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Pregnancy & Family
Planning
If you think you might be pregnant, the first step is to take a
urine test to determine whether or not you are. You can take an
at-home test or go into your regular clinic or a planned parenthood
office and get tested there.
If the results
are positive, then you will have to have a pelvic exam. This is
when the physician will feel the size of your uterus to determine
how long you have been pregnant. From there it is up to you to decide
what you will do.
Keeping the baby
Maybe
you're against abortion, or you feel that you can take on the responsibility
of raising a child. With the average baby costing approximately
$12-13,000 a year, supporting a baby isn't easy.
When you decide
to keep the baby, you will have to go to the doctor regularly. From
there, you will learn about what medicines to take, and what to
steer clear of. It is very important that you make the trip to your
doctor regularly and let your doctor know of any problems you may
be having (bleeding, feeling sick). The
following web sites can provide you with specific information on
what to expect when you are pregnant, and after the baby is born.
www.family.msn.com
www.pregnancy.org
www.first9months.com
www.pregnancy.about.com
www.childbirth.org
www.plannedparenthood.org
Abortion
Another
option for unplanned pregnancy is abortion. This procedure is usually
done within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Some teens prefer this
option as it doesn't require a parent's consent in many states and
is confidential as well. Abortion is a big decision that should
not be taken lightly. You should definitely do some research before
you decide to have an abortion. For starters, you can check out
the following sites which provide information on abortion.
www.plannedparenthood.org
www.gynpages.com
www.abortionfacts.com
www.afterabortion.org
www.fpwa-health.org.au/abortion.htm
Adoption
Maybe
you know you can't take care of a child, but you are against abortion.
Another option is to make an adoption plan for your child. Many
women fear this because they can't imagine their child being raised
by someone else. But with open-adoption programs, you can still
see your child and spend time with them, while also taking an active
role in selected the adoptive parents. Click on the links below
for some information on adoption.
www.adoption.com
www.adoptionnetwork.com
www.adoptioninformation.com
www.ibar.com/voices/
www.adoption-beyond.org/everything.html
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