Today’s article is something a little different. A guest has submitted an open letter to our readers, “from someone who’s been there.” We appreciate the time she invested to share her heart, and we hope you are encouraged.
You’ve taken a test and the proof is staring you in the face. You are pregnant. You are pregnant and you didn’t plan it. You are pregnant and you didn’t want it. Now what?
A million emotions may run through you, seemingly all at once. You may be frightened, or angry, or frustrated, or confused, or reluctantly hopeful, or strangely happy. Wherever you land on the spectrum, the one thing that I would tell you is this: make an appointment at Avenue Women’s Center to talk with someone about what you have just learned.
Sure, you can talk it over with your partner, husband, boyfriend, best friend, or your cat, but that is not what I mean. You need to be informed, and as well meaning as your friends and family may be (or may not be, for that matter), their advice and counsel to you will be colored by their relationship with you. A trained pregnancy counselor at a pregnancy center will confirm your pregnancy, and will then walk you through every one of your options—abortion, adoption, and parenting—without bias or emotional entanglement. They will hear you, and help you to sort out everything you are thinking, feeling and experiencing.
This is not the time to make any rash decisions. Your life is going to be different now, and the very best thing you can do for yourself is to stop, breathe, and learn.
You may think you already know what you should do, or you may be surprised to find that you suddenly aren’t so sure about anything. Talking this through with a pregnancy counselor is the best step toward clarity. Whether you terminate the pregnancy, make an adoption plan, or choose to parent, your decision will impact your life forever.
Your pregnancy is not the end of your life. It isn’t even the end of all your hopes and dreams. It is a change. It is different road, and that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Sometimes the different road is the most exhilarating road of all! You may find that this isn’t the end of anything…but rather the beginning of something incredible.
—from someone who’s been there
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.