The holiday season has come and gone… a fact that you may or may not feel happy about! Hopefully, your holiday celebrations were filled with more moments of harmony than tension. You probably spent a lot of time with friends and loved ones either way. One would think that, under these circumstances, a person would feel anything but alone. But maybe you discovered this past holiday season that it really is possible to be surrounded by people, and still feel isolated.
Have you been feeling alone lately because you’ve discovered an unexpected pregnancy, and your loved ones just don’t understand what it’s like, or aren’t aware of the pregnancy at all? If this sounds familiar, know that you don’t have to navigate this on your own. Avenue Women’s Center has your back. We’re a limited medical clinic based in Chicagoland, Illinois that offers confidential early pregnancy services at no cost.
Discover our free first-step pregnancy services!
An Isolating Season
The holidays can be a particularly isolating time of the year for many people. Not everyone has a solid foundation of caring support to begin with. Even for those of us who do, it’s hard to feel genuinely connected to the people who love us if they aren’t aware of our circumstances or haven’t been supportive of us during a difficult time. Busy holiday schedules can even become a barrier to bonding on a deeper level. The holidays are supposed to be about connecting with loved ones. But perhaps this recent holiday season has left you feeling lonelier than ever.
Finding a Support Person
It’s important for any person experiencing an unexpected pregnancy to have someone compassionate and trustworthy who she feels comfortable confiding in. Do you have at least one “support person” who’s helping you cope with your unexpected pregnancy? This doesn’t have to be a family member or someone you’d normally see day-to-day. But opening up to someone safe can serve as a powerful reminder that you’re not alone, even if it sometimes feels like you are. An open dialogue will create opportunities for you to receive encouragement, hear a different point of view, and discover your own insights by processing your feelings with a good listener.
Connecting with Avenue Women’s Center
At Avenue Women’s Center, we’re passionate about offering individuals the practical and emotional support they need to thrive. If you’re unexpectedly pregnant and aren’t sure where to turn for help, we’d love to become part of your personal support system. We can help strengthen this network by linking you with other resources as well. Avenue offers the following early pregnancy services at no cost!
- Medical-grade pregnancy tests. An important first step to confirm a pregnancy. Ours are 99.5% accurate!
- Pregnancy consultations. To review the processes involved with each pregnancy option available to you (abortion, adoption, and parenting). This is also a great time to process how you feel about the pregnancy test result in a safe, confidential setting and learn about the resources available to you.
- Limited medical ultrasounds. To date the pregnancy, find out where it’s located, and assess the possibility of miscarriage. This information can help you safeguard your own health and make an informed pregnancy decision when the time is right.
Nobody should have to navigate an unexpected pregnancy without all the tools and support she needs to feel confident in her decision-making process. At Avenue, we’re all about meeting the women who reach out to us with warmth and compassion- never judgment. We’ve been striving toward the goal of equipping individuals to make informed pregnancy choices for over forty years, and we’re as passionate as ever!
Reach out to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment today! We’re located in Darien, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn / Lombard, Naperville, West Chicago, and Wood Dale, 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.