Researchers estimate that people make about 35,000 decisions each day. Fortunately, most of them can be done quickly and without regret. Some of them, however, are life-changing decisions that take days, weeks, or even months to make and can weigh heavily on an individual for years to come, possibly changing the course of their life forever.
For many women, becoming pregnant unexpectedly means facing one of the biggest decisions of her lifetime. No matter what the woman decides, she is greatly impacted by the choices that she has to make in this situation. There are many factors that go into this decision, involving both concrete facts and strong emotions. Sometimes, our emotions can help guide us toward the right decision, but other times, emotions can keep us paralyzed by fear so that we have a hard time making choices! If you are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy, there are several things you can do to right now to ensure you make the decision that is right for you.
Step one: Are you 100% sure that you are pregnant? A home pregnancy test is a good place to start, but we also recommend having a test done by a medical professional to be certain of your results. Even after a positive pregnancy test, some women experience a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. You will need to know if you are experiencing these medical issues before making any decisions, and the only way to know for sure is through an ultrasound. After a positive pregnancy test in our office, we can provide a free ultrasound to rule out miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, and determine how far along you are. By calling us to make an appointment at 770-924-0864, you can begin the first step of knowing what to do.
Step two: We recommend taking a step back and looking at a big picture view of your life, including your goals and dreams for five or even ten years down the road. What do your relationships look like? Your family? Do you see yourself as a mom? Do you picture a different job? Sometimes, our short term situation can affect huge long-term decisions, which may end up causing us to have regrets. For example, a job that doesn’t pay well could potentially influence your pregnancy choice. But making a life-altering decision based on a temporary job that could be different next month could easily result in regretting your decision down the road.
Step three: Make a list of all the reasons for each option. Sometimes, seeing things written down on paper can help you tackle each obstacle separately without feeling as overwhelmed or confused.
Step four: Once you’ve had time to process some of your thoughts and emotions, discuss your plans and choices with a counselor, a family member or a close friend. It is so important to discuss life’s biggest decisions with someone that you trust! Talking to a close family member or a peer counselor at our office who can offer guidance to you when you are feeling stressed will give you a clear mind and help you make a plan for your pregnancy that you feel good about. Remember, the person you choose to confide in should be someone who shows kindness, wisdom, and a calm attitude. If they are pressuring you or making you feel badly about the situation, they are not the right person to help you make this decision. The staff and volunteers at Options Medical Clinic are available to talk to and help you sort through all of the confusion that you are facing.
Step five: Make a plan that you feel good about. If you decide to continue your pregnancy, you will likely need information about your health and nutrition and about preparing for childbirth and parenting. If you decide to make an adoption plan, you will probably want to consider contacting adoption agencies. If you are considering abortion, you will need information on procedures, costs, and risks in order to make an informed decision. We can help you as you move forward by providing you with straightforward information on parenting, adoption and abortion, so you can make the decision that is right for you.
All of your choices are life-altering decisions, but having the right information can make them less scary. Just talking about your situation with people that are close to you or people that you trust can bring you peace of mind and make you more confident in your decision-making. If you need someone to talk with about your pregnancy, we are here to help. We have many resources available to you that can help ease your fears, and even help you make a plan for your future.
Call us to make an appointment at 770.924.0864
“In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends…the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” – Eleanor Roosevelt