving up. It is making a plan for a child you are not in a position to raise right now. You choose the family. You decide whether you want ongoing contact, occasional updates, or complete privacy.
Pregnancy-related medical costs are typically covered. Women who choose adoption may describe it as one of the hardest and most loving decisions they have ever made. If you feel parenting is not possible right now, adoption is worth understanding fully before you decide anything.
We can provide referrals to trusted local adoption agencies and walk alongside you as you decide whether this path is right for you.
A Place to Get Information
Pregnancy Help Center offers free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and peer counseling at no cost. We can walk through all three options with you, answer your questions, and give you the space to think without anyone pushing you in a particular direction.
Schedule your free, confidential appointment today. Call 314.894.9800 or text 314.856.2115.
Pregnancy Help Center does not provide or refer for abortions.