Know that ALL of Your Feelings are Valid
As if fluctuating hormones aren’t enough, finding out you’re pregnant can bring on a flood of emotions, that are good, bad, and everything in between.
No matter what you’re feeling at any moment—whether it’s happy, anxious, or overwhelmed—your feelings are valid, and you should allow yourself the space to experience them.
Seek the support of family or friends you can count on to listen without judging or offering unsolicited advice. It can also be helpful to journal your experiences and feelings, either on paper or by recording your feelings on your phone’s voice app.
If you feel like you cannot process your emotions or they’re causing physical issues such as panic attacks, seek help as quickly as possible. The Choosing Hope Adoptions offers 24/7 confidential assistance to women who are pregnant.
Know that ALL of Your Feelings are Valid
As if fluctuating hormones aren’t enough, finding out you’re pregnant can bring on a flood of emotions, that are good, bad, and everything in between.
No matter what you’re feeling at any moment—whether it’s happy, anxious, or overwhelmed—your feelings are valid, and you should allow yourself the space to experience them.
Seek the support of family or friends you can count on to listen without judging or offering unsolicited advice. It can also be helpful to journal your experiences and feelings, either on paper or by recording your feelings on your phone’s voice app.
If you feel like you cannot process your emotions or they’re causing physical issues such as panic attacks, seek help as quickly as possible. The Choosing Hope Adoptions offers 24/7 confidential assistance to women who are pregnant.
Your Support System is EVERYTHING
While it’s good to have resources like Choosing Hope Adoptions available, nothing is better than having your own support system of trusted friends, family, or clergy who will hold space for you.
But there are other available support resources that you can access, including:
- Pregnancy support groups
- Ethical adoption agencies
- Online groups for expecting parents
The bottom line: you don’t have to go it alone. Building a support network of people who understand your needs and can help you sort out what steps you need to take to decide what your—and your unborn baby’s—future will look like.
Understand How Your Body Changes
Beyond strange food cravings and swollen feet, an expecting mother can experience a wide range of body changes from stomach trouble to thick, shiny hair.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! No matter how strange you think your body is behaving, we promise other pregnant women have experienced the same thing. Ask the mothers in your life or bring your questions to your doctor at your prenatal appointment.
Adopt or Parent Your Child? Explore Options for Your Future
After the initial shock of discovering you’re unexpectedly pregnant fades, you’ll start thinking about your future. But it’s not only YOUR future but also your unborn child’s future.
Your support network of family and friends may mean well, but you may feel pressured to make a decision before you’ve had the time, space, and information to fully consider your options.
Consider seeking out expert help. Ethical adoption agencies are often good resources for helping you plan for the future. Ethical agencies are fierce advocates for outcomes that are in the best interest of the child and the birth mother, whether it’s parenting or placing the child for adoption.
An agency, such as Choosing Hope Adoptions, will go over all of your available options. If you choose to parent your child yourself, they offer tools and resources to help you adjust to having a new baby.
If you feel like you don’t have the resources necessary to raise a child, an ethical adoption agency can help you create an Adoption Plan. This plan empowers you to choose who will adopt your baby and how much contact you’ll have with the adoptive family as the child grows up.
Unexpectedly Expecting? You’re Not Alone
Finding out you’re pregnant when you weren’t planning to can be overwhelming, even under favorable circumstances. If you’re expecting and feeling uncertain about your immediate and long-term future, you don’t have to face it alone.
A strong network of trusted family, friends, and professionals can help you through your pregnancy journey and design a bright future for you and your baby.