How to Choose a Pregnancy Option

You know you’re pregnant. You know you have options. But knowing you have choices and knowing what you want to do are two very different things.

Maybe one option feels obvious. Maybe none of them do.

Maybe you’re going back and forth.

How do you actually learn how to choose a pregnancy option that fits your situation?

Start by giving yourself permission to ask questions.

You don’t have to make a decision based on someone else’s expectations, what you think you are supposed to do, or what someone else wants for you.

You can learn about your options, think about your situation, and take the time you need to understand what matters most to you.

The three main pregnancy options are:

• Abortion
• Adoption
• Parenting

Each option can look different depending on your circumstances.

Learning about all three doesn’t mean you have to choose all three. It simply gives you more information to work with.

Learning is not the same as deciding.

If I Have an Abortion

• What types of abortion are available?
• How far along is the pregnancy?
• What would the process involve?
• What are the possible risks and side effects?
• What questions should I ask a healthcare provider?

If I Make an Adoption Plan

• What types of adoption are available?
• How would I choose an adoptive family?
• What level of contact could I have?
• What support would I have during pregnancy and afterward?
• What questions should I ask an adoption professional?

If I Parent

• What would parenting look like for me right now?
• What support would I have?
• How would this affect school or work?
• What would I need financially?
• Who could help me?

There isn’t a formula that can tell you which pregnancy option is right for you.

Knowing how to choose a pregnancy option isn’t about finding a perfect formula. It’s about understanding what matters to you and getting the information you need to make an informed decision.

Your health, relationships, finances, school, work, living situation, support system, and future goals may all be part of the picture.

You may also be thinking about:

• What do I want my life to look like?
• What am I most worried about?
• What am I most hopeful about?
• Who would support me?
• What would I need to make each option possible?
• What would change in my life?
• What do I still need to know?

And you don’t have to feel one specific way.

You can be scared and excited.

You can have questions about parenting and still consider it.

You can care about adoption and still have concerns.

You can be considering abortion and still want more information before moving forward.

You are allowed to have complicated feelings.

Going back and forth doesn’t necessarily mean you’re making the wrong decision.

It may mean there is more you want to understand.

Try writing down what is making you lean toward each option.

Then ask yourself:

What do I know?

What am I assuming?

What questions haven’t I answered yet?

What information would help me feel more confident?

You don’t have to force yourself to have an answer before you have the information you need.

Sometimes the pressure isn’t coming from you.

A partner may want one thing.

Your parents may want another.

Your friends may have strong opinions.

Someone may tell you what they think you should do.

It’s okay to listen to people you trust. But this is your pregnancy, and you deserve space to understand your options and make your own decision.

If you feel pressured, threatened, or controlled, consider talking with someone you trust about what you’re experiencing.

You deserve information, support, and space to think.

You don’t have to figure everything out by yourself.

Sometimes it helps to talk with someone who will listen without immediately telling you what you should do.

At Community Pregnancy Center in Anchorage, you can talk through your questions in a confidential, non-judgmental environment.

You don’t have to know which option you want.

You don’t have to have the conversation figured out.

You can come with questions.

If you’re still unsure, your next step doesn’t have to be choosing an option. Learning how to choose a pregnancy option can start with simply getting more information.

It can simply be getting more information.

You might:

1. Make sure you have the basic information about your pregnancy.
2. Learn what each option could look like for you.
3. Write down your questions.
4. Think about your circumstances and what matters most to you.
5. Talk with someone you trust.
6. Get the support you need.

Then take your next step.

You don’t have to figure out your entire future today.

If you’re learning how to choose a pregnancy option, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Community Pregnancy Center offers no-cost pregnancy testing, limited first-trimester ultrasounds for eligible patients, pregnancy options information, and confidential support in Anchorage.

Come with questions. Get information. Take the time to understand your options.

Your pregnancy. Your questions. Your next step.

Sometimes the next step isn’t making a decision.

Sometimes it’s asking one more question.

Get the information you need. Think about what matters to you. Then take your next step.