Teen Pregnancy

Next Steps

Pregnant - now what?

Did you know that every year there are around 500,000 teen pregnancies in the US?

Finding out you’re pregnant as a teenager can be overwhelming and scary. That’s why it’s important to educate yourself, determine your next steps, and find the support you need. You are not alone!

Below is a checklist to make determining your next step easy:

Steps to take if you are a teen who is pregnant:

Step 1: Hospital Grade Pregnancy Test

Confirm the pregnancy with a hospital grade pregnancy test at a medical center.
Learn more about Pregnancy Testing.

Step 2: Ultrasound

1 in 4 pregnancies does not naturally progress and ends in miscarriage. You need to confirm the pregnancy has progressed.
Some pregnancies can occur outside of the uterus, called an ectopic or tubal pregnancy, which can be life threatening. Only an ultrasound will show if this is happening.
Learn more about an Ultrasound.

Step 3: STI Testing

Most STIs are asymptomatic and people do not know they have one.

You need to know if you have an STI for two reasons:
- If you keep the pregnancy, you need to treat any infections for the health of you and your baby.
- If you choose to terminate the pregnancy and end up needing any type of procedure while having an active STI, there is risk of infection, lifelong complications, and infertility. You need to be treated for any STIs you may not be aware of.
Learn more about STI Testing.

Step 4: Learn About Your Options

There are multiple options for you to consider if you do not feel ready to parent a baby. You need to educate yourself about each one so you can make an informed decision.
Learn more about Pregnancy Options.

Step 5: Find Support

Chat, text, or call now to schedule an appointment. We are here to support you no matter what you choose.
If you choose to parent, we can mentor you through parenting classes
If you choose adoption, we can connect you with adoption agencies
If you choose abortion, we will ensure you are educated about your decision and we offer support after abortion to make sure you have a healthy and safe space to process.

Pregnancy Solutions provides options counseling and abortion information but does not perform or refer for abortions.

Prevention

Sexual Risk Avoidance

As you deal with the shock of an unplanned pregnancy, you may start wondering how to prevent another unexpected pregnancy. If you tested positive for an STI, you may also have fears about future infections. These are valid concerns. Per the CDC and the HHS (Centers for Disease Control and Department of Health and Human Services), abstinence is the only guarantee to prevent pregnancy and the transmission of STIs. Setting the healthy boundary to wait until you are in a long term, committed relationship (marriage) is a brave and bold choice that will empower you to determine when the time is right for you to try to have a baby and also keep your body healthier as a result.

Healthy Teen Pregnancy

How to take care of yourself and your baby during a teen pregnancy.

Are you looking for information on how to have a healthy pregnancy, even if this is not what you had originally planned? Many people wonder what they should eat, whether or not they can exercise, or if there are restrictions on activities they can participate in. As part of our Earn While You Learn and Rookie Dad parenting program, you will find the information needed to become equipped to have a healthy pregnancy and become healthy parents. Contact us now to join our program!

Below are some great articles from The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology on nutrition, exercise, and general questions about teen pregnancy.

My Girlfriend's Pregnant...

Now what?

Hearing the news that your girlfriend is pregnant comes with many emotions, and you probably have a lot of questions.

Is this even real?
Will I still be able to finish school?
How will we afford this?
What are our options?
Is our relationship going to change?
What should we do?
Would I be a good dad?

All of these feelings and questions are perfectly normal. The best thing you can do to support your girlfriend is to determine the next step, gather all the information, and make sure you both have the resources needed to make the decision together.

The first step is to confirm the pregnancy through a pregnancy test and ultrasound. This will answer questions that you both need to know before making a decision:

Is there truly a pregnancy?
Is the pregnancy in the uterus where it is supposed to be?
- If not, this is a life threatening situation requiring medical intervention
How far along are we?
- Knowing the baby’s gestational age will determine what options are available to you and give you more information to make the best decision

Some guys think the best thing to do is leave the decision up to their girlfriend. They might say, “I’ll support whatever you want to do.” While you may think this is helping your girlfriend, it is actually placing all the weight of this heavy decision on her without giving her any support, leaving her to face the choice alone. A better option is to schedule an appointment for a pregnancy confirmation and ultrasound, come to the appointment with her, learn the information together, and then talk through each option. It is important that you support her through each step, discussing your concerns and questions and seeking information together.

Through our Rookie Dad program, we have men available to talk to you about what you are experiencing, educate you about the options available, and help you determine your next steps. If you choose to parent your baby, you can join our parenting program and have the help of a mentor who will coach you through the fatherhood journey. We also have many resources and community connections that can help you with job and financial assistance, housing, healthcare, and more.

Together, you can chat now with one of our nurses to ask questions, discuss your options, and even make an appointment for pregnancy confirmation and ultrasound.