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If you’re experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, you may be facing some difficult decisions. Please know that you are not alone. First Choice for Women is a safe place, and we will stand by your side from pregnancy and beyond. We believe that a woman’s life should be valued just as highly as the child she carries. That’s why we offer women—regardless of age, race, religion, or ability to pay—a number of free, confidential services in a loving, non-judgmental environment.

Know Your Options

Abortion, adoption, and parenting are all options some people choose when a pregnancy surprises them. Our trained client advocates have helped thousands of women make informed decisions, and we want to help you too. First there are two questions you need to answer:

  1. Am I really pregnant? It is possible to have a positive test at home and not be pregnant. The best way to confirm your pregnancy is to visit us and take a free, medical-grade pregnancy test. We also offer limited obstetrical ultrasounds to confirm pregnancy when medically appropriate.

  2.  How far along am I? How far along you are will determine what kind of abortion procedure would be required, which impacts cost and health risks. Based on the information provided about your last menstrual cycle, we can estimate how far along you are. Limited obstetrical ultrasound may also aide in determining gestational age.

Once you’ve determined that you are pregnant, you have three options: abortion, adoption, and parenting. Explore all three options below, and know that whatever option you choose, we are here to help. Contact us to set up an appointment or conversation.

Abortion

Perhaps you’re thinking:

   • The father is insisting on an abortion
   • I’m not ready to be a parent
   • I can’t tell anyone I’m pregnant

It may seem like abortion is the only solution to moving on with your life or getting back on track. But it is important to remember that abortion is a medical procedure; therefore, it is important to be informed before you make a decision. Serious medical risks occur infrequently in early abortions, but can increase in later abortions. Evidence indicates that induced abortion can be associated with significant long-term risks.

You owe it to yourself to make an informed decision, and we can help you understand your choices and your pregnancy, discuss your health, and explain your abortion options. You are not alone; many of our staff have been where you are and are here to provide you with the information you need.

Adoption

Adoption is an excellent path to consider if you:

   • Don’t want an abortion and aren’t ready to be a parent
   • Want to provide your child with a 2-parent family
   • Want to provide your child emotional and financial stability
   • Want to choose who will parent your child

In today’s adoptions, you can know your child and be a part of your child’s life. You can have the peace of knowing your child is loved and cared for by the couple you choose. We can help you consider the facts about adoption to see if it could be a fit for your situation. We are not connected with any adoption agency and never profit from your decision.

Parenting

Is keeping your baby realistic? You may have more questions than answers about parenting, or maybe the thought of becoming a parent seems impossible to you at this time. Our consultations are a safe way to educate yourself about options like co-parenting, married parenting, and single parenting. We’ve talked to hundreds of clients who are concerned about things like:

   • My significant other doesn’t want the baby but I do
   • I can’t tell my family
   • How will I finish school?
   • How will I continue working?
   • Where will I live?
   • I don’t have medical insurance
   • I can’t afford a child
   • I’m too young

 

Understanding Emergency Contraception

If you recently had unprotected sex or the condom broke, you might be feeling anxious about the possibility of pregnancy. Emergency contraception is any type of birth control used after unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure to prevent pregnancy. Emergency contraception may reduce the chance of pregnancy. These medications are reported to work in several possible ways: Delaying ovulation, blocking sperm from joining with an egg, or preventing a fertilized egg from implanting—some may consider this a very early abortion. Your body and your health are important, so take the time necessary to make the best decision possible.

The Morning After Pill (Plan B One-Step)

Before taking the Morning After Pill, you should clearly understand what it is, what it could mean to your health, and how it works.

What is it?
The “morning after pill” is a large dose of the oral contraceptive levonorgestrel. Known as Plan B One-Step, it is to be taken within 72 hours of intercourse, but should not be used as regular birth control because it’s not as effective.

Is it effective?
Taken as directed, it may reduce the chance of pregnancy, but it is not effective in every case.

How does it work?
Plan B is believed to act as an emergency contraceptive principally by preventing ovulation or fertilization. In addition, it may inhibit implantation of a fertilized egg. However, it is not effective once the process of implantation has begun.

Source: Manufacturer’s Prescribing Information for Plan B (Levonorgestrel) tablets, 0.75 mg. Mfg. by Gedeon Richter, Ltd., Budapest, Hungary for Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pomona, NY 10970. Revised Feb 2004. BR-038 / 21000382503, http://www.planbonestep.com

ella®

Ella® is a prescription-only form of emergency contraceptive. Before taking the ella ®, you should clearly understand what it is, what it could mean to your health and how it works.

