If something went wrong with the birth control you were relying on, your brain is probably already ten steps ahead, imagining a positive pregnancy test and everything that could follow it.
Before you start making decisions about this possible pregnancy, take a moment to work out what you actually know.
Start by confirming whether you are pregnant, find out more about the pregnancy if your test is positive, and look at the support and resources available to you. You may have more options for moving forward than you realize.
Life Light Pregnancy Help Center is here for you throughout this uncertain time. We provide free pregnancy tests, ultrasound referrals, and lots of support and resources to help you.
You are not alone. Schedule your free appointment at our center today to get the care you deserve.
Give Yourself a Minute
Realizing your birth control may have failed can send your thoughts straight to the biggest question: What would I do if I’m pregnant? Before you answer that question, give yourself a little room to think about what is actually worrying you.
Maybe you are afraid of how a pregnancy would affect your relationship. Maybe you are worried about money, school, your parents, or whether you could handle parenting right now. Or maybe the idea of being pregnant at all has caught you completely off guard.
You do not have to solve those problems in your head before you even know whether you are pregnant. Take a moment to identify what is weighing on you, then consider what you would need if the test is positive.
Confirm the Pregnancy
A birth control failure does not automatically mean you are pregnant. The next step is finding out whether pregnancy has actually occurred.
A pregnancy test looks for hCG, a hormone produced during pregnancy. Taking a test 1 to 2 days after a missed period with first-morning urine will give you the most accurate result.
Common early pregnancy symptoms can include a missed period, nausea, fatigue, and increased urination.
If the result is positive, there may still be important details you do not know. A limited ultrasound can provide additional information about how far along the pregnancy may be, where the pregnancy is developing, and whether signs of development are visible.
An ultrasound may also reveal findings that raise concern for an ectopic pregnancy, which requires medical evaluation. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the pregnancy implants outside the main cavity of the uterus and can become life-threatening if it ruptures.
Know You Have Support
A positive pregnancy test can make you start calculating everything at once: How would I afford this? Where would I live? What about work or school? What would I need for a baby?
Those questions are real, but you may have more support available than you realize.
At Life Light Pregnancy Center, we offer free pregnancy services and support to help women facing unexpected pregnancies. Some of this support includes parenting education, which covers everything you need to know from pregnancy to childbirth, as well as material assistance.
For every parenting or life skills lesson you complete, you earn “Life Light Loot,” where you can exchange your loot for items such as diapers and wipes, baby clothes, toys, and more.
Support cannot remove every challenge that comes with an unexpected pregnancy, but knowing what resources exist can give you more to work with as you consider your future.
Take Your Next Step
Once you know whether you’re pregnant, you can start looking at what comes next. Your options include abortion, parenting, and adoption; each leads somewhere different, so give yourself time to consider what each could mean for your life.
Life Light Pregnancy Center offers free and confidential pregnancy services and, most importantly, a safe place for you to talk through your concerns and receive compassionate support.
Get in touch to make your appointment. We are here to help.
