When a pregnancy takes you by surprise, it can be hard to know what to do. Where do you start? Pregnancy wasn’t in the plan. Rest assured, we have helpful information to share about first-trimester pregnancy options in Florida to get you started.
No matter your situation, you always have three options: abortion, adoption, and parenting. We share details about each one below, but for more information, you can schedule a no-cost appointment to talk through all your options at our clinic.
Option #1: Abortion
In Florida, abortion is legal if performed by a licensed physician in the first trimester. There are two forms of abortion: medical and surgical. How far along you are will determine which procedure you’re eligible for. Medical abortion (the abortion pill) is only FDA-approved through the first ten weeks of pregnancy.
However, Florida Medicaid will only provide funding for abortions in cases of life endangerment, rape, and incest.
If considering this option, we can provide you with accurate information on the procedures. We can also provide a no-cost ultrasound to tell you how far along you are and rule out any complications like ectopic pregnancy.
Option #2: Parenting
Parenting is your second option. If your main concern about parenting is financial, know there are many organizations in Florida that can help you.
If you decide you want to parent, you will want to make sure you have insurance coverage. The first step after confirming your pregnancy at our clinic is to see if you qualify for Florida Medicaid and begin prenatal care. Florida’s Healthy Start Program provides education and care coordination for pregnant women and families with children under the age of three and can be an excellent resource.
If you’re in Palm Beach County, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies can equip you with early prenatal care, education, and support. They have free workshops, mentorship, support groups, and resources to ensure you always have what you need to parent effectively.
If you have concerns or questions about parenting and want to discuss community resources and referrals, schedule a time to talk with us.
Option #3: Adoption
If you don’t want to choose abortion or parenting, adoption is your third option. There are an estimated two million families in the United States waiting to adopt, and many are right here in Florida.
After verifying your pregnancy, your next step would be to create an adoption plan with an adoption agency. This plan will outline how many contacts you want with your future child, the adoptive family, and any additional terms. If you’re worried about expenses from your pregnancy care, the adoptive family can typically cover these for you.
If you’re interested in learning more about adoption, we can connect you to adoption agencies right here in Florida.
Still Unsure? That’s Normal.
It’s okay if you’re still unsure about which pregnancy option you’ll pick.
Take it one step at a time and schedule a no-cost appointment at Palm Beach Women’s Clinic. We’ll confirm your pregnancy with testing and an ultrasound, and provide even more specific details on your options based on the results.
