Pregnancy options counseling is a form of

counseling Counseling is the professional guidance of the individual by utilizing psychological methods especially in collecting case history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes. This is a list of co ...

aimed to counsel women on decision-making for a troubling or

unintended pregnancy Unintended pregnancies are pregnancies that are mistimed, unplanned or unwanted at the time of conception. Sexual activity without the use of effective contraception through choice or coercion is the predominant cause of unintended pregnancy. Wor ...

. In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, approximately 51% of the six million annual

pregnancies Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring develops ( gestates) inside a woman's uterus (womb). A multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins. Pregnancy usually occurs by sexual intercourse, but can ...

are unintended. A majority of the women affected by an unintended pregnancy are either 20–24 in age, poor or of low income, or are a member of a

minority group The term 'minority group' has different usages depending on the context. According to its common usage, a minority group can simply be understood in terms of demographic sizes within a population: i.e. a group in society with the least number o ...

. Unintended pregnancy rates are generally higher in the

South South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...

and

Southwest The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...

regions of the United States, in densely populated areas. A lack of

family planning Family planning is the consideration of the number of children a person wishes to have, including the choice to have no children, and the age at which they wish to have them. Things that may play a role on family planning decisions include marita ...

, limited access to

birth control Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...

, or inconsistent use of birth control, are some of the contributing factors to

. Other factors that lead to unintended pregnancy are birth control or

contraception Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...

failure,

rape Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or ag ...

incest Incest ( ) is human sexual activity between family members or close relatives. This typically includes sexual activity between people in consanguinity (blood relations), and sometimes those related by affinity (marriage or stepfamily), adoption ...

unprotected sex Safe sex is sexual activity using methods or contraceptive devices (such as condoms) to reduce the risk of transmitting or acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially HIV. "Safe sex" is also sometimes referred to as safer sex ...

, or unsuccessful

vasectomy Vasectomy, or vasoligation, is an elective surgical procedure for male sterilization or permanent contraception. During the procedure, the male vasa deferentia are cut and tied or sealed so as to prevent sperm from entering into the urethra and ...

tubal ligation Tubal ligation (commonly known as having one's "tubes tied") is a surgical procedure for female sterilization in which the fallopian tubes are permanently blocked, clipped or removed. This prevents the fertilization of eggs by sperm and thus th ...

. Counselors may provide information on what services are available to help women decide how to handle their pregnancy. By taking into consideration a patient's present life circumstances, they aid them in making a decision about which option is best: this may include getting an

abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...

, giving the child up for

adoption Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from ...

, or choose to parent the child as a

single parent A single parent is a person who has a child or children but does not have a spouse or live-in partner to assist in the upbringing or support of the child. Reasons for becoming a single parent include divorce, break-up, abandonment, becoming wid ...

. Counselors give information in a non-biased manner, neither encouraging nor discouraging a particular decision for a woman to make.

Abortion

Prevalence

Abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...

is described as an intentional termination of a pregnancy. More than forty percent of women have an abortion during their reproductive cycle in their lives. In the

, 3 out of 10 women have had an abortion by the time they are forty-five years old. Throughout the world, about 20-30 million legal abortions are performed each year, while another 10-20 million more are performed illegally. According to The World Health Organization, illegal abortions are unsafe and are responsible for 4.7–13.2% of maternal deaths in women.

Requirements and arguments

There are different requirements for women who wish to access abortion services. If someone is under eighteen, the person's state may require

parental consent Parental consent laws (also known as parental involvement laws) in some countries require that one or more parents consent to or be notified before their minor child can legally engage in certain activities. Parental consent may refer to: *A pa ...

from one or both parents for the abortion to be carried out. In most states, it is possible to go to a judge and request to be excused from this requirement. The

Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

first legalized abortion in 1973 with the Roe vs. Wade decision. When an abortion can be done depends on how far along an individual is in their pregnancy. Depending on that fact, the mother may have a choice between a

medical abortion A medical abortion, also known as medication abortion, occurs when drugs (medication) are used to bring about an abortion. Medical abortions are an alternative to surgical abortions such as vacuum aspiration or dilation and curettage. Medical ...

