It is illegal for anyone to pressure you into making a pregnancy decision that you disagree with. If your parents are making you feel pressured into getting an abortion, it’s essential to ensure that you stand up for what you want in your pregnancy.
While standing up to your parents can be difficult, it’s critical for your mental health. In a study looking at the effects of abortion on mental health, it was concluded that feeling pressured into an abortion makes you more likely to experience adverse mental health outcomes, like depression, anxiety, and regret.
This article will explore strategies you can take to ensure that you’re making your own pregnancy decision and how to express your decision to your parents. But if you’re looking for more information about your pregnancy options or free resources, contact Pregnancy Care Center* today. All appointments and services are free and confidential.
*Pregnancy Care Center does not perform or refer for abortion.
Learn All You Can About Your Pregnancy Options
The best way to make an informed, confident decision for your pregnancy is to learn all you can about your different options.
If you already know that you don’t want an abortion, your other options are parenting and adoption. To consider which is the right choice for you, it can help to ask yourself the following questions:
- What pregnancy choice am I leaning toward and why?
- What might my life look like if I choose parenting? Adoption?
- How might I feel if I choose parenting? Adoption?
- What questions do I have about these options?
At Pregnancy Care Center, we’re here to help you explore your options in a safe, supportive environment. We provide medically accurate information and the space to ask questions.
Prepare What You Want to Say to Your Parents
Once you’ve researched your pregnancy options and know what you’re considering and why, the next step is to tell your parents. If you go into this conversation having done your research, you will feel more confident to stand up for your choice.
Going into this conversation with rehearsed talking points can help you feel more prepared. Some points to consider include:
- I’m thinking of this choice for my pregnancy, and here’s why.
- List reasons why this choice is important to you.
- Help your parents to see that you’ve thought a lot about this decision by providing examples of what this choice will look like in your life.
It’s important to enter this conversation realizing that your parents have their own reasons for wanting you to get an abortion, and they will likely share these reasons with you. It can be difficult to stand firm in a loving way, but statements like this can help:
- I understand that you feel [insert feeling] about my pregnancy and decision, and I thank you for expressing your concern. But I am choosing [option] for my pregnancy, and your support would mean the world to me.
You’re Not Alone
Standing firm in your pregnancy decision can feel intimidating—especially if you are going against your parents’ wishes. But you’re not alone in this. At Pregnancy Care Center, we’re here for you.
Contact us today to learn about all the ways we’re here to help. All appointments and resources are free and confidential.
*We offer accurate information about all your pregnancy options; however, we do not offer or refer for abortion services. The information presented on this website is intended for general education purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional and/or medical advice.