I Am Pregnant and Don’t Know What to Do in Illinois [3 Options]
Finding out you’re pregnant can feel overwhelming. Maybe you weren’t planning for this. Maybe the timing feels all wrong. Whatever your situation, you still have paths forward.
This guide walks through the three unplanned pregnancy options available to you in Illinois. We’ll cover what to do first, how each option works and where to find help without judgment. If you’d like to talk through your situation with someone who understands, you can connect with an adoption professional.
Where to Start if You’re Pregnant and Don’t Know What to Do
If you just found out you’re pregnant, here’s what you should do first:
1. Give yourself space to process. You may feel shocked, scared, angry or confused. Take the time you need to think through your next steps. You don’t have to make any decisions right this second.
2. Schedule a medical appointment to confirm the pregnancy. This appointment will give you accurate information about how far along you are if you got pregnant by accident. Once you have a timeline, you can better understand your options.
3. Reach out for support. Talk to someone you trust if that feels right, or call a confidential hotline where you can think out loud without pressure. Remember that no one can tell you what the “right” choice is except you.
3 Unplanned Pregnancy Options in Illinois
In Illinois, you have three unplanned pregnancy options: parenting, abortion or adoption. Each path looks different, comes with its own set of considerations, and is a valid choice depending on your circumstances.
- Parenting means raising your child yourself. It requires financial resources, a support system and significant life adjustments.
- Abortion is legal in Illinois. This option allows you to end the pregnancy and continue with your life plans.
- Adoption means making a plan for someone else to raise your child. You can choose the adoptive family, receive financial support during pregnancy and maintain contact after placement, if you want.
Thinking About Parenting After an Unplanned Pregnancy?
Parenting can be a rewarding experience, even when it wasn’t part of your original plan. Many women who didn’t expect to become parents build meaningful bonds with their children. If you’re drawn to this path, there are resources and support systems in Illinois that can help make it possible.
That said, parenting changes everything — your daily routine, your future plans, your financial situation. Think about where you are emotionally and mentally right now. Raising a child requires patience, energy and emotional bandwidth. It’s completely okay to admit if you’re not in that place yet, or if this doesn’t fit with where you are or where you want to be.
Is Abortion Legal in Illinois?
Yes, abortion is legal in Illinois. Currently, abortion is legal until fetal viability (generally around 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy). After that point, abortion is only available if the pregnant person’s life or health is at risk.
Illinois Medicaid covers abortion services, and private insurance plans are required to include abortion coverage. The state also has a fund that helps people pay for abortion care if they need financial assistance.
Unlike many other states, Illinois has no mandatory waiting period and does not require parental consent for people under 18 seeking abortion care. You won’t be forced to undergo an ultrasound or listen to lectures before accessing abortion services.
What Does the Adoption Process Look Like?
Adoption is one of your options if you’re pregnant and don’t want the baby. It lets you give your child to a stable, loving home. When you choose adoption, you’re not “giving up” your baby — you’re making an active, loving decision about their future and yours.
Here’s how adoption works for someone who isn’t ready to parent:
Access free counseling. You’ll have access to professional counseling to help you process your feelings, explore your options and make decisions that feel right for you.
Get financial support during pregnancy. You can receive help with pregnancy-related expenses, including rent, utilities, groceries, maternity clothes and medical bills not covered by insurance.
Choose your baby’s adoptive family. You review profiles and select the family you feel is best for your child.
Keep in contact through open adoption. Most modern adoptions are open, meaning you can maintain some level of contact with your child and their family as they grow up.
Receive support after placement. After you place your baby with their adoptive family, you’ll continue to have access to counseling and resources for as long as you need them.
It’s important to note that it’s never too late to choose adoption. Even if you’re already in your third trimester or just gave birth, you can still choose this path for yourself and your baby.
Can I Make an Adoption Plan Without Telling the Father?
In Illinois, you generally need to notify the father of your adoption plan unless specific circumstances apply. An adoption professional can help you navigate the legal requirements based on your specific situation and ensure your privacy and safety are protected.
How Do You Know Which Option Is Right for You?
Are you weighing your unplanned pregnancy options? The “right” choice is the one that fits your life right now, not what anyone else thinks you should do.
Try asking yourself some questions:
- Where do I want to be in a year? In five years?
- Do I have the support I need to raise a child right now, or would I be doing this mostly alone?
- Can I afford to take care of a baby, or am I already stretched thin financially?
- What option addresses my needs?
Think about your mental health, your job or school situation, where you’re living and what your relationships look like. Some women know right away what feels right. Others need time to sit with the decision, talk it through and really understand what each path means for their future.
Who Can You Talk to About an Unplanned Pregnancy?
An unplanned pregnancy counselor gives you space to talk through all your options for unplanned pregnancy. They can help you think through the practical stuff (money, housing, support systems, etc.) and the emotional stuff (your fears, your hopes, what you really want for your life, etc.). They’re there to listen, provide accurate information and support whatever decision feels right to you.
You can call1-800-236-7846 anytime to speak with an adoption counselor. Even if you’re not sure adoption is right for you, they can talk you through all your options and connect you with resources.
What Help Is Available for Pregnant Women in Illinois?
Here are some resources you can access right away:
- Planned Parenthood (Aurora, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, Flossmoor, Orland Park, Peoria, Springfield, Waukegan): These facilities provide pregnancy testing, early prenatal care, abortion services and birth control.
- Hope Clinic (Chicago, Granite City): Hope Clinic specializes in abortion care, offering both medication abortion and in-clinic procedures.
- Erie Family Health Centers (Chicago, Evanston, Waukegan): These centers provide comprehensive prenatal care and primary medical services for pregnant women. They welcome all patients regardless of immigration status or insurance and offer sliding-scale fees based on income.
- Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness (Aurora, Carpentersville, Chicago Heights, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Joliet, Olympia Fields): Aunt Martha’s offers prenatal care, OB-GYN services and primary health care for pregnant women. They accept Medicaid and Medicare and provide sliding-scale fees for uninsured patients.
- Tapestry 360 Health (Chicago, Skokie): This organization provides prenatal care and primary medical services for pregnant women. They serve refugees, immigrants and all community members, with sliding-scale fees available for those without insurance.
- Greater Family Health (DeKalb, Des Plaines, Elgin, Franklin Park, Hanover Park, McHenry, Palantine, Streamwood, Sycamore, Wheeling): Greater Family Health provides OB-GYN services, prenatal care and primary medical care for pregnant women. Patients at or below 200% of the federal poverty level pay only $25 per visit, and they accept Medicaid and Medicare.
- Howard Brown Health (Chicago): Howard Brown Health provides prenatal care and primary medical services for pregnant women. They welcome all patients regardless of ability to pay, with sliding-scale fees starting as low as $5 for the lowest-income patients.
- HealthChoice Illinois: Illinois Medicaid has a Moms & Babies program that covers women while they’re pregnant and for up to 12 months after.
Get the Support You Deserve — Take the First Step
You don’t have to figure this out alone. There are people ready to walk through all your options for unplanned pregnancy whether you’re still processing everything or ready to talk through the details of each option.
Get free information today by filling out our online form. You deserve clarity, support and the space to make the decision that’s right for you.