You probably have more unplanned pregnancy options in Florida than you think. Even with the state’s Heartbeat Protection Act in place, you have multiple choices available to you.
If you are feeling pressured to make a quick decision or to choose an option you don’t want, it’s important to slow down. When you feel rushed or aren’t sure about the decision you’re making, you are more likely to have negative feelings about it.
You deserve to feel confident and informed about your pregnancy and options.
More importantly, you can make the choice you want to make for your pregnancy, even if it seems impossible. In this blog, you’ll learn about all of your pregnancy options and how to get the information you need to make the best choice.
What are my unplanned pregnancy options in Florida?
1. Abortion
Abortion is often talked about in the news and on social media, but how much do you actually know about these procedures?
In Florida, elective abortion is only legal until the sixth week of pregnancy. That means you can only undergo a suction dilation and curettage (also called a vacuum abortion) or a medication abortion (also known as the abortion pill) unless there is a medical or criminal condition. Florida law has several abortion exceptions to protect women’s health and will also allow pregnancy termination in the cases of rape, incest, or trafficking.
Suction D&C abortions are a surgical procedure that must be performed by a doctor. First, the physician will open up (dilate) your cervix. Then, he will insert a tube called a catheter into your uterus. The catheter will be connected to a suction device that will suck the embryo, amniotic fluid, and other tissue from your uterus. The doctor may also scrape the walls of your uterus with a tool called a curette to make sure he removed all the tissue.
The abortion pill is another option for terminating your pregnancy. Before taking the medications involved, you MUST have an ultrasound. This scan will make sure your pregnancy is at a safe gestational age to have a medication abortion.
It will also check the location of your pregnancy. Some women have a condition called ectopic pregnancy, which means the embryo implanted outside of your uterus. If you take the abortion pill with an ectopic pregnancy, you may develop a serious, potentially life-threatening infection. Additionally, an ectopic pregnancy can rupture and cause internal bleeding. As the FDA warns, you must never take the abortion pill with an ectopic pregnancy.
The abortion pill includes two medications called mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks your body’s natural production of progesterone, a hormone that nourishes the pregnancy. Without this hormone, the embryo will die. The second medication, misoprostol, induces labor. As your uterus cramps, it will push the embryo and pregnancy tissue out of your body.
If you change your mind after taking mifepristone, you may be able to stop your abortion. For abortion pill reversal treatment, you will take progesterone supplements to replace the hormone blocked by the abortion medication. This is a safe, natural treatment that can save your pregnancy up to 68% of the time. Call the 24/7 helpline at 877-558-0333 to learn more.
Note: Some organizations illegally sell the abortion pill online. The medications may not meet U.S. safety standards and can be dangerous. The FDA warns women not to order abortion medications online.
2. Adoption
If you don’t want to end or keep your pregnancy, you can make an adoption plan for your baby. Adoption is much different than most people think and can look however you want. You can have an open adoption—including visits with your child, yearly pictures and updates, or just an occasional email from the baby’s adoptive family. You can also decide to have a completely closed adoption with no communication at all. The beauty is that you get to decide what is best for you and for your baby—there is no limit to what the future looks like. Be as detailed and creative in your adoption plan as you wish, and know that you are legally allowed to change this plan as much and as often as needed until three days after the baby is born. Adoption puts you, the mother, in the driver’s seat.
Thrive Orlando can refer you to a local adoption agency that will answer all of your questions and help you every step of the way. Importantly, meeting with them will not lock you into this path or take away your other options. Feel free to ask all of your questions and learn more about this path. One last thing to note. Mothers choosing an adoption plan will receive physical, emotional, and medical support throughout the pregnancy and immediately after from the social worker/agency helping them. There are abundant resources for those planning for adoption.
This is a great option if you don’t feel ready to be a parent. There are millions of couples who are ready and excited to adopt a baby. And you can always change your mind. This decision is in your control.
3. Parenting
You can also choose to keep your pregnancy and parent your baby. While this option is a more long-term commitment than the others, it is a lot more doable than you might think.
Many of our patients share that they want to choose parenting, but they’re afraid that:
- They can’t afford to parent
- Their partners will leave them if they keep the pregnancy
- They won’t be able to finish school
- Their loved ones will reject them
- And other overwhelming anxieties
Thankfully, there are many resources that can help with these challenges. From counseling to help finding a job to financial assistance, there are numerous organizations that serve women in unplanned pregnancies.
Learn more about your Florida unplanned pregnancy options
At Thrive Orlando, we want every patient to leave our clinic feeling confident and informed. We will answer your questions about your pregnancy options and direct you to resources for your specific needs.
Learn how you can make the choice you want to make at Thrive Orlando.