2. Finding out
The earlier you know you are pregnancy the more time
you will have to plan
Most unexpected pregnancies occur when the couple is
not using birth control or is using birth control
inconsistently or incorrectly.- Birth control methods can
occasionally fail
3. Signs of Pregnancy
A missed, lighter, or shorter-than-usual menstrual period
Breast tenderness or enlargement
Nipple sensitivity
Frequent urination
Feeling unusually tired
Nausea and/ or vomiting
Feeling bloated
Cramps
Increased or decreased appetite
Feeling more emotional than usual
4. The Test
Home pregnancy tests: Taken at home, measures the
amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)- a
pregnancy hormone found in urine ( most accurate the
day you miss your period)
Blood test: Taken at a doctors office or health clinic and
measures if there is any hCG in your blood ( can be
done a week before expected period)
5. Is it possible to become pregnant
with out having intercourse?
Possible- but VERY rare
Possible if :sperm is on a hand that is put into your
vagina; if sperm lands in your vulva, near the entrance
of the vagina, if clothing or material is saturated with
semen is in direct contact with your vagina
Sperm ejaculated outside the body survive only minutes
to a few hours
6. Unintended Pregnancy Facts
More than 3 million unintended pregnancies occur every
year in the U.S
Three-fourths of teen pregnancies are unintended
Half of unintended pregnancies occur among the 11
percent of women who were not using birth control
during the month they got pregnant
Majority of unintended pregnancies among women who
use birth control result from inconsistent or incorrect use
7. Finding Honest Information
If your home pregnancy test is positive you can visit a
family planning clinic, women's health center or health
care provider to confirm pregnancy and find more about
your options.
Check out plannedparenthood.org where you can search by
zip code or state for a clinic near you
Visit National Abortion Federation (NAF) website,
prochoice.org or call NAF hotline at 1-800-772-9100 for
unbiased information on all options
Avoid “crisis pregnancy centers” who are listed online as
abortion alternatives. These centers draw women in by
offering free pregnancy tests or ultrasounds and run by
people who are against abortion- who wont tell you all your
options-who scare you into not having an abortion
8. Sigh of Relief
If you suspected you were pregnant- but turns out your
not- here are some tips
Find a birth control method more suited for your needs
Buy emergency contraception
If you are being sexually abused contact:
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network-
Rainn.org
1-800-799-7233
9. Deciding What to Do
Even if you are prepared- You and your partner may feel
emotionally, physically, spiritually or economically
unprepared to become parents now
Do you want to continue the pregnancy or have an
abortion?
If you choose to carry to term- you may decide to raise the
child yourself or have child raised through closed or open
adoption or foster care
Quiet reflection and talking with family or friends may help
you think things through
It is important to decide while still in early pregnancy so
that you can get prenatal care or an abortion before the
12th week of pregnancy ( the easiest and safest time to
have abortion)
10. Trust Yourself!
You can determine what is best for YOU
If you are unsure about your pregnancy and need a
guide to making the right decision for you- visit the
Publications and Research section at prochoice.org
11. Finding Support
Family pressure: know that regardless of relatives and
their beliefs and feelings on your pregnancy
A strong willed partner: your partner may have
passionate reasons to carry pregnancy to term or abort
If the people close to you have strong opinions seek help
from an objective friend or family member, counselor or
trusted mentor-
12. Abortion
Abortion is safe and legal in the United States
Financial situation/age/where you live can make finding a
way to have an abortion stressful
The first three month are the safest, easiest, and most
affordable time to get an abortion
13. Common Myths
A child will not automatically improve your relationship
Abortion is not more painful than labor
Abortion is not more expensive than having a child
Using drugs in the beginning of pregnancy does hurt the
fetus
Adoption does not necessarily mean you are cut off
completely from your child
Men can nurture and love a child the way women can
There is financial help for all of the options
There are no perfect mothers
Good mothering skills are learned through hard
work, trial and error, education, and observing experienced
and confident mothers.
14. Carrying to Term
Single parenting-It is increasingly socially expectable to
parent on our own- babies are resilient and adaptable when
they have a consistent, emotionally nurturing caretaker who
keeps then comfortable, properly fed and safe
Foster care: A temporary situation
Obtain a lawyer for negotiations for informal foster care with
friend or family member or the governments formal foster care
system
The goal of foster care should be to provide you time to resolve
your problems and make decisions about your parenting ability
If you have honestly reflected your circumstances and believe
that you will not be able to parent, consider adoption so that
the child has the stable home he or she needs( if a child spends
many years in foster care they tend to go from one place to
another)
15. Adoption
Open adoptions: Allow birth parents to have some
level of ongoing contact with their children
Closed adoption: No ongoing contact between child
and birth parents- If choosing closed adoption consider
picking an agency that will keep information about you
to give to the child and adoptive family if they request it
16. Adoption continued…
A good adoption agency
Helps you create an adoption plan with a counselor
Pays for your legal and counseling services and does not
offer you money
Treats you, not the adoptive family as the client
Most states require adoptive families to undergo an
evaluation( if not consider what your own requirements for
a family would be)
17. Adoption continued…
Normally, the birth mother gets to choose the adoptive
family from a pool of applicants( if not offered this- you
may choose a different adoption agency)
Many agencies require adoptive families to provide
yearly updates to the birth mother- it may even be
possible to write letters to the child and have them
placed in a file for the future
18. Other ways to find adoptive
family
Newspaper ad
Independent adoption facilitator
Medical practitioner
Lawyer( keep in mind lawyer will always have clients
best interest at heart, not yours)
No matter which route you choose its always advisable
to have your own lawyer and counselor
To find a reputable agency visit the Child Welfare
Information Gateway - childwelfare.gov/adoption or call
1-888-251-0075 – ask for adoption specialist in your
state
19. You’ve Made YOUR Choice
Be gentle with yourself
Greif is normal
Reach out to others who have made similar decisions for
discussion and support
20. Special Quote
“… ultimately you’re the one who has to make
and live with the decision”
Chapter 12,Page 312
I chose this quote because it is clear, we all have our own beliefs, identities,
family history, religious views, experiences and they have formed our
opinions. Pregnancy is a magical thing, some of us are ready to take on
becoming a parent and some of us are being a good parent by knowing that
its not the right choice for them. What ever decision you make- the decision
is yours and yours to live by. Be cautious of others opinions and listen to
your heart.
21. Personal Opinion
So many choices are available to women should they
become pregnant. Each women who becomes pregnant
unexpectedly faces a choice that they must live by. I
believe every women, whether she chooses to carry to
term, adoption, foster care or abortion has their own
choice to make and are entitled to do what is best in
their unique situation.
