What do I do now?

You look down at the plastic pregnancy test stick in your hand, and the plus sign in the window.

Emotions…Confusion…Questions. Images of different people in your life may flood your head.

Some of your questions may include these, and others:

  • What are my options?
  • What do other pregnant women do?
  • What about my future?
  • What will my parents say?
  • What are my legal rights?
  • Should I tell the father and how?
  • What if I’m not sure about my pregnancy decision?
  • What will my classmates/professors/teachers think?
  • I don’t have health insurance.
  • How can I provide for a child?

CAPS can come along side you and help answer your questions.

First: Take a deep breath,…pause,…and reel your thoughts back in for a moment. It’s a lot to digest. You’re a student in college, and yes, you just took a pregnancy test, and it came out positive. You completed step one which was courageous in and of itself. Now, here’s the next step…

Step two: Double Check. Before you do anything else, it is important to verify that you’re actually pregnant. You may be thinking- isn’t that what I just did? While you took a pregnancy test and it came out positive, checking with a medical professional to confirm a pregnancy is highly recommended.

At CAPS we provide FREE medical grade urine pregnancy testing verified by a nurse. All CAPS pregnancy services are completely FREE. CAPS has no financial interest in your pregnancy because we don’t perform abortions or arrange adoptions. Instead, we caringly provide you with all the information you need to make a healthy choice in complete confidence—and your privacy matters!

Also, we can offer a FREE ultrasound, which is a very useful step. The pregnancy ultrasound will determine how far along you are and if you have a viable pregnancy. It is not intended to determine the sex of your baby or to diagnose any potential abnormalities. To receive an ultrasound, it must be between 6-24 weeks since the first day of your LMP (last menstrual period).

If you’re not pregnant, no further action is needed. However, to avoid an actual pregnancy in the future, you may want to re-consider your birth control methods and sexual relationships. We can discuss these things with you as well.

If it’s confirmed that you’re pregnant, next steps are:

Step three: Talk to someone. You don’t need to go through this process alone. It’s good to know you have options and that there is more than one way to move forward.

At CAPS we are available to listen to your concerns and questions and provide you with information you need to make a healthy choice. Many of our staff have been just where you are, so we listen with empathy and compassion, not judgment, and your privacy is important to us.

Step four: Self Care. Set up an appointment with an OB/GYN- a doctor that specializes in women and pregnancy. If you don’t have one that you already go to, you can contact your primary care doctor for a referral.

What about school?

To continue school successfully, there are many options. Your pregnancy options can be discussed and explained during your appointment at CAPS. Here are a few positive points to keep in mind, to help you think this through.

A comforting point is you are not alone. One in five undergraduate students are parents—some are possibly even in your classes. Of student parents, over half have children that are preschool age or younger.¹ There are students that can relate to you, and there are laws that protect pregnant or breastfeeding students from discrimination.

Also, California Law (Title IX) significantly helps pregnant students, since it requires that teachers and administrative staff make specific arrangements to help students successfully further their education. This may include changing where a student sits in class, rescheduling an exam, and specific adjustments to your course schedule.

You’re stronger and more capable than you know! CAPS is here to help you along the way and has additional resources we can provide.

Reach Out to Find Out

No matter what choice you make, CAPS will be there for you before, during, and after your pregnancy.

CAPS is different than some other medical clinics since we receive no financial profit from your pregnancy because we do not perform or refer for abortions or arrange adoptions. We do refer to other organizations for adoptions if you are interested in that option. We will help you examine the full range of options (abortion, parenting, adoption) including the variables for each option, so you can make the best choice for your situation.

All pregnancy services are FREE, including FREE pregnancy test, FREE ultrasound, and FREE pregnancy and abortion education.

Other Services – We also provide low to no cost STI / STD testing.

All our services to you are private – your privacy is important to us.

To get help, contact us at any of the San Diego area clinic locations, call us at 619-337-8080, or schedule an appointment.

Citations

¹ Cruse, L. R. (2019, April 11). Parents in College By the Numbers – IWPR 2020. IWPR 2020.