Any person who’s facing an unexpected pregnancy has three main pregnancy options available to her: abortion, adoption, and parenting. If you’ve gotten an unexpected positive pregnancy test result, you’re undoubtedly questioning which of these outcomes is right for you. Maybe a small or significant part of you feels drawn to the idea of parenting. But you’re questioning if this is a realistic possibility, because you’re not sure that you “have what it takes” to continue the pregnancy and become a parent. If this sounds like your situation, read on!
At Avenue Women’s Center, we’re passionate about empowering women with the tools they need to make informed and confident pregnancy decisions. Nobody should have to feel pushed into an outcome she’s unsure about due to a lack of resources. That’s why Avenue Women’s Center exists. We’re here to provide no-cost early pregnancy support and accurate information on your pregnancy, all your pregnancy options, and your available resources. Our goal is to help you remove potential barriers that lay between you and your own best outcome.
Check out our “About Us” page! Avenue has been serving individuals, couples, and families from Chicagoland and beyond since 1981.
You May be Facing a Lot. But Your Pregnancy Journey Doesn’t Have to End Here.
You may be questioning your ability to parent for a lot of different reasons. Perhaps you’re very young… or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, feeling like you’ve seen too much of life to start this journey now. Maybe you’re already dealing with financial difficulties, or managing other significant challenges and responsibilities that would make parenting especially hard. Maybe you don’t have a supportive partner. Or, you lack confidence in your ability to be “a good mom.” No matter what your specific concerns may be, you probably feel as though you don’t have the resources you need (practical, financial, relational, emotional, etc.) to parent well. Know that you’re stronger than you realize. But even if you do need a lot more support to confidently consider your option of parenting, that support is accessible to you.
A Strong Foundation for a Confident Pregnancy Decision
Every decision-making process is driven by something. It’s important to be mindful of what’s motivating your pregnancy choice, and pay attention to deeper motives that could be getting overlooked. These may include your values, firmly held beliefs, innate desires, and instincts. Sometimes, we push these aside (or feel like we have to push them aside) when we’re dealing with practical limitations. This tends to be especially true for those of us who are very pragmatic thinkers. Reign in this impulse and consider all the relevant factors. If you feel drawn to the idea of parenting, explore that feeling. Ask yourself where it’s coming from. You don’t have to make your pregnancy decision right now. But if you’d like to keep your option of parenting on the table, you can explore what this might look like for your life, and how it could be made into a realistic opportunity. You have resources available to you. Lean into them, and base your pregnancy decision upon your strengths- not what you lack. This approach will likely equip you to make a more confident choice with fewer regrets in the long run.
Building a Thriving Support Network
It can be extremely valuable to process all this with someone caring and trustworthy. That’s because a good confidante can provide emotional support, an outside perspective, and honest (but sensitive) feedback all at once. She or he may be able to offer encouragement that boosts your self-confidence as well. Sometimes, just sifting through your own thoughts and feelings out loud in a safe environment can allow you to gain self-insight. Consider sharing your pregnancy journey with a close friend or family member, a mentor, a professional counselor, a faith leader, or a pregnancy consultant.
Our pregnancy consultants and nurses at Avenue Women’s Center are available to be a sounding board and a source of emotional support. We’re also here to educate by providing free first-step pregnancy services (including lab-quality pregnancy tests, limited medical ultrasounds, and more). If you need practical resources that extend beyond our scope of services, we can provide referrals. Many communities offer a variety of free and low-cost resources related to health care, housing, basic necessities, and more. We’d love to help you access the tools that you need.
At Avenue Women’s Center, we believe that “knowledge is power.” Our expert staff is passionate about equipping women with the valuable and accurate information they need to move forward feeling well-informed. We’re available to meet you without judgment… no matter what circumstances you’re facing, which way you’re leaning, or where your path leads. You’ve got this. You’re uniquely equipped to embrace an outcome that’s right for you. These are truths that you can feel confident in.
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The information provided here is general in nature. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a medical professional. Before any medical procedure, it is imperative that you discuss your personal medical history, risks, and concerns with your doctor. If you have questions during or after a procedure, your doctor should be immediately contacted. Avenue Women’s Center is not an emergency center. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, such as bleeding and/or pain, seek immediate medical attention. Contact your physician, go to an emergency room, or call 911.