Care Net Pregnancy Center of Rutland
138 West Street
Rutland, VT 05701
Voice - (802) 775-5611
Any of these circumstances might lead you to regret an
abortion later. How many of these apply to you?
I'm
having trouble making a decision.
I
feel ambivalent
I
still have my doubts about whether I should have an
abortion.
If you feel ambivalent or conflicted - or if you are
still having doubts, any of these could cause you to regret
an abortion.
I
have a strong belief that abortion is wrong.
I
come from a religious/conservative background.
I
have negative feelings about abortion.
I
wouldn't consider an abortion if it were illegal.
If
I have an abortion, I don't want anyone to know because I'll
feel ashamed.
I'll
be afraid of what people will think if they find out I had
an abortion.
It
needs to be kept secret.
I'm
afraid of what people will think if they find out I'm
pregnant.
Women who go "against their conscience" are
more likely to suffer emotional harm after an abortion.
I
originally wanted to be pregnant but things aren't working
out so I'm thinking about abortion.
I
wanted this child, but he/she has some physical
problems/fetal abnormalities.
I
want this child, but it'll be bad for my health if I
continue this pregnancy.
I've
always loved kids and want some of my own some day.
I'm
married but there are just real problems with having a child
at this point (can't afford, etc.)
I
already have children.
For
whatever reason, I didn't use contraceptives and now I'm
pregnant.
I
find myself thinking about this baby a lot - for example, I
wonder if it's a boy or girl and I think about what my due date
would be if I continued this pregnancy.
Women who have a strong maternal instinct or who feel
conflicting maternal desires often experience emotional harm
if they choose abortion. If you are in the second or third
trimester of your pregnancy and are now thinking of
abortion, it could mean that you're really undecided about
what to do or that someone's pushing you to abort now that
they know you're pregnant. These are also risk factors that
could lead you to regret an abortion later.
I
feel pressure to have this abortion from:
my
husband or boyfriend
my
parents
a
doctor, counselor, employer, or others
I
feel like no one will let me decide.
I
feel like abortion is my only choice.
I
have to make a decision soon.
I
don't know if I really have all the information I need to
make a decision. I don't know that much about abortion and
its risks, or about what my child looks like at this point.
This is really important to think about. Are you feeling
pressured by someone else to have an abortion? Many women
have abortions because others put pressure on them or
because nobody supports them. Often, these are the women who
suffer emotional harm later. Other women consider abortion
in order to save a relationship, but then it doesn't work
out anyway. Some studies show that up to 80% of couples
break up after an abortion. It's ok to give yourself a
little time. This is a decision that you have to live with
the rest of your life.
I
am a teenager/minor.
Women who had abortions when they were teenagers/minors
tend to have more problems later and regret their abortions.
I
have trouble knowing how to cope/handle stressful
situations.
I
feel like I have no voice and that no one would listen to my
opinion anyway.
I've
had trouble keeping a job and I worry about providing for a
child.
I've
had some trauma in my past and I'm just not sure how to deal
with it.
I
have been sexually abused or assaulted in the past.
I'm
pregnant because I was raped.
I'm
pregnant because of incest.
Being
pregnant is really my fault because _______ (fill in the
blank.) If you filled in a
character flaw (instead of
blaming chance, others, or a correctable mistake in
behavior), this could be
a risk factor.
I
just don't want to think about all of this stuff.
Studies have shown that these factors may also make it
harder to cope with an abortion.
I
don't have too many friends to help me right now.
The
guy doesn't even know I'm pregnant.
My
husband/boyfriend says it's all up to me.
I'm
having to make this decision all by myself.
My
relationship with my boyfriend/husband isn't very good
and/or very stable right now. I can't count on him.
My
parents and family don't seem to care what I do. No one is
supporting me.
My
husband/boyfriend doesn't seem to care what I do. He isn't
supporting me either way (having the baby or
having the abortion.)
My
boyfriend/husband is going to come with me if I go get an
abortion.
I've
had an abortion before.
Take a look at how many items you have checked off. All of
these are risk factors, so the more you have, the greater
the risk to you. To sum it up, the women who are most at
risk for suffering harm after an abortion either feel
pressured into having the abortion, or feel uncertainty or
ambivalence about their choice. Please think about this
information and remember, help is available by contacting
our center or calling 1-800-395-HELP.
Contact
our center to reserve your appointment. You can also send
us a note through our website.