What is ella®?
Ella® (ulipristal) is a form of emergency contraceptive. It is a type of birth control to be used within five days after unprotected intercourse or suspected contraceptive failure to attempt to prevent pregnancy. It is available by prescription only, and your doctor should rule out pregnancy before prescribing ella®.

Is ella ® effective?
Taken as directed, it will reduce the chance of pregnancy, but is not effective in every case.

How does it work?
It works by stopping or delaying the release of an egg from an ovary. Ulipristal may also make it harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.

Sources: http://www.ellanow.com, http://www.drugs.com/ella.html

Medical Abortions

It may see like abortion is the solution to moving on with your life or getting back on track. No matter what you choose—to carry or to abort—there is a lot you need to know before you make a decision, and we are here to help you sort through all of your questions and concerns. Abortion is not just a simple procedure; it may have many side effects and carries the potential for physical complications, which are significant if they happen to you. Please contact us before you make your final choice; we want you to be informed about your options.

First Choice offers advocate counseling and accurate information about all pregnancy options; however, it does not offer abortion services.

Medical abortions use drugs, instead of surgical instruments, to end a pregnancy. Before having a medical abortion, you should understand what it is, what it could mean to your health and how it works. Call for an appointment and one of our staff will be happy to discuss it with you, verify pregnancy, and advise you on your options.

RU-486, Mifepristone (Abortion Pill)
Within 4 to 7 weeks after last menstrual period (LMP)
This is the most common form of medical abortion. It was approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for use in women up to 7 weeks after LMP, but is commonly used “off-label” (in a manner not specified in the FDA’s approved packaging label) up to 9 weeks LMP and beyond.

What is it?
RU-486 is a combination of two drugs—mifepristone and misoprostol—that causes early abortion. It is NOT the same as the “morning after pill.”
Note: RU-486 will not work in the case of an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the embryo lodges outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. If not diagnosed early, the tube may burst, causing internal bleeding and in some cases, the death of the woman.

How does it work?
It blocks the effect of the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for the continuation of pregnancy. The embryo’s connection with the uterus is lost causing death. The procedure usually requires three office visits. On the first visit, the woman is given pills to cause the death of the embryo. The first pill, mifepristone, is taken orally and blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain the pregnancy. Two days later, the second pill, misoprostol, is given, causing the uterus to contract and expel the placenta and embryo. Cramping may be severe and bleeding usually last one to two weeks. The last visit is a follow-up ultrasound to determine if the procedure has been completed.


Methotrexate
Up to 7 weeks after last menstrual period (LMP)
Methotrexate is FDA-approved for treating certain cancers and rheumatoid arthritis, but is used “off-label” (in a manner not specified in the FDA’s approved packaging label) to treat ectopic pregnancies and induce abortion. Methotrexate can be administered as an injection in your muscle or orally.

What is it?
Methotrexate is a prescription medicine that can be used in conjunction with misoprostol to induce an abortion through 8 weeks.

How does it work?
Given by mouth or injection followed by vaginal misoprostol 3-7 days later, it works by stopping cell growth, resulting in the embryo’s death. Misoprostol makes the uterus contract to expel the embryo; the process may take a few hours or several days.

Sources:
RU 486: http://www.contraceptionjournal.org/article/S0010-7824(12)00643-9/abstract , http://www.fda.gov/drugs/drugsafety/postmarketdrugsafetyinformationforpatientsandproviders/ucm111323.htm, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (2014). Practice Bulletin: Medical Management of First-Trimester Abortion (143).91. Ibid. http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/UCM258412.
Methotrexate: http://www.fwhc.org/abortion/mtxinfo.htm; http://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/930/what-is-methotrexate; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8900553; Carenet, (2015) Before You Decide, 16-19, http://americanpregnancy.org/unplanned-pregnancy/medical-abortions/

Surgical Abortions

It may see like abortion is the solution to moving on with your life or getting back on track. No matter what you choose—to carry or to abort—there is a lot you need to know before you make a decision, and we are here to help you sort through all of your questions and concerns. Abortion is not just a simple procedure; it may have many side effects and carries the potential for physical complications, which are significant if they happen to you. Please contact us before you make your final choice; we want you to be informed about your options.

First Choice offers advocate counseling and accurate information about all pregnancy options; however, it does not offer abortion services or abortion referrals.

Aspiration
Up to 13 weeks after last menstrual period (LMP)
Aspiration is a surgical abortion procedure performed during the first 6 to 16 weeks gestation. It is also referred to as suction aspiration, suction curettage, or vacuum aspiration.

What is it?
This surgical procedure is used throughout the first trimester of pregnancy. Most early surgical abortions are performed using this method. Local anesthesia is typically offered to reduce pain, which makes this option less invasive. The abortion involves opening the cervix, passing a tube inside the uterus, and attaching it to a suction device which pulls the embryo out.

