You checked the test, saw two lines, and maybe took another one just to be sure. Now that you’re looking at a positive result, you may be wondering what you’re supposed to do with that information.
You don’t have to make every decision today. There are a few useful things you can do first to learn more about the pregnancy and think about what you want.
1st Way Pregnancy Support Center offers free, confidential services to help you get the insight you’re looking for. Schedule an appointment today to see how we can help.
Write Down the Date of Your Last Period
If you remember when your last period began, be sure to make a note of it.
That date is commonly used to estimate gestational age, or how many weeks pregnant you may be. If your periods are irregular or you aren’t sure of the date, don’t worry about getting the calculation exactly right yourself.
An ultrasound can provide more information about how far along the pregnancy is, but it’s always useful to think about what you may already know.
Confirm Your Pregnancy With an Ultrasound
After a positive pregnancy test, you may feel you have enough information to start looking at your options. However, only an ultrasound can confirm your pregnancy and provide the details needed to protect your health.
For example, an ultrasound can determine whether the pregnancy is located inside the uterus. Location is important because an ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube, and requires immediate medical treatment to prevent complications. This scan also tells you how far along you are, a detail needed when weighing options. Medical abortion, for instance, is FDA-approved only through 10 weeks gestation.
An ultrasound can also show whether the pregnancy is developing and has a heartbeat. You can receive a positive pregnancy test even if you’ve miscarried, which occurs in as many as 26% of all pregnancies. A positive result can occur because it takes time for hCG in your body to return to pre-pregnancy levels.
This scan isn’t something you want to miss before making a pregnancy decision. You can call us at 301-777-1261 to see if you qualify for a free ultrasound performed by one of our registered sonographers.
Pay Attention to Concerning Symptoms
Some early pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea, fatigue, and breast tenderness, are common.
Severe abdominal or pelvic pain, shoulder pain, fainting, extreme dizziness, or heavy bleeding are different and require immediate medical evaluation.
If you are experiencing severe symptoms or if something feels “off,” seek emergency medical attention.
Learn About Your Options
You may already know whether you’re thinking about parenting, adoption, or abortion. You may also have no idea yet.
It’s okay if you don’t know what you want to do right away.
Start with the questions that are most important to you. You might be thinking about work, finances, your relationship, school, housing, or how much support you would have if you were to parent. If you’re researching adoption or abortion, write down what you still want to know about those options as well, such as what risks are associated with abortion or the kinds of support available for adoption.
We can discuss your options and answer any questions you may have. This is your decision; we’ll provide the resources you need to make an educated one.
Contact 1st Way Pregnancy Support Center today to meet with our caring team. You can begin with the information you have now and take things from there.
1st Way Pregnancy Support Center does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
