If your birth control failed, you’re not the only one. Birth control isn’t 100% effective, and it can fail with perfect use or with small user errors like forgetting to take a pill on time.
Regardless of why your birth control failed, you now have decisions to make. Here are a few helpful steps you can take after you find out you’re pregnant.
You can also visit The Hope Bridge Pregnancy Resource Center in Wylie, Texas, for confidential, free services and support.
Take Deep Breaths
Discovering you’re unexpectedly pregnant can shock your system. It’s life-changing and not an everyday event.
First, take deep breaths. While this can be a stressful situation, you are not alone. The Hope Bridge can help you understand your options and resources. We’ve helped countless women in similar situations.
Confirm Your Pregnancy
Next, you’ll want to confirm your pregnancy with a pregnancy test and an ultrasound. A positive pregnancy test only tests for the presence of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), a hormone the human body makes during pregnancy.
It does not tell you how far along you are, the location, or whether your pregnancy is progressing. Only an ultrasound will tell you these critical health details.
Go Over Your Options
Once you have had your initial pregnancy ultrasound, you will learn every option available. Based on how far along you are, specific options (like medical abortion) may be ruled out for safety concerns.
Also, if an ultrasound indicates you may have miscarried or have an ectopic pregnancy, you will want to visit an emergency room for immediate medical assessment.
Talk with Your Partner or Relatives
After you know your pregnancy details and have confirmed you’re definitely pregnant, it’s time to tell your loved ones the news. We can help you think through your sharing strategy or give you tips for protecting your safety if you have concerns.
Once you understand all your options and share the news with your support system, consider your options carefully. Remember, only you can make the final decision.
Visit Us for Free Support Anytime
The Hope Bridge Pregnancy Resource Center exists to help you. We offer no-cost, confidential pregnancy services to confirm your pregnancy and help you understand every option.
Visit us anytime to talk in a safe space with our caring team. We’re here to support you, even when the future feels unclear. You deserve to make a confident choice.