Pregnancy. It’s a wonderful thing. But it can also be an overwhelming, emotional and uncertain time; especially if you find yourself as an unwed student with dreams and aspirations that a pregnancy may threaten to change the course of.
One positive thing that you can rest assured of is knowing that it can be done, you can make it through an unplanned pregnancy and you can thrive through it all. Knowing what your options are, how to create a plan of action and how to navigate through it all will help you succeed in not only being a successful student but also having a positive and rewarding pregnancy experience.
The following tips are just a few ways to help you survive and thrive as a single pregnant college student:
1. Confirm the positive
The first thing you want to do if you suspect that you are pregnant is to take a test and confirm that you are indeed pregnant. Many will take a home pregnancy test followed by visiting a pregnancy resource center for confirmation while others simply go straight to the center or their doctor for a free and confidential test performed there.
2. Process the emotions
Once you see that the test is positive and you know for sure that you are indeed pregnant, you will need to take time to process all of the emotions you will inevitably go through if this pregnancy was not a planned one. Here are some things that will help you work through your emotions.
- Confide in close friends about how you are feeling and be honest with yourself and with them. Ask as many questions as you can think of to those that have experienced this before
- Seek out advice from professionals that might be able to help you work through the many emotions you will experience
- Understand that it’s okay to not feel okay and to feel like you don’t have all the answers. No pregnant woman does
- Embrace what you know, endeavor to learn and expect to fail
- Try to be positive in every moment and enjoy even the moments that may seem like too much
- Be realistic with everything you are feeling and everything you have going on and process it as much as possible
- Understand that you may need to adjust your life and make some changes to make things work- be flexible and know that it will all work out
3. Research and understand options
While every pregnancy comes with things that are out of our control, one thing is for certain- you have options. Deciding to keep the baby is not for everyone and adoption is a wonderful resource available to those who decide that parenting is not right for them at this moment. There are a number of adoption agencies as well as other resources available to help guide you through this journey should it be what you choose. Some women will feel overwhelmed enough to consider an abortion. Understanding the dangers and longterm effects of this decision are important and resource centers can help you maneuver through this.
4. Prioritize your health and the health of baby
Staying up late for study cram sessions, crazy work and class schedules, and late night coffee or fast food runs are the norm in college. It is super important to make your health and the health of your baby a priority. The following are great simple tips to stay on the right track with a busy student schedule.
- Try to make nutritious choices when it comes to food and snacks. Grabbing some fruits and veggies, trail mix or a protein bar is a great way to keep yourself balanced on the go
- Try to drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine as much as possible
- Ensure that you are getting plenty of sleep and resting as needed
- Enjoy breaks and have fun with friends; prioritize school but lay it aside once in awhile
- Stay active and get appropriate exercise
- Schedule regular appointments with an OBGYN to keep yourself and baby on track
5. Find support and resources to help you
Look for resources in your area to not only help you throughout your pregnancy, to educate and guide you, but to also become a much needed support system. Pregnancy resource centers can not only help you with your educational needs but also emotional, spiritual and material needs to help ease your burdens.
6. Work to find balance
It’s not always easy, but it’s always possible to be successful in school while also navigating your way through an unplanned pregnancy. While classes are set and your schedule is pretty rigid when it comes to college, you are going to find that the physical demands and appointments you have will come at inconvenient times. Try to work around your classes when possible and try to plan ahead but extend yourself grace once in a while if it’s impossible to avoid a conflict. Ask your academic advisors, instructors/professors and classmates for advice and help, and learn to communicate as much as possible with everyone that you rely on to make college and your pregnancy successful. If you find that online courses would be a better fit during your pregnancy, don’t discount it as a temporary solution.
Wrap Up
There are so many great resources to help make your pregnancy a wonderful experience while also allowing you to maintain your goals for college success. The PLC Health Clinic staff can be a great resource and safe place to find support and guidance as needed. For more information reach out to us at 419-238-9177 or www.plchealthclinic.org.
*Sources available upon request.
