I am 17 and pregnant, and I don’t know what to do. My boyfriend does not know yet, but he is extremely religious, as are his parents. This means that they are incredibly pro-life. I do not want to raise a baby, and my parents have already said that they would not allow me to put a child up for adoption if I ever did have a baby as a teenager. I do not want to be a teen mom, but my boyfriend would hate me forever if I had an abortion! Please, what should I do?
This is a really tough situation. Here are some questions you can ask yourself that may help you decide what to do:
- Which choice(s) could I live with?
- Which choice(s) would be impossible for me?
- How would each choice affect my everyday life?
- What would each choice mean to the people closest to me?
- What is going on in my life?
- What are my plans for the future?
- What are my spiritual and moral beliefs?
- What do I believe is best for me in the long run?
- What can I afford?
Many women find that talking with someone about their feelings is helpful. You could talk to a family member, partner, friend, school counselor, religious advisor, or other trusted adult. Choose someone you trust, who will listen to you, be supportive, respect your privacy, and not try to pressure you into choosing a particular option.
Learn more about your pregnancy options.
If you choose abortion, your state may require one or both of your parents to give permission for you to have an abortion or be told of your decision to have an abortion before the procedure.
Usually, judges in such states can decide if a girl can have an abortion without involving her parents. To find out more about the laws in your state, check out Parental Consent and Notification Laws, or contact your local Planned Parenthood health center.
Tags: Abortion, pregnancy, pregnancy options