If you’re currently in your second trimester of pregnancy (between weeks 14 and 27), your pregnancy options are parenting, adoption, or a surgical abortion. In Pennsylvania, abortion is only an option through your 23rd week of pregnancy.
Making a pregnancy decision is critical—no matter how far along you are—and you deserve to know all the facts before deciding.
Read on to learn more about each choice and how you can decide. Or, if you want to talk to someone in person about your pregnancy options, contact Bright Hope Pregnancy Support Centers to be connected to one of our caring medical team members. All appointments and resources are free and confidential.
Parenting
Depending on your current situation, parenting might feel like an impossible choice. However, if you choose this option, resources are available to help you with food, shelter, education, vocational training, and life skills. You can find many of these resources here at Bright Hope.
Parenting can be difficult, but for many women, it’s the most rewarding decision they’ve ever made. If you’re considering parenting, here are some questions to think about:
- Do I know what goes into parenting? If not, where can I learn more?
- Do I have the support of my family, partner, or friends? If not, what community resources are available to help me?
- What might my life look like, and how might I feel if I choose to parent?
Adoption
Adoption is an option full of choices, depending on what you feel comfortable with.
With adoption, you get to choose the adoptive family, if and how often you communicate with the adoptive family and child, or if you want to remain anonymous.
Adoption can be an emotionally complex decision, so it’s essential to speak with an adoption counselor before making this choice. Many adoption agencies also offer pre- and post-adoption counseling to ensure that you feel supported throughout the process and beyond.
Abortion
Since you are in the second trimester of pregnancy, you are no longer eligible for the abortion pill. If you’re considering abortion in Pennsylvania, your only option is surgical abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Surgical abortion involves dilating your cervix so that surgical instruments can enter your uterus to terminate and remove the pregnancy. This process can include scraping tools, which may be combined with suction.
Surgical abortion comes with physical risks, which can include cervical or uterine damage, among other complications. However, your mental health may also be at risk if you feel at all pressured into getting an abortion.
Before seeking an abortion, it can help to ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I understand all the potential risks?
- Do I have any lingering questions about the process?
- How might I feel if I choose this option?
Next Steps
Facing an unplanned pregnancy can feel overwhelming, especially as you consider your options. But you’re not alone in this. At Bright Hope, we’re here for you. We offer free information, services, and resources to help you feel supported to make an informed decision about how to move forward.
Contact us today to schedule your free, confidential appointment.
