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If you are faced with unplanned pregnancy, you may be overwhelmed by your emotions. You want to deny even the possibility of a pregnancy. It's hard to face emotions. If you are a teenager, you are most likely very frightened to tell anyone, especially your parents. You might not even be sure that you are pregnant.

Maybe you have already confided in your parents or boyfriend, and everyone is in shock, worried and frightened. What to do? If you are not sure you are pregnant, have a pregnancy test. This is usually a urine test. The person running the test will ask you to bring in a urine sample. Special chemicals will be added to the sample and, depending on how the urine and the chemicals react, the counselor can determine if you are pregnant. Pregnancies are counted from the first day of your last menstrual period. If you are pregnant and not sure what to do next, we can help.

Where can I get a pregnancy test?

There are a lot of good places to get a test. Many communities have Birthright offices or Crisis Pregnancy Centers. These organizations will do a confidential test, often for free, and will give you a lot of emotional support to find resources in the community to help. Doctors' offices can also help. The important thing to remember when you have a pregnancy test is to also take time to learn about the choices available to you. It may be too early to know if you want to "keep" your baby (we like to say to "parent" your baby) or to make an adoption plan.

Where to turn? Help is as close as the telephone. PLAN provides counselors on a 24-hour basis to any woman facing an unplanned pregnancy. At the other end of the telephone line you will find a warm, caring person who will connect you with the birthparent counselor nearest to you. The birthparent counselor will help guide you through the next emotional steps as you make a plan for your baby.

Some of the most common questions that we hear from birthparents and their families—

A) If I talk to someone at your adoption agency will you force me to do an adoption?
No, our counselors are trained to listen to your concerns and help educate you about your choices. The birthparents are the ones who make the final decisions, not the adoption agency counselor.

B) Will this cost a lot of money?
No, our services are free to birthparents and their families.

C) What if I don't want my parents to know about the pregnancy?
PLAN counselors honor the birthparents with confidential help, but we know from experience that concealing an unplanned pregnancy is very stressful for everyone. It has been our experience that most families wrap their arms around their children who are facing an unplanned pregnancy and provide family support that is so critically important.

D) What if I am overwhelmed with the decisions that I have to make?
That feeling of being overwhelmed is very normal. PLAN counselors help you break down the decision-making process into manageable pieces.

E) Will PLAN help us through the whole pregnancy?
Yes, we will walk with journey with you, providing emotional support, a shoulder to lean on, and a lot of practical help.  If you choose to parent your baby, we can help with referrals to local services.  Should you choose adoption, our counselors are here to help you.  If you need a support person at the hospital, we can go with you.  We can serve as a labor coach when it is time for you to give birth to your baby, if you need this kind of support.  We help with post adoption support as long as you need it.

F) What if I want to consider adoption?
We understand that this is a huge decision and one that needs to be made slowly and carefully. We can put you in touch with other women who have made open adoption plans for their children. Birthparents who plan adoption for their babies love their babies just as much as birthparents who choose to parent. PLAN offers open adoption, meaning you choose the adopting family and together you decide how you want to maintain contact through the years. Adoption does not mean goodbye - it means that birthparents choose to give their babies the gift of life and then, for many personal reasons, choose to share these children with an adopting family. Adoption is a special gift that can bring birth families, adopting families, and their children together for a lifetime commitment of love and joy.

We hope you will make the commitment to reach out to us at PLAN if you are facing an unplanned pregnancy. We care about you and desire to help you and your family through this experience.