How Does it work?
Cervix is softened using luminaria and/or vaginal medications the night before. At the beginning of the procedure a local anesthetic is injected into the cervix. The cervix is stretched open using metal dilating rods. A plastic tube is inserted in to the uterus and connected to an electric or manual vacuum devise that pulls the fetus’s body apart and out. A curette may also be used to scrap any remaining fetal parts or blood clots out of the uterus. The removed tissue is then examined to verify completeness of the procedure.


Dilation Evacuation
13 weeks after LMP and up
Dilation and evacuation, also referred to as D&E or dilation and extraction, is the dilation of the cervix and surgical evacuation of the fetus from the uterus. Some operator use lethal injections to end the fetus’ life a few days before the procedure. This allows time for the bones to soften, easing removal and possibly reducing risk to the mother.

What is it?
Most second-trimester abortions are performed using this method. Local anesthesia, oral or intravenous pain medication, and sedation are commonly used. General anesthesia may be used, if available.

How Does it work?
Cervix is softened using luminaria and/or vaginal medications two days before the procedure. Local anesthetic and sedation or general anesthesia is given. The cervix is stretched open using metal dilating rods, much wider than in other processes. Forceps are used to pull fetal parts out through the cervix. The removed tissue is then examined to account for all fetal body parts: skull, spine, ribcage, and four limbs. A curette or suction is used to remove any remaining tissue or blood clots from the uterus.

Sources:
Aspiration: http://americanpregnancy.org/unplanned-pregnancy/surgical-abortions/; Carenet, (2015) Before You Decide, 16-19; http://www.webmd.com/women/manual-and-vacuum-aspiration-for-abortion; 111. Fox, M. (2007). Cervical preparation for second trimester surgical abortion prior to 20 weeks. Contraception, 76(6), 486–95; Guttmacher Institute. (2014, July). Fact sheet: Induced Abortion in the United States. Retrieved July 19, 2014, from http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html.
Dilation Evacuation: Carenet, (2015) Before You Decide, 16-19; Moore, K. L., Persaud, T. V., & Torchia, M. G. (2013). Skeletal System. In The developing human (9th ed., pp. 343-61). Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.; Pasquini, L., et al. Intracardiac injection of potassium chloride as method for feticide: Experience from a single U.K. tertiary centre. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 2008;115(4):528–31.; 116. Guttmacher Institute. (2014, July). Induced Abortion in the United States. Retrieved July 19, 2014, from http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html.; http://americanpregnancy.org/unplanned-pregnancy/surgical-abortions/

 

Post Abortion Stress/Trauma

Abortion can be a traumatic experience for some people, women and men alike. The loss of pregnancy through abortion may be far in the past, but the memories remain. We know that in many cases the pain of loss may initially be buried; women who have had an abortion often suffer from symptoms of post-abortion stress decades after the experience. You may feel alone, but you’re not. We will walk alongside you, assisting you as you work through this difficult time.

What is Post-Abortion Stress/Trauma?

PAS/T is a condition that can occur in both men and women after an abortion experience due to unresolved psychological, physical and spiritual aspects. Family members can also be affected. Symptoms of PAS/T may not appear all at once, nor will each person experience all of them, but if you find that you are experiencing between 5 and 7 of the following emotions after an abortion, you might consider seeking help for post abortion stress/trauma. Also note that sometimes these symptoms happen immediately, and sometimes they may not surface for years, or even decades, following the procedure.

Symptoms of Post Abortion Stress Trauma

  • Abusive behavior

  • Alcohol and/or drug use

  • Avoids baby reminders (like baby showers, baby stores, etc.)

  • Changes in relationships / marriage (70% of relationships/marriages break up within 1 year of an abortion, 90% within 5 years)

  • Control issues

  • Crying spells

  • Difficulty in all types of intimacy

  • Divides time into “before” and “after” the abortion

  • Eating disorders

  • Fails to bond with subsequent children

  • Loss of interest in sex

  • Loss of normal sources of pleasure

  • Marital stress

  • Need of financial success

  • Over-protective of living children

  • Promiscuity or frigidity

  • Reduced motivation

  • Secretive

  • Self-punishing and / or self-degrading behavior

  • Sleep disturbances

  • Strained relationship with living children

  • Suicidal impulses

  • Tolerates abusive relationships

  • Wants atonement / replacement child

  • Withdrawn

Some women and men who struggle with past abortion experiences say that they wish they had been told all of the facts about abortion and its risk before they made that choice. If you or someone you know is experiencing regret from an abortion, we offer confidential, compassionate support designed to help women and men work through these feelings. You are not alone, many of our advocates have been where you are. Please contact us to learn more about our post-abortion recovery program.