The Story of One Teen
Many teenagers who have faced unplanned pregnancies have found the help and resources they have needed to make positive pregnancy choices. Consider Alicia's true story:
I came home one night feeling as if something was not right with my body. I questioned myself, "What could it be?" I sat down on my futon in the living room and just cried. I felt as if it really did not matter what was wrong because I did not have anyone to listen to me.
Then something raised a question in my mind. "Was it possible I was pregnant? Could this be what was wrong with me? No, I could not be pregnant." I did not want to even think about it. But I needed to do something to clear this idea from my mind.
So I got in my car and drove to the late-night drugstore, bought a kit with two pregnancy tests and came home. I took the first test ... PREGNANT. Hoping I'd done something wrong, I took the second test ... PREGNANT.
Feeling terribly alone and extremely guilty, my mind filled with questions. How could I be a mother? How could I provide a home for a baby?. I left and went to talk to a friend. I know that my friend meant well, however, he was too busy working on his jeep to really have anything to say about my situation. He just kept saying, "Are you sure? Do you know who the father is?" Talking with him only made things worse.
I came back home feeling even more depressed than before. All I could think is, "This is not possible. These tests have to be wrong. Who in my family will I tell first, and how are they going to take it?" In a futile attempt to take my mind off things for a while, I turned the TV back on. And that's when I heard a young woman's voice saying: "If you're facing an unplanned pregnancy, you have options. You don't have to be alone. Call 1-800-395-HELP. Our services are totally confidential and free. If you're pregnant, call now. There is help." I couldn't believe my ears. It was as if things had been arranged just so I could hear that ad at the very moment when I most needed some hope.
Although I just could not figure out how I let this happen to myself, and what I was going to do to fix this situation, deep in my heart I knew the truth...babies are gifts from God.
I scrambled to find a pen and paper, scribbled down the phone number and immediately dialed it. I still remember what I asked the operator who took my call: "Can a pregnancy test come back positive and you still not be pregnant???" And almost as soon as I heard her calming response, I knew that this time I'd made the right choice.
She understood what I was going through because she'd had a crisis pregnancy herself. She was kind and not in the least judgmental. And she gave me the information and encouragement I needed...especially about adoption since that's the option Megan chose for her baby. But most of all...Megan gave me HOPE. So when she asked if I wanted her to connect me to a local pregnancy center, I said YES.
The next day I met with a trained consultant named Peggy at my local pregnancy center. We talked for a long time. I poured out my heart to her. I was so afraid. I was sure that neither my father nor my boyfriend would support me. I talked for what seemed like forever...and Peggy listened.
Peggy assured me that I was not alone. She said she would be with me every step of the way. After that, Peggy said that before she and I could address the changes I needed to make in my life, the first thing I needed to do was make sure I was pregnant. So I agreed to come back to the center's medical clinic for an ultrasound.
Almost immediately after leaving, I called my mother at work. Breathing heavy and sobbing, she just kept telling me that I needed to calm down, she couldn't understand what I was saying. Finally after a few minutes of mumbling the words, I just straightened my voice and said, "Mom, please don't hate me...I'm pregnant." As soon as the words came out, the tears started flowing again. All I could hear my mom say is that everything would be okay and that she was my mom and she was here to support me.
I am grateful for my mom. She did not abandon me. In fact, she came with me when I went in for my sonogram. I am so thankful she did.
To find out about free and confidential help that is available in your area, call 1-800-395-HELP.
