While your friends may be telling you that an abortion is the simplest option, there can be serious health complications that must be considered.
Maybe sometimes you find yourself wondering if your friends are right, but deep down, you know that you don’t want an abortion.
While your friends may be pushing you to make your decision as quickly as possible, it’s critical to understand the risks of abortion and evaluate all of your options before choosing to terminate.
For example, your friends may not realize that abortion is a serious medical decision that has the potential to impact your health in negative ways.
Physical health risks of abortion include:
- Incomplete abortion, requiring a follow-up surgical abortion
- Ongoing pregnancy
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive issues
Continue reading to learn more about recognizing pressure from others and what pregnancy options might be a good fit for you.
Recognizing Pressure
No one can tell you how to proceed with your pregnancy, not your friends, your family, or your partner. There are a couple of different ways that pressure from those closest to you can.
Indirect pressure is more subtle and may look like others ignoring your concerns about abortion or making passive-aggressive comments.
Direct pressure, on the other hand, is typically expressed through threats or ultimatums. Direct pressure may look like threats to harm you or cut you off if you don’t have an abortion.
If you’re experiencing pressure from those around you, it’s critical to address the issue as soon as possible and make clear that this pregnancy decision is yours to make.
Other Pregnancy Options
Whether or not your friends, family, and partner respect the boundaries you set, learning more about your pregnancy options can help you feel at peace with your final pregnancy decision.
Adoption
Modern-day adoption allows the birth mother to be as involved as she would like in selecting an adoptive family for her child.
Additionally, women can remain in contact with their child if they choose.
The most common types of adoption today include:
- Open adoption: You can choose the family you want to adopt your baby and decide if you want to keep in contact with them. You can also choose how involved you want to be in the baby’s life.
- Semi-open adoption: You can still have contact with the family and baby, but a professional adoption agency will help manage communication and keep your identifying information confidential.
- Closed adoption: You won’t have contact with the baby, and the identities of all parties are kept confidential. The court keeps adoption records sealed.
If you’re worried about being able to cover pregnancy-related expenses, know that the adoption agency/family is responsible for all pregnancy-related medical bills and may even provide assistance with rent and groceries.
Parenting
Navigating the responsibility of parenting is challenging but also incredibly rewarding. While many women facing unplanned pregnancies may not feel ready to parent, know that there are support resources.
Alpha Pregnancy Care Center offers the following free resources:
- Parenting classes
- Lifeskills training
- Maternity and baby essentials
Additionally, we offer referrals to community support that can assist with medical expenses, food purchases, and job training.
Get Help Today
Facing an unplanned pregnancy without the support of those closest to you can feel overwhelming, but know that you don’t have to walk this journey alone.
Alpha Pregnancy Care Center is here to help.
We offer free lab-quality pregnancy testing and ultrasounds. After learning more about your pregnancy, our trusted staff can answer your questions, discuss your options, and connect you with support resources.
Contact us today for your confidential appointment.
Make an Appointment
Call
Text