Finding out you’re pregnant can put you in a strange position. You may already think you know what you want to do, but before you have even had time to process it, you may be thinking about how your partner will react.
Maybe you’re not sure how he’ll respond, and that uncertainty is making an already difficult situation harder to process.
Before involving your partner, you can take some time to think about what you want, consider your circumstances, and decide whether you feel safe having the conversation.
Ridgeway Women’s Clinic is here to give you confidential support while you figure out this unexpected pregnancy. We offer a Pre-Abortion Evaluation at our clinic, which includes a medical-grade pregnancy test, a limited ultrasound, as well as STI testing and treatment, and a next steps plan all at no-cost.
Contact us to schedule your appointment at the clinic today and get the support you deserve.
Start With What You Know About Yourself
Before you worry about what your partner wants, take some time to think about what you want. An unexpected pregnancy can bring up a mixture of emotions, and you may not have a clear answer right away.
Ask yourself what you were thinking before you started worrying about his reaction. Are you considering abortion because you believe it is what you want, or because you are afraid of how continuing the pregnancy could affect your relationship? Are you feeling pressure from him, your family, or someone else?
You may also want to consider which concerns are influencing you. Finances, your relationship, parenting, your plans for the future, and your circumstances can all affect how you view the pregnancy.
You do not have to answer every question immediately. Giving yourself time to separate your own feelings from other people’s expectations may make it easier to identify what you actually want.
What If You’re Afraid of His Reaction?
If you are worried that your partner could threaten, intimidate, control, or hurt you, your situation is different. You do not need to put yourself in danger simply to have a conversation about your pregnancy.
Think carefully about whether it is safe to tell him and where that conversation would take place. You may want to speak with someone you trust first, such as a friend, family member, or counselor.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233 and can provide confidential support and resources.
Your partner may have strong feelings about the pregnancy, but fear should not be the reason you make a pregnancy decision.
Before You Decide, Make Sure You Know What You’re Deciding About
Taking a little time to confirm your pregnancy details can give you a better understanding of your situation.
After a positive pregnancy test, an ultrasound may provide information about how many weeks along the pregnancy is (the gestational age), whether cardiac activity can be detected, and if the pregnancy appears to be developing inside the uterus.
This is important, as the abortion pill is only approved by the FDA through ten weeks gestation.
An ultrasound can also identify concerns such as a possible ectopic pregnancy, which develops outside the uterus and requires immediate medical evaluation.
You Can Take the Conversation One Step at a Time
You do not have to decide what to tell your partner, what you want to do about the pregnancy, and what your future will look like all at once.
Start with what you know. Confirm your pregnancy, learn how far along you are, think honestly about how you feel, and consider what support you would need for each path you are considering.
If you want to talk with someone before speaking with your partner, Ridgeway Women’s Clinic offers free services and Options Consultations to help you get fully informed.
Schedule an appointment and take your next step with more information. We have clinics in both the Freeport and the Rockford area (Loves Park).
