Emergency Pregnancy Services
So you are thinking about the “Raise my baby” option. Maybe you want to know if being a parent is the best choice for you. Well, only you can answer that question. But before you decide, there are some things to consider.

Baby Development:
Have you wondered what is going on inside of you? It can be hard to think about it as a baby, especially if you are scared or worried about your pregnancy.

By the time you found out you were pregnant (or started to worry that you were) you were already carrying a little person that is 10,000 times larger than when your egg was first fertilized. The baby is rapidly developing – its heart is pumping blood throughout her system.

Maybe you have missed your period by more than a few days or even weeks - you’re not sure. At 8 weeks gestation, only four weeks after you missed your period, your baby is now an inch long. Everything is present that will be found in a fully developed adult. The baby can respond to touch even though you may not feel her for a few more months.

Just a few weeks after that, at 12 weeks gestational age, the baby now sleeps, exercises its muscles, turns his head, curls his toes, and opens and closes his mouth. If you were able to stroke his palm of his hand – he would make a tight fist.

Maybe you are just starting to “show” that you are pregnant. Now the baby is four months old and over eight inches long. She weighs more than a half a pound. Your baby can now hear not just your heartbeat but your voice and the sounds around you.

At just six months into your pregnancy, the baby’s delicate skin is growing in your protective uterus and is covered with a special ointment called “vernix”. If she was born now and given proper care, she would survive.

Month 9 - Happy Birthday little one! Toward the end of this month, the baby is ready for birth. Your pregnancy comes to the end of its 280 days (average). Her little heart pumps 250 gallons of blood each day and is fully capable of surviving outside of your womb.

 

Concerns:

How can I pay for medical care?

I don’t have any insurance. – Medicaid for Pregnant women is a federally funded resource that most women without insurance qualify for. It covers your doctor visits, prenatal vitamins and your hospital stay. You will need a “Proof Statement” to apply. Call us today and we will help you get all of the necessary paperwork to apply for Medicaid.
Can I afford to be a parent? [-]
Raising a child does get expensive, but there is help available. There are many public programs that can help such as WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) which can help with food for you while you are pregnant or breastfeeding and formula, cereal and baby food when your child needs it. Don’t forget that the father of your baby is legally required.
Can I afford to be a parent? [-]
Raising a child does get expensive, but there is help available. There are many public programs that can help such as WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) which can help with food for you while you are pregnant or breastfeeding and formula, cereal and baby food when your child needs it. Don’t forget that the father of your baby is legally required to help financially support you regardless of whether you are still in a relationship with him.
Can I stay in school?
Yes. Our community has several ways to assist you if you want to stay in school. Some schools offer free childcare and help with parenting. Sometimes family members or friends will help care for you child while you continue your goal of finishing your education. Having a baby does NOT mean giving up on your future.
Can I lose my job?
There are laws that protect a woman from being fired because she is pregnant. Give one of our counselors a call if you have questions about how you might be protected.

Health Choices
It is important that you take care of yourself during your pregnancy and always.  Our counselors can help you learn what to eat and what to avoid.  If you are smoking or using drugs, you may need some special information about how to quit and the effects it may have on your baby.  Emergency Pregnancy Services can help you with your decisions about health.

Material Support
Are you worried that you may need help with diapers, bottles, baby items?
Do you have another child that you are struggling to clothe and diaper now?
Ask us for help.  Emergency Pregnancy Services has crisis assistance available for material items and will be glad to help with what we have.