If you are pregnant and were not expecting it, it’s probably a huge shock for you. This changes everything in your life, regardless of the decision you make as to what to do now. Things will never be the same. And that’s O.K. It is most important that you remain calm now and think through all of your options before making a rash decision. There is no rush. Get informed and make a wise choice. You only get one chance at this.

Next, it is important to look at the situation for what it really is, not for what you wish it would be. You are pregnant. This means that you are carrying a child, a real, live human being. It is not a blob of tissue. Often times when women/girls find themselves in an unplanned pregnancy, they just want to “get rid of the problem” without facing what they are actually doing…until it is too late. It’s totally understandable that you might be having those thoughts if you are scared and find yourself in a tough position, but don’t give into it. Make an informed choice. You will be glad later that you looked at the facts now.

Here are a few basic facts about the growth of the new baby inside of you:

• Her DNA, everything she will grow into, was fully present at the moment of conception.

• Her heart began to beat 18 days from conception.

• Her brainwaves were detectable only 40 days (6 weeks) from conception.

• Your baby could move at 6 weeks.

• She could suck her thumb (and hiccup!) at 7 weeks.

• 8 weeks from conception all of her major organs had already developed.

• Your baby’s respiratory system began to function and she began to breathe amniotic fluid at 9 weeks.

Don’t believe the lies you have heard. It really is a baby, not a “blob of tissue”. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.”

OK. Let’s look at what all of your options are (please read them all…):

1) Abortion - Abortion seemingly “gets rid of the problem” immediately, but there are some serious things to consider. That “problem” is your baby, a human being. You may have heard it said that once you become pregnant you already are a parent. It’s true. If you end the life of your child, that doesn’t mean that you weren’t ever pregnant. It means that you were pregnant and chose to end the life of your baby. It would be a tragedy that you would have to deal with for the rest of your life. And there is no undoing it. Once it’s done, it’s done. You should also be aware of the physical and mental damage that receiving an abortion can have on you. Many women experience major emotional trauma and some experience immediate problems with things like hemorrhaging; and long-term problems with things such as infertility and worse, some types of cancer. The list goes on and on. For more information on these risks go to: www.afterabortion.org

2) Adoption - If you feel you cannot raise your child, or simply don’t want to, adoption is a very loving option. It would be a gift to your child to choose to give her to a loving couple who will care for her deeply. Instead of aborting your child in hopes that the problem will disappear, and later dealing with the repercussions of that decision, adoption is a decision that you and your child can live with. You can hold your head up high knowing that you gave your child life. There are even open adoptions now, where you can stay in touch with your child on a regular basis and still be part of her life as she grows. How much better can it get than that? For more information on adoption go to:  www.pregnancycenters.org or www.bethany.org

3) Parent your child - Even though your situation may not be ideal, many women/girls can still parent their children. Often times you can find the help you need from your family, whether it be for housing or simply finding a babysitter. In other cases, you might need to look elsewhere for the help you need. There is more help out there for you today than ever. There are pregnancy resource centers that provide free clothing for you and your baby, diapers, formula, etc. They will help you get the financial assistance you need, and some of them even provide a home/place you can stay throughout your entire pregnancy, if need be! Click here to find a pregnancy help center in your area:  www.pregnancycenters.org  They are waiting to help you and will treat you with courtesy, love and respect. It may not be easy, but like adoption, it will be a choice you and your baby can live with!

There is help and hope!