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Pregnancy options

We understand that making a decision about a pregnancy you didn’t plan can be overwhelming. Before you decide anything, you need to confirm your pregnancy, educate yourself about the options available to you, and take certain necessary steps. To make this process easier and smoother, try to find support from your partner, a trustworthy friend or relative, or a reliable health-care provider, and discuss your options.
Pregnancy options

Remember – this is your decision and you should choose what you think is best for you.

Take your time to process this news, and if you decide to continue with the pregnancy, make sure getting in touch with a doctor is your first order of business. A health-care provider will guide you through the ins and outs of being pregnant, so it is important to schedule regular appointments and keep up with them.

You should start taking supplements, such as folic acid and vitamin D, as they help with the growth of the baby; quit smoking and drinking alcohol; and cut down on caffeine. You should also try to eat a balanced diet and avoid foods believed to be harmful to the baby; exercise safely; make sure any medicine you are taking is safe for the baby; and take extra care of your physical and mental well-being. Your doctor will most likely recommend this, but it is good to know beforehand.

The decision to become a parent is not an easy one and it is your right to choose what you want to do. If you don’t want to have an abortion but also don’t want to become a mother, you can consider adoption.
Choosing this option means going through pregnancy and childbirth, and then allowing another person to raise your child.

Adoption is legal in over 160 countries and more than a quarter of a million adoptions take place worldwide, every year. Over time, the traditions and laws surrounding adoption have progressed, focussing more and more on the well-being of the child. However, the rights of the adopted child differ considerably from country to country. In some places, adopted children have the same rights as birth children, such as the right to inheritance, while in other places there are different rules and regulations, for example, staying in touch with the birth parents is expected.

Depending on where you live, find a person or an organization that can give you honest information about the culture and laws and support you as you consider this decision.

If you have decided that this is not the right time to become a mother, you can have an abortion. Depending on where you live, it can be difficult or easy to access this alternative. Some other factors that can affect the availability of this option are your age, gestational age, and insurance cover.

Everyone has a different experience with abortion; for some women, it is simple and straightforward, for others, it can be very stressful. And this is ok. We recommend you seek counselling so you can explore this option and make a conscious decision.

There are two ways to have an abortion: with pills and through surgery.

Abortion with pills

You can take pills at home to end an unwanted pregnancy. There are two safe regimens: using Mifepristone in combination with Misoprostol, or using Misoprostol alone.

For more information, you can visit our friends at howtouseabortionpill.org and safe2choose.org

Manual Vacuum Aspiration

Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) is a very safe method of abortion for pregnancies in the first trimester, and/or early second trimester all the way up to 14 weeks of gestation. The gestational age limit for MVA often depends on the clinic, as well as the healthcare provider performing the procedure.

MVA is performed by a trained provider in a clinic and you can find more details about the procedure here.

References

Pregnancy Options, Bedsider, www.bedsider.org/pregnancy_options

Pregnancy Options, Planned Parenthood, www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/pregnancy/pregnancy-options

Pregnancy options, New Zealand Family Planning, www.familyplanning.org.nz/advice/pregnancy/pregnancy-options

Pregnancy Choices: Raising the Baby, Adoption, and Abortion, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/pregnancy/pregnancy-choices-raising-the-baby-adoption-and-abortion

Guide to a Safe Manual Vacuum Aspiration Abortion (MVA)”, safe2choose, https://safe2choose.org/safe-abortion/inclinic-abortion/manual-vacuum-aspiration-mva-procedure