If you decide to continue with the pregnancy, make sure to get in touch with your healthcare provider. They will work with you to map out a care plan that meets your needs throughout your pregnancy.
You should also start taking supplements or food rich in vitamins like folic acid and vitamin D, which are recommended during pregnancy; 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 a pregnancy; exercise with due care; make sure any medicine you are on is safe in pregnancy; 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 parent, you can consider adoption.
Choosing this option means going through pregnancy and childbirth, and then allowing another person to raise the 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. 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, as well as support as you consider this decision.
If you have decided that this is not the right time to become a parent, you can have an abortion. Depending on where you live, it can be easy or difficult to access this option. Local laws and policies may also introduce factors that can affect the availability of abortion, such as your age, how far along the pregnancy is, and your insurance coverage.
There are two ways to have an abortion: with pills and through an in-clinic procedure.
Abortion with pills
You can take abortion pills to end a 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
In clinic abortion
In-clinic abortion procedures are performed by a qualified healthcare provider in a hospital or clinic. There are different safe methods of in-clinic abortions. These include:
- Manual vacuum aspiration
- Electric vacuum aspiration
- Dilation and evacuation
- Induction abortion
A healthcare provider will usually recommend a method based on how far along you are in your pregnancy, your country’s laws and policies, the availability of equipment, and the provider’s or patient preference.
You can find more details about in-clinic abortion here
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 that you visit our friends at safe2choose for reliable abortion information and support