Maybe you’ve been deleting pregnancy-related searches from your phone. You might be hiding a test at the bottom of the trash, avoiding your parents, or wondering how long you can keep your partner or friends from noticing something is different.
Keeping the pregnancy secret may feel safer right now. Abortion may even seem appealing because you hope no one will ever have to know you were pregnant.
Those fears can feel very intense right now, but they shouldn’t leave you making a major decision without having all of the information. Alpha Center offers confidential pregnancy services where you can ask questions and learn about your options in a safe environment.
Schedule an appointment today. We’re here for you no matter what. And continue reading to find tips for unpacking why you want to hide your pregnancy and important things to consider.
Why Are You Afraid to Tell Someone?
Before focusing on how to keep your pregnancy hidden, think about what you’re afraid will happen if someone finds out.
Are you expecting anger from your parents? Are you worried your boyfriend will leave? Could pregnancy affect school, work, or housing? Or are you embarrassed because this isn’t where you expected your life to be?
Do you fear someone will pressure you to have an abortion? Forcing someone to have an abortion is against the law. Alpha Center is here to talk with you about resources to help in these situations. The pregnancy decision is yours to make.
Naming the actual concern can help you identify what kind of help you need. You also don’t have to tell everyone at once. If there is one trustworthy person in your life, you may want to start there.
If You’re Thinking About Abortion
You have a right to receive informed consent about abortion before making a major decision that could impact your health and safety.
Medical abortion uses mifepristone and misoprostol and causes vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping as the pregnancy is expelled. Possible risks include infection, heavy bleeding, and incomplete abortion. Surgical abortion has its own procedures and potential risks, which can include heavy bleeding, infection, an incomplete abortion, or a perforated uterus. The further along you are in your pregnancy, the more complex the procedure is.
Before pursuing abortion, it is also important to know how far along you are, if the pregnancy is progressing, and the pregnancy’s location. An ultrasound can provide information that a positive pregnancy test cannot.
Our staff can determine whether you are eligible for a no-cost limited ultrasound at our center.
What About Parenting or Adoption?
Parenting and adoption are also pregnancy options to consider. If you’re hiding your pregnancy because you don’t think you could parent, you owe it to yourself to know what assistance is available to help you as a mother. Resources may be available for healthcare, housing, food, baby supplies, childcare, and other needs.
It’s understandable to feel worried about judgment from others, especially when you’re unsure what help you’ll receive. However, more support is available than you think. Alpha Center is here for you no matter what option you choose.
Adoption is another possibility. As the birth mother, you do not pay for any adoption or legal services, and you may receive additional support, including material assistance.
As the birth mother, you get to make decisions that are right for you. Depending on the adoption plan, you can also choose the adoptive family and establish expectations for future communication.
South Dakota law specifically recognizes written pre-adoption agreements between biological and adoptive parents in certain cases. However, state law also says that post-adoption visitation is something exercised by adoptive parents only when it is in the child’s best interests.
Because much depends on the circumstances, an adoption attorney or licensed adoption professional can explain how South Dakota law would apply to a specific adoption. We can refer you to reputable agencies that can answer all of your questions.
Help is Available
You may not be ready to tell your family, partner, or friends, but you can still get factual information about your pregnancy and learn what each option involves.
Schedule a confidential appointment with Alpha Center today. Getting answers now can help you make a decision based on your pregnancy and circumstances rather than solely on the fear of someone finding out.
*Alpha Center does not provide or refer for abortions or facilitate adoptions.
**All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.