Even in ideal circumstances, two pink lines on a pregnancy test can take your breath away. If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant, you may be wondering what to do next. Maybe you feel limited to one choice. Maybe you’ve already scheduled an appointment to have an abortion. Here are three practical next steps to consider before your appointment:
1. Slow Down and Breathe
Your partner, family, or friends may be encouraging you to make a quick decision. And with the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe, a misconstrued sense of urgency has emerged on social media regarding abortion. Misconceptions and theories about the impact of this decision may create a sense of pressure to act quickly. However, it’s important to slow down and consider what the healthiest choice for you is in the long-term.
Stress can cloud our judgment. “In tough moments, we reach for premature conclusions rather than opening ourselves to more and better options,” Ron Carruci writes in his Harvard Business Review article. Though the advice was written for success in the workplace, the principle applies in all areas of life. Slowing down to evaluate your next steps can help you avoid a knee-jerk reaction. This life-changing decision is worth thinking about carefully.
2. Educate Yourself
Make sure to do your research. It’s important to know how far along you are in your pregnancy. This determines the kind of abortion procedure performed. It’s equally important to be fully-informed about how the different kinds of procedures are performed, as well as the risks involved. We believe a woman has the right to know what’s being done to her body.
At The Pregnancy Network, we offer appointments for free limited ultrasounds, so you can be sure how far along you are in your pregnancy. At your appointment, you’ll have a judgment-free zone to talk with one of our registered nurses and a trained peer advocate. They provide a comprehensive overview of abortion procedures, how they are performed, and the risks involved.
One woman who came to us for services said this:
“The staff is very kind…will not judge you or push anything on to you if you have different beliefs. Their main goal is to empower expecting families to make the most of their journey.”
If you’d like to make an appointment, please give us a call at (336) 274-4881.
3. Ask Yourself the Tough Questions
Consider how your decision is being influenced. Is this choice coming from a place of fear and anxiety, or a place of empowerment? Is this something you will feel like you have to hide? What choice is most consistent with your personal values? Are you making the healthiest choice for you, or feeling pressured by someone else?
You Have Options
An abortion will not only affect your body physically, but will also affect you emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. Some of the women who serve at The Pregnancy Network have abortion in their pasts. They can talk with you honestly about their experiences.
If you have made an abortion appointment, you still have options. You can cancel or walk away from your appointment at any time. One of the women we’ve served has experienced this firsthand. She left the abortion facility six different times. You can hear her story here.
If you have already had an abortion, we would love the opportunity to meet with you. We offer an Abortion Recovery program that can help you work through the healing process after your experience.
If you’d like to set up a time to talk through your questions in a confidential manner, please give us a call at (336) 274-4881, send us a message, or email info@thepregnancynetwork.org.
The Pregnancy Network exists so you can be fully-informed about the options and resources available to you. As much as it may feel like it, you are not alone. We’re here to walk through your next steps with you. It would be our privilege to offer you support throughout your journey.