Your period is late, and your pregnancy test is positive. Being pregnant isn’t part of your plans now, so what do you do? Take a deep breath. Help is available at SouthWest Options for Women.
First, schedule free and confidential pregnancy testing with our medical team. We’ll gather some critical information, administer a pregnancy test, and discuss the results with you. If positive, we’ll schedule you for a free, confidential, limited obstetric ultrasound.
Get the facts about your pregnancy before making any decisions. Here’s why:
What If You Actually Aren’t Pregnant?
A positive pregnancy test indicates the possibility of pregnancy. An ultrasound confirms it.
Experts estimate that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage. Most miscarriages occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Although unusual, it is possible to get a false-positive pregnancy test result. A false positive means the test indicates a pregnancy when you aren’t actually pregnant.
A wrong test result can happen because of early pregnancy loss, which is also known as a chemical pregnancy. It can also occur due to an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage. It’s possible to get a positive result because the pregnancy hormone, hCG, remains in the body for days or weeks after a miscarriage. With an ectopic pregnancy, you’ll have typical pregnancy symptoms at first and may be unaware that anything is wrong.
By getting an ultrasound, you’ll learn if your pregnancy is growing or if you have experienced a miscarriage. You will also discover how far along you are (the gestational age) and if the location of the pregnancy is correct.
Determining Your Next Steps
You have three options for your pregnancy: have an abortion, make an adoption plan, or choose to parent. As you consider what’s best, looking to your future is critical. Circumstances change. What you feel today may not be how you feel in a few months or years.
Having an Abortion
An abortion has the potential for physical and emotional consequences. Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we will provide factual, medically based information about abortion procedures, the side effects you might expect, and potential risks.
The FDA approves the use of abortion drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. An ultrasound is the best way to determine how far along you are.
Making an Adoption Plan
If you are certain you do not want to parent, consider placing your child for adoption. Although adoption can be an emotionally challenging decision, it can also provide an excellent solution for an unexpected pregnancy.
As an expectant mother or birth mother, you have the right to select the adoptive parents who raise your child. You also determine the amount of contact you wish to have after finalization.
Adoption services cost you nothing, and many adoption agencies offer thorough and compassionate adoption counseling.
Choosing to Parent
If you choose not to parent because of financial constraints or because you do not feel you have the help you need, talk to an advocate at SouthWest Options for Women. We provide personal mentors who work closely with you to establish a parenting plan.
In addition, we provide educational classes, material support, referrals to community assistance, and the potential for financial help with your rent or utilities. Successful parenting is possible despite your current circumstances.
Receive Free and Confidential Services
Seeing a positive pregnancy test when you are not ready to parent is stressful. You worry about your future, but we’re here for you.
Please schedule a free and confidential appointment to confirm your pregnancy and discuss your options. You don’t have to face this alone. We’re with you every step of the way.