I’m Pregnant. Now What? Guidance for Options and Next Steps
Finding out you’re pregnant can stir up a range of emotions. If this is something you’ve been wanting, you’re likely feeling a mix of relief, joy, and excitement. If it’s unexpected but welcome, you may be feeling surprised but ultimately excited and hopeful. If it’s unplanned and not at all what you want to be dealing with right now, you could be experiencing some heavy feelings like worry, dread, and uncertainty, among others.
If you’re pregnant and aren’t sure what your next move should be or what your options are, first, let us say that you don’t have to face this journey alone. The team at Women’s Clinic of Atlanta is here to offer medical care, medically accurate information, a listening ear, and more to help you navigate your next steps.
In this article, we’re laying out some necessary steps you should take and explaining your pregnancy options to help you determine the right path forward.
Make an Appointment for Pregnancy Testing
If you’ve only taken a pregnancy test at home, it’s important to schedule a pregnancy testing appointment with a licensed medical professional.
At-home tests have become more and more dependable for women who suspect they are pregnant. However, there is still a chance they can produce false positives or false negatives. The best way to know with certainty that you are pregnant is to schedule a pregnancy testing appointment with a trusted clinic (like Women’s Clinic of Atlanta).
We provide early detection pregnancy testing that detects the pregnancy hormone hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) in either your blood or your urine. Blood testing can tell us if there is hCG present in your blood as soon as six days after conception, while a urine test can reveal its presence as soon as ten days after conception. The medical provider will determine which testing is best for you.
First Ultrasound Screening
Along with pregnancy testing, your first appointment with Women’s Clinic of Atlanta may also include an ultrasound exam to measure the fetal size and determine the gestational age of the fetus. This is a crucial step to take, especially if you are considering abortion in Georgia.
Based on the results of your pregnancy testing appointment, you can evaluate your options and begin going down the path that is right for you.
Evaluate Your Pregnancy Options
If you’re pregnant, there are three main options you have. You can:
- Choose abortion
- Choose motherhood
- Choose parents for your child (adoption)
Abortion in Georgia
If you are not interested in having a child or choosing parents for your child right now, you can choose to abort in the state of Georgia. Keep in mind, however, that several laws restrict your ability to have one.
For an abortion to be legal in the state of Georgia, the following must be true:
- Your fetus has not developed a heartbeat yet, which usually occurs around the 6th week of pregnancy. An ultrasound performed by a licensed medical professional is the only way to accurately determine age and fetal size.
- You have received abortion counseling and have completed the 24-hour wait period that follows.
- If you are under 18, you have received permission from a parent or guardian to have an abortion.
Women’s Clinic of Atlanta is available for an abortion screening, which may include pregnancy testing, an ultrasound screening, counseling, and STI testing to ensure you are cleared for an abortion from both a legal and medical standpoint.
Motherhood
Choosing motherhood can be overwhelming, scary, and exciting, all at the same time. It can also be one of the most rewarding choices you can make. As you begin your pregnancy journey and take your first steps toward motherhood, there are a few important things to take care of:
Create a Medical Team
Whether you want to work with an OBGYN, midwife, doula, or any other professional trained to provide care during pregnancy and birth, it’s important to find the medical providers and/or support specialists you want alongside you at this time.
While Women’s Clinic of Atlanta is not available for comprehensive obstetrical care, we can offer some medical attention during your first trimester and can refer you to medical providers in your area for the full range of care you and your baby will need.
Create a Support System
Everyone needs support in life, especially during pregnancy and throughout motherhood. Partners, friends, and family members who you trust are excellent sources of support who you can lean on as you transition into becoming a mother.
Whether you have a team of supporters in your corner or you feel as if you are alone on your journey, the caring, compassionate team members at Women’s Clinic of Atlanta are available to cheer you on and offer you support throughout your pregnancy. Our clinic provides beneficial support services, resources, and education throughout your pregnancy so that you can best prepare for your role as a new mom.
Adoption in Georgia
Choosing adoption (choosing parents for your child) is an honorable choice to make if you are not ready to raise a child at this time. Not only does adoption give couples interested in extending their families the gift of children, but it also gives birth mothers a chance to bring life into this world and still pursue their goals without the responsibility of raising a child.
Although adoption isn’t always a smooth and easy choice and can come with many intense, heavy emotions—including grief, doubt, uncertainty, and more—it’s easier knowing you have a supportive, compassionate team on your side.
If you want to choose parents for your baby, Women’s Clinic of Atlanta is available for the beneficial resources and education you need during your pregnancy. We’ll explain all the details connected to adoption, and we can connect you to local adoption placement agencies. We aim to provide the support you need throughout the adoption process.
Are you pregnant and asking yourself “what now?” Then schedule an appointment with Women’s Clinic of Atlanta.
We provide compassionate, judgment-free care, counseling, and guidance to pregnant women who are deciding what to do or how to proceed. From providing pregnancy testing and abortion screenings to offering support services throughout a woman’s pregnancy, we are here for every woman every step of the way.
Schedule a pregnancy appointment by texting “appointment” to 404-777-4771 today.
Women’s Clinic of Atlanta is HIPAA compliant and AAAHC accredited.
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