I’m Pregnant and Don’t Know What to Do in Texas: Start Here
Finding out you’re pregnant when you didn’t plan to be can leave you feeling scared, confused, and completely overwhelmed. If you’re thinking “I am pregnant and don’t know what to do,” you’re not alone, and there is help available right here in Texas.
Finding clarity starts with knowing your options for unplanned pregnancy, and taking this first step shows incredible strength.
If you want to talk to someone right now about your situation and your unplanned pregnancy options, we can connect you with a compassionate, unbiased counselor who can give you personalized advice.
Confirm Your Pregnancy Medically First
Before you can make any decisions, the first step is to get medical confirmation of your pregnancy. An at-home test can tell you if you are pregnant, but only a medical professional or clinical facility in Texas can provide the vital information you need to move forward.
By seeking a medical confirmation, you can find out:
- How far along you are: The gestational age is essential as it dictates which unplanned pregnancy options are available to you in Texas and in neighboring states.
- If the pregnancy is viable: Not all positive tests result in a healthy pregnancy; a clinician can check for issues like ectopic pregnancy or if the pregnancy is progressing normally.
- Your immediate health needs: This ensures you receive the prenatal care or necessary medical treatment you need, regardless of the choice you ultimately make.
Many clinics in Texas offer free or low-cost pregnancy testing and ultrasounds, even if you don’t have insurance.
Breaking Down Your Unplanned Pregnancy Options in Texas
When you are pregnant and don’t know what to do, you have three choices. Understanding the core commitment of each option is the first step toward finding peace:
Parenting: This means choosing to raise the child yourself. Resources are available in Texas to help low-income families with healthcare, food, and financial support.
Adoption: This is a choice to place your child with a loving adoptive family who can provide the life you want for them. You choose the family and decide the level of contact you want after placement.
Abortion: This medical procedure ends a pregnancy. However, due to state law in Texas, access to abortion is currently heavily restricted.
Each of these options comes with its own emotional, financial, and logistical considerations. There’s no “right” choice, only the one that’s right for you. Consider these options carefully and how they would fit into your future goals and what makes the most sense for your life.
Parenting After an Unplanned Pregnancy in Texas
Parenting after an unexpected pregnancy is absolutely possible, especially with the right support system. Deciding to parent requires an honest assessment of your readiness. Asking yourself some key questions can help clarify whether this option is feasible for you in the long term:
- Can you cover essential expenses like rent, childcare, and food for yourself and a child?
- Do you feel emotionally prepared for the responsibility of raising a child
- Do you have a reliable support system in place, like family, friends, or community organizations, who can offer practical help?
- What happens to your goals or dreams for education and career if you choose to parent right now?
State and Local Support for Parenting in Texas
If you are pregnant in Texas and can’t afford a baby, you should explore state resources designed to help families thrive:
- Medicaid for Pregnant Women: Provides eligible low-income pregnant women with free health coverage during pregnancy and up to 12 months postpartum.
- WIC (Women, Infants, and Children): Offers supplemental nutrition assistance to pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, and to infants and children up to age five.
- Thriving Texas Families Program: This state-wide network offers counseling, mentoring, educational classes, and referrals to services like child care, transportation, housing, and federal benefit programs.
Is Abortion Legal in Texas? Breaking Down Your Rights and Access
Abortion is currently prohibited in Texas in nearly all circumstances, a result of state laws that went into effect following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Here are the basic facts about abortion to consider:
- The Law: Texas law prohibits abortion at all stages of pregnancy.
- Exceptions: The law only provides narrow exceptions to save the life of the pregnant person or to prevent the serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function, as determined by a licensed physician. There are no exceptions for cases of rape or incest in Texas.
- Traveling Out-of-State: It is not illegal for you as a Texan to travel to another state or country to legally obtain an abortion.
If you’re in between your options and want to know what’s legally available to you, talk to a counselor today who can walk you through your options without judgement.
Considering Adoption in Texas? What it Really Means
Choosing adoption is a loving and selfless decision that allows you to choose a brighter future for your child while securing emotional and financial support for yourself.
When you choose adoption in Texas, you are not “giving up” your baby; you are making a comprehensive, proactive plan for their life. You have control over every aspect of the adoption process, including choosing the family that will raise your child.
