When Abortion Feels Like the Only Option

Finding out you’re pregnant can be overwhelming and scary, especially if having a baby wasn’t part of your plan right now. With the current uncertainty with COVID-19, even more complexity has been added to becoming pregnant. We have talked with many pregnant women who have felt alone, scared, and confused, uncertain of what to do with the idea of being pregnant and abortion feels like the only option.

If your pregnancy was unexpected you might be thinking “How am I going to make this work?” For many people, an abortion seems like an easy way to erase or undo the situation they are currently finding themselves in. While abortion may seem like an easy fix, abortion is not just a simple medical procedure. For many women, it is a life-changing event with significant physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences. Most women who have had an abortion say they wish they had been told all of the facts about abortion and its risks.

Your Options

Abortion: Did You Know?

An average abortion costs anywhere between $0-1,000 depending on the type of abortion and medical insurance. Depending on the gestational age of the baby, a non-surgical or surgical abortion may be performed. According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cramping and vaginal bleeding are expected side effects. In some cases, very heavy vaginal bleeding will need to be stopped by a surgical procedure, which has to be performed in a healthcare provider’s office.

Other common side effects of a medical abortion include nausea, weakness, fever, chills, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, and dizziness in the first day or two after taking the two medicines. For surgical abortions, possible complications include heavy bleeding (hemorrhage), infections, and incomplete abortions. In addition to physical complications, emotional side effects of abortion may be experienced as well. Long-term grief and loss is common with those who have had abortions, and support is essential during that time.

So what other options are there to consider?

Parenting: Support is Available

If you are considering parenting, you probably have a lot of questions. It is natural to feel some uncertainty as you try to imagine your life in a new way, and depending on where you are in life, you might be feeling overwhelmed as you try to figure out how you would parent. While being a parent is both challenging and rewarding, choosing to continue your pregnancy enables you to experience a baby growing inside of you all the way to the baby gradually developing unique characteristics, interests, and personalities. Having a baby is a lifelong commitment that takes love and patience. Take time to really consider what parenting would look like for you.

You don’t need to feel alone. Our professional staff at First Care are here to work with you to provide the resources and support you need to create a successful parenting plan. We offer support such as a parenting program (up to age 5), baby items such as diapers, wipes, and clothing, prenatal education classes, community resources, and grant and aid assistance. We desire to help you to make an informed decision and provide support should you decide to parent.

Adoption: Make a Plan Right for You

Adoption, just like parenting and abortion, is a significant, life-changing decision. Placing a child for adoption is a courageous and loving decision and perhaps making an adoption plan is an option you want to consider. There is a wide range of adoption options available, from closed adoptions to open adoptions and we encourage you meet with our staff and learn about adoption so you can make an informed decision.

If you are worried about the medical expenses related to continuing with your pregnancy, it is important to know that adoptive families or adoption agencies will usually assist with medical and living expenses. You can select the adoptive family based on your preferences, and you also decide what level of involvement you will have in your child’s life. You can choose whether the adoption is open, closed, or somewhere in between — based on your level of comfort and future plans.

If you’re thinking about adoption, we would love to connect and help guide you in this decision.

It is natural to be scared or hesitant about pregnancy, especially when you weren’t expecting it to happen yet. But we encourage you to take time to talk about your decision with your family and friends and consider all of your options before deciding on a plan.

If you want to talk about your situation and learn more about your options, contact our staff today.

 

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifeprex

https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/wrtk/handbook.html