, which uses drugs to induce the abortion, or a surgical abortion. In a surgical abortion, the mother undergoes an operation to have the

fetus A fetus or foetus (; plural fetuses, feti, foetuses, or foeti) is the unborn offspring that develops from an animal embryo. Following embryonic development the fetal stage of development takes place. In human prenatal development, fetal deve ...

and

placenta The placenta is a temporary embryonic and later fetal organ that begins developing from the blastocyst shortly after implantation. It plays critical roles in facilitating nutrient, gas and waste exchange between the physically separate mater ...

removed. After nine weeks, a surgical abortion is typically the only option. There are many controversial questions that arise when the issues of abortion are discussed in the political and social arenas. Some questions that are considered are: "Should spouses be notified before a woman has an abortion?", "Should public funds be used for abortions?", "Should the rules be different in cases of sexual assault and

?" The issue of parental consent also surfaces. There are many pro and con arguments that arise when discussing whether abortion should be legal. Many supporters of legal abortion argue that the Supreme Court has declared abortion to be "a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution.” They also argue that allowing women to get abortions gives them control over their own bodies. In general, individuals who believe abortion should be illegal disagree. First and foremost, they believe that abortion is murder. They believe that life begins at conception. These are only a few of the many important arguments that both supporters and non-supporters voice regarding abortions.

Adoption

Types of adoption

There are two types of adoption to choose from:

closed adoption Closed adoption (also called "confidential" adoption and sometimes "secret" adoption) is a process by which an infant is adopted by another family, and the record of the biological parent(s) is kept sealed. Often, the biological father is not re ...

and

open adoption Open adoption is a form of adoption in which the biological and adoptive families have access to varying degrees of each other's personal information and have an option of contact. While open adoption is a relatively new phenomenon in the west, it ...

. Closed adoptions occur when the birthmother and the family adopting do not receive any information about one another, which typically happens when the birthmother wants to remain anonymous. Open adoptions occur when the birth mother and the adoptive parents do have some form of contact. In this situation, the birthmother usually selects the family based on their values, lifestyle, and religion. Sometimes the birthmother and adoptive parents will have some type of relationship, which might include visits with the child, phone calls, or pictures to update the birthmother. Birthmothers might choose this option when they want to be updated as the child grows up.

Adoption laws

Whether open or closed adoption is chosen, adoption is legal and binding. Every adoption must be approved by a judge in a court of law. The adoption laws differ in each state, and adoption agencies, counselors, or lawyers can give information on the laws in each state. After the baby is born, the birth mother must sign papers to terminate her rights as the parent of the child. Laws about the birth father's consent also vary from state to state.

Choosing to parent

Prenatal care

When an unplanned pregnancy occurs, women are usually placed in a difficult position - as such, it is recommended they should write down thoughts, feelings, and fears about their pregnancy options to help with their decision. If the woman decides to parent the child herself, her first step is to start prenatal care. This will ensure she and the baby stay in good health. Prenatal care refers to the care that a woman receives from a health care provider, such as a doctor or

midwife A midwife is a health professional who cares for mothers and newborns around childbirth, a specialization known as midwifery. The education and training for a midwife concentrates extensively on the care of women throughout their lifespan; co ...

, during pregnancy. During the first prenatal care visit, the mother will have a full physical examination as well as a gynecological exam. Typically, for a healthy patient between the ages of 18 and 35, the expectant mother will see her doctor every four to six weeks for the first 32 weeks (8 months); from weeks 32 to 37, every two to three weeks; and from week 37 until delivery, every week.

Lifestyle changes

If the mother chooses to parent, doctors often encourage mothers to make positive lifestyle choices in order to prevent health problems with the unborn baby. This often includes avoiding the consumption of

caffeine Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine class. It is mainly used recreationally as a cognitive enhancer, increasing alertness and attentional performance. Caffeine acts by blocking binding of adenosine t ...

alcohol Alcohol most commonly refers to: * Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom * Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks Alcohol may also refer to: Chemicals * Ethanol, one of sev ...

cigarette A cigarette is a narrow cylinder containing a combustible material, typically tobacco, that is rolled into thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end, causing it to smolder; the resulting smoke is orally inhaled via the opp ...

marijuana Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, the cannabis plant has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various tra ...

, other

recreational drug Recreational drug use indicates the use of one or more psychoactive drugs to induce an altered state of consciousness either for pleasure or for some other casual purpose or pastime by modifying the perceptions and emotions of the user. When a ...

s, some prescribed medications, and some over-the-counter remedies. The mother is also usually encouraged to maintain a healthy diet and to exercise regularly. More than 97 to 98% of babies are born healthy.

Monetary assistance

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a program called Maternal and Child Health Bureau that coordinates medical care, support, and advice for pregnant women as well as information about health insurance. The mission of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau is to provide leadership to improve the physical and mental health, safety, and well-being of the maternal and child health population, which includes all of the nation's women, infants, children, adolescents, and their families. Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program are two assistance programs that aid with paying for prenatal care.

References

{{Reflist *"Options Counseling for Pregnancy." ''Options Counseling for Pregnancy''. Contracept.org, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. *"Unintended Pregnancy in the United States." ''Unintended Pregnancy in the United States''. Guttmacher Institute, July 2015. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. Pregnancy in the United States Counseling Reproductive rights in the United States