"Being 17, 18, you kinda are only made to think of yourself - kinda selfish when you're in highschool.
Um, I did want to go to college - I wanted to go to cosmetology school. I didn't have a job.
And now, having my son, I have a job as a manager and I'm going to college and I plan to be a doctor.
So, my life has changed all around because of him. He's made me see the bigger outcome in life and not only myself."

Abortion is not an option for you - so will it be parenting or adoption?

Parenting demands responsibility, commitment, and often outside assistance.  A good support system is key to being successful at and enjoying this role. Being a parent is possible!

• Information support can be attained through an unbiased, trusted provider.  CompassCare exists to help you to first make a well-informed choice about what to do with this unplanned pregnancy, then provides you with the resources you need to make the decisions to follow.
   
• Emotional support can be found through groups and services, like the Teenage Parent Support Group at the Rochester Mental Health Association and programs at the YWCA.
   
• Financial support is obtainable through many sources, especially if you’re a single parent.  Medical, housing and educational support through scholarships and grants are all available to young parents.

Adoption can be a caring alternative to parenting when raising a child is not right for you at this time in your life.  It can allow a family, who might not otherwise be able, experience the joys of parenting.  There are many great services right here in the Rochester area that can provide the caring support you need to assist you through the adoption process.

CompassCare provides personalized assessments and customized referrals.  Schedule a Comprehensive Pregnancy Options Consultation today.

"It was a really difficult choice to make, and... I mean, even my parents, you know, had things to say about...
'Cause I was trying to get through to them, you know: where I'm at, how difficult this is for me. I was scared, but I'll tell you,
when I had the ultrasound at the center and I saw my daughter's heartbeat - immediate tears.
And I'm looking at the heartbeat and I thought, 'Oh, I'm really pregnant.
I really have a baby in there - I have a uteresident. Okay, now what?'"

You’re facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to learn more about the options you have right now.  You’ve started searching online, but with so many sources and sometimes conflicting information, it’s hard to know where to look for trusted answers.  It’s not uncommon for  websites to slant the facts in an attempt to persuade a woman’s decision.  You need unbiased, nonjudgmental information about the choices available to you.

An unintended pregnancy can be scary and confusing.  Nearly half of all pregnancies in the U.S. this year will be unplanned.  4 in 10 of those will end in abortion¹, and in a recent study published by the Medical Science Monitor, 84% of the women who chose abortion felt they had not received adequate counseling prior to making that decision.²  CompassCare exists to provide a confidential, professional atmosphere where you can get the answers you need to make a truly informed choice about your pregnancy.

Schedule a Free Consultation to receive a Personalized Solutions Assessment.

Abortion, parenting or adoption?

• Abortion
  
  Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy via medication or surgical procedure.  The procedures available to you depend on how far along you are and should be confirmed by a medical examination.  You should also be aware of the risks and side effects associated with each.  CompassCare provides the most current, fact-based information available to assist in making the decision that’s right for you.

• Parenting
  
  Parenting requires responsibility, commitment, and often outside assistance.  CompassCare is here to guide you through the transition of this decision by providing you with the highest level of professional medical care and a customized list of referrals.

• Adoption
  
  Adoption can allow a family, who might not otherwise be able, to experience the joys of parenting.  If raising a child is not right for you at this time in your life, considering adoption can be a caring alternative.  CompassCare will provide you with all of the information you need to take this step.

CompassCare is a non-profit organization with staff members who are specially trained to answer any questions you have about your pregnancy options.  Nurses are available for same day and next day appointments.  CompassCare offers free, nonjudgmental, unbiased, and confidential medical services which adhere to the current medical standards of care.

CompassCare provides free Comprehensive Pregnancy Options Consultations. You can also contact us by email via the our Helpline.

You've just found out you're pregnant and you have some important decisions to make. Abortion... adoption... becoming a parent... Your head is spinning with what to do next.

"I was only 17, in highschool, and I didn't know how his father would react.
I didn't know how I would finish my senior year. I was completely terrified.
Didn't know how I'd tell my family members, or just what I was going to do with myself after that."

How am I gonna take care of a little baby when I'm just figuring out how to take care of myself?

Most women facing an unplanned pregnancy will decide whether or not to keep their baby within the first 24 hours of finding out they’re pregnant. Unfortunately, many of those decisions will be made based on fear rather than knowledge. You have the advantage of making a confident choice by taking this time to get informed about your options.

How much time do you really have to decide?  If you’re like the majority of women facing unplanned pregnancy today, you discovered you were pregnant at about 4-6 weeks gestation. Because early term abortion procedures can be obtained up until 14 weeks, you likely still have several weeks to explore all of the alternatives available to you.
In a 2004 poll, 64% of American women said they felt pressured by their peers to choose abortion.1  You have the right to make decisions about your pregnancy without external pressure.  CompassCare offers free, nonjudgmental, unbiased, and confidential services to help you sort through the voices you’re hearing and to provide you with the facts you need to make a truly informed decision.

Remember that even though outside influences may make your situation feel urgent, in actuality, there’s plenty of time to gather the facts necessary to make a confident, educated choice.  Although abortion has become a prominent solution to the issue of unwanted pregnancy, deciding whether to have one may not be so easy.
And you’re not alone.  Each year over 12,000 women become pregnant in Monroe County.  32% of them will choose abortion over carrying their babies to term.2  The unique struggles women face today play a major role in that decision, the top reasons being:

• They feel like they aren’t ready to start a family.
• They feel like they can't afford a baby right now.
• They feel like they are too young and/or the pregnancy would not be supported by loved ones.
• They believe that being pregnant and/or raising a child will interfere with school or a job.3

These are legitimate concerns and often abortion seems the path of least resistance.  However, there are other aspects of your pregnancy that may be important to know first, such as:

• Were the results of my home pregnancy test really accurate?
• If they were, how far along am I?
• Are there any possible complications with this pregnancy?
• Is the pregnancy even viable?
• Am I too far along to be eligible for an abortion?
• Will having an abortion effect my ability to have children in the future?
• Is it important to know if I have an STD?
• What if I’ve been using drugs?

A medical examination and testing are necessary to answer all of these questions.   CompassCare has nurses available to evaluate your unique situation, so your options can be based on your individual circumstances.  CompassCare offers services such as pregnancy confirmation, STD testing, ultrasound imaging and options consultation.

Ultimately, the first and most important thing to get in the event of an unplanned pregnancy is knowledge.  Whatever your decision, a well-informed choice will be the best one that you can make.

“Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness.”
- James Thurber

CompassCare is a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide women with a safe, professional environment to receive the information needed to make well-informed decisions.

For a Free Consultation Contact CompassCare