Finding out you are pregnant can come with many emotions. It is ok to feel any and all of them, especially as you first find out. Many people know right away what their plans for the pregnancy will be, but some people need time and education to decide.
Parenting
Parenting is planning to continue the pregnancy and raise a child. This is a big decision and comes with many factors to consider. First and foremost, the impact of a pregnancy can be complex for the body. It is important to discuss with your healthcare provider your personal pregnancy risks if you are unsure of what to do with the pregnancy.
If you choose to parent, we encourage you to start taking prenatal vitamins right away, drink lots of water, and eat well.
Insurance and Prenatal Care
It is important to find out what insurance options are available to you.
If you have commercial insurance through a job, prenatal care is typically included.
If you have no insurance, you can apply for pregnancy Medicaid at your local WIC office. You will need a verification of the pregnancy letter from a healthcare provider. The qualifications for pregnancy Medicaid are wider than traditional Medicaid, so even if you wouldn’t normally qualify, it is worth applying if you have no insurance.
There are some prenatal care providers that have sliding scale and self-pay options if you do not have any insurance or do not qualify for pregnancy Medicaid for prenatal care.
Once you have figured out what your insurance options are, we encourage you to call to make an appointment for prenatal care as soon as possible. OB/GYN offices can be particular about what types of insurance they accept. It’s important to ask if yours is accepted when making the appointment so you don’t get surprised with a bill!
It is normal for OB/GYN offices to not schedule your first prenatal appointment until you are about 10 weeks pregnant. Some offices do early ultrasounds in the first trimester but it is not standard of care anymore.
There are places like Planned Parenthood and private ultrasound offices that offer early ultrasounds. This would likely be an extra out-of-pocket cost for you.
We also encourage you to look at the providers in your office to be sure the team has who you want. If you prefer all women, midwives, or a provider of color, it’s important to be sure that they are employed by the office you choose.
Adoption
Patients sometimes decide that parenting is not the option that is best for them, but do not want to end the pregnancy. This leads to adoption as the next option.
Adoption means you continue the pregnancy to delivery and give the infant to another family. This includes ending your parental rights. This does not mean you would not have a relationship with the child. It means that the adoptive parents now have the rights to make decisions and parent the child as their own.
Open adoptions mean you still get to be involved and have a relationship with the child in a way that works for both you and the adoptive family. Closed adoptions mean the child is placed with the family and there is no relationship with the birth family. The records are typically sealed so privacy can be maintained.
There is not a right or wrong answer when it comes to type of adoption. This can be the right decision for you and still be difficult. We encourage a strong support system and counseling if you are able.
Termination
Termination of pregnancy is ending the pregnancy, also known as abortion.
Abortion is healthcare and each pregnant person’s decision to make.
The decision to have an abortion can be for many reasons. Reasons could include anything from major health concerns, difficult previous pregnancies, financial concerns, or no desire to have a pregnancy.
Abortion Laws in North Carolina
The laws regarding abortion access vary from state to state.
In North Carolina, abortion is legal until 12 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. From 13 weeks on, you will have to travel out of state to have an abortion.
You also cannot have an abortion in North Carolina if you are choosing to do so because of a Trisomy 21 diagnosis, also known as Down Syndrome. In most cases, you will not know about this diagnosis until about 12–14 weeks.
In North Carolina, there are certain requirements that must be met before you can have an abortion. You must have 2 appointments. The first appointment is to complete blood work, an ultrasound, and sign your consent forms with a licensed provider. There is a required 72-hour waiting period before the second appointment, where you can complete the abortion.
Abortions are typically done at a clinic that specializes in abortion care, unless it is for a medical reason, which can be done by your OB/GYN.
Medication vs. Procedural Abortion
Abortions can be completed with medication or a procedure.
Medication abortions start in the clinic. After 72 hours, you will come back to the clinic to take the first dose of medication called mifepristone. Mifepristone stops progesterone from getting to the pregnancy. Then you will go home with the misoprostol doses. The number of doses you receive depends on how far along you are. Approximately 24 hours later, you will take the misoprostol, either in your mouth or vagina.
Procedural abortions are completed in the clinic by a trained provider. You will likely be in the clinic for several hours and will need someone to drive you. You will have options for sedation and pain management.
After an Abortion
You may have bleeding for up to 2 weeks after your abortion and that is normal. We encourage you to keep your scheduled follow-up appointment after an abortion to ensure it was successful. This is especially important with strict abortion laws in place.
You should not have unprotected intercourse until after your follow-up appointment. You are especially fertile after an abortion, so we encourage you to have a plan to prevent pregnancy going forward. Many abortion clinics will prescribe you birth control on the same day as your abortion if you need it.
Abortion does not affect your ability to have a normal pregnancy in the future if you desire. It does not make you infertile or damage your uterus. Now may not be the time for a pregnancy and it is still your choice to have in the future.
Pregnancy Options Counseling in Greensboro and Across North Carolina
If you have recently found out you are pregnant and are unsure what to do next, Haven Health provides compassionate, judgment-free options counseling in Greensboro, North Carolina and by telehealth across the state.
Many patients need time, education, and support to decide between parenting, adoption, or termination. Haven Health helps you understand each option so you can make the decision that is right for you.
Patients from Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, Oak Ridge, Summerfield, Kernersville, and surrounding Guilford County communities visit Haven Health for supportive reproductive care.
If you live anywhere in Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Asheville, Wilmington, or anywhere in NC, you can meet with a provider virtually to discuss your options and next steps.
Haven Health provides patient-centered, evidence-based reproductive care both in person and online across North Carolina.