How Adoption Supports Pregnant Women in Texas
Adoption provides a unique framework of support that addresses both the emotional and practical needs of expectant mothers in Texas. When you choose adoption, you have control over every aspect of the process. You can:
- You Choose the Perfect Family for Your Child: You get to review detailed profiles and choose the family who aligns with your values and hopes for your child’s future.
- Financial Assistance: You can receive financial support from the adoptive family for living expenses such as rent, utilities, food, and maternity clothes in Texas, depending on what the court approves. This ensures you are supported through your pregnancy and recovery.
- Open Adoption & Ongoing Contact: Open adoption is common in modern day adoptions, allowing you to maintain an ongoing relationship with your child and their adoptive family through letters, photos, phone calls, and visits.
- Free, 24/7 Counseling: You’ll get personal care you deserve from your adoption specialist so that you feel safe during your journey. Counseling is available for free, 24 hours a day, to help you process your emotions and ensure this decision is right for you.
- Focus on Your Future: By choosing adoption, you can focus on your goals and dreams, knowing your child will have all the opportunities in the world with a wonderful family.
Adoption offers a path that feels manageable and loving. If you want to learn more about how adoption works, speak with an adoption specialist today.
Resources for Adoption in Texas
If you’re ready to explore adoption further, these licensed agencies and resources can provide detailed, non-committal information about the process:
- American Adoptions: A national agency providing full services, including 24/7 counseling, financial assistance, and screening of adoptive families across the U.S.
- Texas Adoption Center: A local, private adoption agency specializing in connecting expectant parents with screened adoptive families throughout Texas.
- Legacy Adoption Services (North Richland Hills): Offers comprehensive adoption services with a focus on personalized birth parent support and counseling.
- Adoption Choices of Texas, Inc.: Provides specialized services for birth parents, emphasizing emotional support and open adoption arrangements.
- ConsideringAdoption.com: A trusted resource for women exploring adoption.
- AdoptionAgencies.com: Resource for women who are considering adoption and need to find local and national agencies serving Texas.
If you want to speak with someone who has chosen adoption, contact Michelle, a birth mother who worked with American Adoptions for her unplanned pregnancy.
Not Sure What To Do About an Unplanned Pregnancy?
Give yourself grace and take your time considering each option. It’s okay not to have all the answers right now. Making a decision about an unplanned pregnancy is deeply personal, and it’s important to give yourself space to think through what matters to you.
Consider these factors as you weigh your unplanned pregnancy options:
- Personal Values: Which option aligns most closely with your deeply held beliefs and emotional capacity?
- Timing: Is this the right time in your life, for your education, career, or personal development, to raise a child?
- Support Systems: Regardless of which option you choose, who in your life can you genuinely rely on for emotional and practical help?
Ultimately, only you know the answers to these questions. Only you can decide the right choice for your life.
Here’s How to Make the Right Decision for You
Talk to Someone You Can Trust—Unplanned Pregnancy Counseling in Texas
One of the most helpful things you can do is talk to someone who understands what you’re going through. Unplanned pregnancy counselors are professional, third-party support specialists who can help you:
- Process your emotions without judgement
- Explore each of your options in detail
- Think through the practical and emotional realities of each path
- Connect you to resources and support in Texas
You can reach a licensed counselor anytime, day or night, for free advice by calling: 1-800-236-7846.
Resources for Unplanned Pregnancies in Texas
Here are some local resources that can help you right now:
- Texas Pregnancy Care Network: Statewide resource network for pregnancy and parenting support.
- McAllen Pregnancy Center (McAllen, TX): Provides free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and options counseling.
- Horizon Pregnancy Resources (North San Antonio Area, TX): Offers free, confidential pregnancy services and options counseling.
- Child Welfare Information Gateway: Offers state-specific links for parenting resources, child care, and more in Texas.
Get Personalized Support in Texas – Start Here
If you’re still saying, “I am pregnant and don’t know what to do,” remember that every path forward is valid. Your decision is yours alone, and you deserve comprehensive, caring support as you make it.
Connect with an adoption specialist today for personalized guidance and information on your unplanned pregnancy options in Texas.