Two pink lines on a pregnancy test can be a lot to take in, especially if you weren’t expecting them. If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, you’re not alone. Almost 5% of women of childbearing age experience unintended pregnancies each year. If you’re exploring all of your options for your pregnancy, we’d love to help you make a fully-informed choice. Here are three questions to ask yourself before you decide:  

3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Decide

1. 1. Do I really know all of my options?

When you find out you’re pregnant, there are three options available to you: abortion, adoption, or carrying to term to parent. Thinking through your options thoroughly gives perspective and equips you to make the best choice. Your next steps can have a lasting impact physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You owe it to yourself to get all the information about the options and resources available to you.

2. 2. What choice is most consistent with my personal values?

When unexpected news comes our way, it’s easy for the filters we typically run our decisions through to be cast aside. Something that can be helpful in instances like these is to ask yourself how you would speak to a friend in your same situation. You’d likely want to make sure she was making the healthiest choice that’s consistent with her personal values. If you’re not sure how your personal values or faith impacts this decision, consider journaling about it or talking it through with someone you trust. Are you making the best choice for you, or do you feel pressured by something or someone else? Consider how outside circumstances and opinions may be affecting you.

3. 3. Is this choice coming from a place of fear and anxiety or a place of empowerment?

Let’s be honest: fear is real and often difficult to ignore. Fear affects us physically, mentally, and emotionally, and it’s our body’s way of protecting us from negative events. Fear can be helpful, but it can also cause us to make decisions that we otherwise wouldn’t. At The Pregnancy Network, our mission is to empower women to face their unplanned pregnancies without fear through tangible, holistic care. We offer free medical services, educational classes, material resources, and an opportunity to find community through the Connect program. We also connect you with community resources for further support. Click the button below to make an appointment today.