Keeping Yourself Safe in an Online Dating World

When we find ourselves unexpectedly pregnant, we often start to stress. We tend to find ourselves asking a lot of questions, such as: What should I do next? Who should I talk to? Where should I go? What are my options? The most important thing to remember is that you’re not alone and you have plenty of options. But what are those pregnancy options? Informed Choices Pregnancy & Parenting is here to help guide you through this process. Confirming Your Pregnancy Why Do I Need An Ultrasound? Pregnancy Option 1: Abortion Medical Abortion Surgical Abortion Abortion Laws Pregnancy Option 2: Adoption Open Adoption Closed Adoption Pregnancy Option 3: Parenting Understanding Your Options How We Can Help Confirming Your Pregnancy The first step in understanding your pregnancy options is to confirm your pregnancy so that you can best understand your options. The best way to do this is with a medical-grade pregnancy test that we provide at no charge to you. If the results come back positive and you are considering your pregnancy options, then you may be offered a limited obstetrical ultrasound. Why Do I Need An Ultrasound? An ultrasound provides you with important information, such as the gestational age of your child, your estimated due date, and confirming that the pregnancy is viable. This also tells you what pregnancy options are available to you, as how far along you are dictates what options you have. Informed Choices offers limited obstetrical ultrasounds to clients who receive a positive pregnancy test at our center and medically qualify. Pregnancy Option 1: Abortion When someone discovers they’re pregnant, abortion may be the first pregnancy option thought of. It’s commonly thought of as the easiest solution, but there is much more to it than some may realize. One example being, how far along you are dictates which abortion procedures are available to you. We break down the details of each abortion procedure here. Medical Abortion Medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill, has become one of the most popular options for abortion. This abortion option is only available during the first ten weeks of pregnancy. What many people don’t know is that the abortion pill is actually two separate pills that will terminate the pregnancy and induce labor. Let’s break down each of these medications. Mifepristone (Mifeprex) – This is the first pill typically taken within the first seven weeks after your first missed menstrual cycle. Mifepristone thins the uterine lining by blocking the body’s ability to create the hormone progesterone. This first pill will be administered in a medical professional’s office under close medical supervision. Misoprostol (Cytotec) – This is the second pill taken during a medical abortion. This pill is taken at home either a few hours after taking mifepristone in your doctor’s office or the following day, based on the instructions given to you by your medical professional. Misoprostol will begin to induce labor by causing your uterus to contract. Even though this pill is taken at home, a few visits with your medical professional will be required afterwards to ensure no complications arise. Surgical Abortion The traditional image many conjure up when they think of abortion is of a surgical abortion. An ultrasound will be required before the procedure to check for the baby’s location and gestational age. An early surgical abortion is commonly done in two ways. Aspiration abortions: An abortion that is performed by the use of a suction hose to remove the embryo and clean out the uterus. Dilation and evacuation abortions: In this process, a suction hose will be used to suction out as much of the embryo as possible. Then a small metal looped-shaped knife is used to gently cut out any remnants that still cling to the walls of the uterus Abortion Laws Medical Abortion The legality of medical abortions varies state to state so that’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor or local pregnancy center for more information. Medical abortions have been legal in Illinois but only up until the tenth week of pregnancy. After the tenth week, success rates drop dramatically. Surgical Abortion Each state has their own laws regulating the abortion process, so it’s encouraged to talk to a medical professional or your local pregnancy center. In the state of Illinois, as of March 1, 2020, an abortion can be performed up until viability (when the baby can live without support if born), after which abortion of a viable pregnancy can only be performed if the mother’s life or health is in danger. Pregnancy Option 2: Adoption Adoption, also known as alternative parenting, is thought to be a difficult and complicated process, but it’s quite the opposite. As the birth mother, there are a wide range of services available to help you with your adoption journey if you choose this pregnancy option. There are services available that can compensate you as the birth mother financially for medical services, and provide financial funds to cover your costs of living. At Informed Choices, our staff can provide referrals and help answer questions you may have. When it comes to adoption you can choose two types. Open Adoption Open