Seeing a positive pregnancy test can stir up many emotions, and one of the first thoughts may be, I’m not ready for this.
That feeling may be clear, even if the reasons behind it are harder to put into words. Maybe you’re worried about money, or you simply feel unprepared for everything pregnancy and parenting could require.
Before deciding what to do, it can help to look more closely at what’s making this situation feel so overwhelming. Some of the worries behind that feeling, like money, housing, or support, may be easier to manage than they seem right now.
Coastal Pregnancy Care Center can provide you with free and confidential medical-grade pregnancy testing, limited ultrasounds for those who meet the criteria, and information about your options, so you have all the details you need to make an informed decision about your pregnancy.
Get in touch to make your appointment.
What Would Continuing the Pregnancy Actually Look Like?
Parenting may not be what you planned for right now, but feeling unprepared doesn’t mean you can’t become a parent.
It can help to think about what you would need rather than expecting yourself to have everything figured out. Would you have support from your partner or parents? What resources could help with the cost of raising a child? What skills would you want to learn before your baby arrives?
At Coastal Pregnancy Care Center, we offer free life-skills and parenting education covering prenatal concerns, infant care, early childhood, and essential parenting skills, as well as a 24/7 Dad Workshop designed to help fathers build parenting skills and a support network.
Participants in the education program can also earn vouchers to purchase items for themselves or their children.
You do not have to know how to do everything before you become a parent. You can learn, prepare, and build a support system along the way.
What If You Are Not Ready to Be a Parent?
Not feeling ready to raise a child does not mean abortion is your only alternative. Adoption can allow you to continue the pregnancy without taking on the responsibility of parenting.
Adoption plans can also look different depending on the level of contact you want with your child and the adoptive family. With an open adoption, you may maintain contact through calls, messages, or visits. A closed adoption involves little or no contact, with identifying information kept confidential. A semi-open adoption falls between the two, where communication is often facilitated through a third party.
If adoption is something you have never considered, learning how it works may give you a very different picture than you expected.
Get Clear About Your Pregnancy First
Before making a pregnancy decision, make sure you know what is actually happening with your pregnancy. An ultrasound can provide additional information, including how far along the pregnancy is, where the pregnancy is located, and whether the pregnancy is viable.
Coastal Pregnancy Care Center offers free and confidential pregnancy services, including limited ultrasounds for those who meet the criteria, followed by an options consultation to help you understand more about your next steps.
Contact us to make your appointment.
Coastal Pregnancy Care Center does not provide or refer for abortions.