When faced with an unexpected pregnancy, women often express that they’d like to be a mom someday, just not right now. Perhaps you can’t relate to this. Maybe parenting has never been a part of your life plan. You don’t want to be a mom now, nor can you imagine having an urge to parent in the future. You may feel this way for several reasons. Some lifestyles and circumstances seemingly don’t mesh with a child’s healthy development, and many women simply don’t sense a parenting instinct within themselves. If this sounds familiar, you may be having an especially difficult time processing your unexpected pregnancy. The feelings you’re working through are valid! What do you do next when you’re unexpectedly pregnant and never wanted to be a parent?
Whether you’re leaning toward abortion, adoption, or parenting, Avenue Women’s Center is here for you. We’ve been providing first-step pregnancy services to women in DuPage County, Illinois and beyond for over forty years, and we’d love to be a part of your support system too. Receive limited medical services and compassionate support right away at one of our six Chicagoland centers.
Visit our services page to learn more about our free and confidential early pregnancy services!
Coming to Terms in Those First Overwhelming Days
An unexpected positive pregnancy result is hard to accept, no matter what. Maybe abortion seems like the shortest path to normalcy, or maybe you’re uncertain about your next steps. No matter which way you’re leaning, offer yourself the space to take in these new circumstances at your own pace. You may feel better equipped to make a calm, confident choice after giving your mind and body time to process a pregnancy decision. However, you may still feel the urge to act. Obtaining a lab-quality pregnancy test to confirm your results is a great place to start. Avenue Women’s Center offers these free of charge, along with limited medical ultrasounds. Before moving forward with a pregnancy decision, an ultrasound can date the pregnancy and assess which options you’ll be eligible for.
Understanding All Your Options
Even if you feel strongly that parenting isn’t for you, learning about each of your pregnancy options can be beneficial. It doesn’t hurt to receive reliable information on the options you’re leaning toward and expand your knowledge of other avenues in the process. Adoption is one possibility that you may not have considered yet. This option comes with its challenges, as does abortion and parenting, but it’s a positive and practical alternative for many women. Offering accurate and complete information on all your options is a part of our mission at Avenue. Because your health and well-being are important, and because any pregnancy decision will involve both, it’s always best to feel fully informed before taking your next steps.
Learning About Your Available Resources
Understanding the resources available to you will be an important part of your decision-making process. Maybe you truly have no desire to parent, and that’s okay. But perhaps you’d consider parenting if your situation was different, and you just can’t imagine the circumstances ever changing. Regardless of your pregnancy decision, there are loads of practical resources available to help you achieve greater stability in your finances, housing, health care, and other important aspects of your life. A pregnancy consultant at Avenue can help connect you with a variety of community programs and other sources of support. These resources may play an important role in empowering you to make a pregnancy decision you feel good about.
Caring support is crucial for any woman facing an unexpected pregnancy, but may be especially helpful to someone who never imagined getting pregnant. A trustworthy friend, family member, or professional could be a valuable source of support. Our expert staff at Avenue would love to partner with you through this challenging season as well. We’re advocates for women, and we genuinely care about your health and wellness.
Call, text, chat, or email to schedule an appointment at one of our six centers in Chicagoland, Illinois!
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.