adoption gives you the ability to keep a relationship with the prospective adoptive parents and your child. You can communicate back and forth, attend sports games, dance recitals, and important events in your child’s life. Open adoptions are perfect if you find yourself unable to parent at the moment, but you still want to maintain a relationship with your child. Closed Adoption If an open adoption doesn’t sound like the right option for you, then a closed adoption is the choice you will want to go with. This will allow you to give your child the life you want them to have and provide an amazing opportunity to a couple looking to add to their family. By choosing a closed adoption, you choose to give up all forms of contact, although contact may be possible in the future if the child is grown and wants to reach out to you. Pregnancy Option 3: Parenting Wanting to parent, but you’re worried about school, work or maybe you feel like there is no one to help you through your parenting journey? These are extremely important and common concerns. Many women feel worried that they will have to parent all alone, but there are many support systems in place to help along the way. You are never truly alone. Parenting Education If becoming a parent is something that you want to do, but if you don’t feel prepared to parent, then we can help you in this aspect as well. Our center offers parenting education that can help you understand the process, from birthing training to parenting education. Material Assistance Another way we are here to support you along your parenting journey is by providing material assistance. Whether it be clothes, diapers, formula, and even sometimes a car seat or crib. Understanding Your Options It’s important to understand all of your options. Your health comes first and it’s important that you know all of the facts. Whether it’s about adoption, abortion, or parenting, you should feel informed and empowered when you make your decision. How We Can Help Each of us are unique, which means that there is no cookie-cutter solution for any of us. We all have grown up in unique situations, have different beliefs, and come from completely different backgrounds and cultures. However, that doesn’t mean a solution can’t be found. By getting to know you and being there for you, we can help you create the perfect plan to help and support you. The first step in understanding your pregnancy options is by reaching out to Informed Choices Pregnancy & Parenting; we’d love to meet with you. Give us a call at (847) 650-5864 or text us (847) 650-5864 to learn more about our services.

An unplanned pregnancy might have you asking yourself some questions that you never imagined like: Should I get an abortion? Am I ready to be a parent? What does adoption even look like? We hear questions like this often at Informed Choices and we are here for you without any judgements. As one of our clients recently stated: “There is no right decision for me.” We understand it is a tough decision to make. It can be overwhelming and that is okay, because that is a normal and valid thing to feel. Each of these options are life changing– it is something that will impact your life forever, whether it be positive or negative. Only you can decide which one is right for you, and it is important to know the realities and truths of the options available to you. , You actually have three options: abortion, parenting or adoption. Before you make a decision or try to “fix” your situation, we believe it is helpful to both your mental and physical health to educate yourself on the three options available so you can make the most informed decision regarding your pregnancy. Unlike an abortion clinic, Informed Choices does not benefit financially from your decision because all our services are free of charge. In this blog, we will focus on the option of abortion and if you can you really trust that it is safe and will not have adverse effects on you emotionally and/or physically in the short term or even long term. For information on adoption or parenting options, please contact us. Abortion Abortion, both chemical (the abortion pill) and surgical, is often made out to be a “quick fix” to an unplanned pregnancy. If you don’t know much about it, it seems like it would be a fast, safe, and effective option to end your pregnancy and the challenges around it. Although abortion sounds like it would be the easiest choice to deal with an unplanned pregnancy, it often comes with the most long lasting trauma emotionally and even possible physical risks. Many women and men think abortion is a safe option to fix their unplanned pregnancy because it is legal, but they are often not informed by an abortion clinic or their doctor about the possible risks involved with this choice. However, we believe it is important for everyone to know all the facts before making this life changing decision. Possible Emotional Impacts Studies have shown that many women and even men suffer from emotional trauma after an abortion, whether medical (the abortion pill) or surgical. This trauma is similar to PTSD and is known as post-abortion stress syndrome (PASS) or after abortion trauma. Women and men have reported feeling intense emotions such as regret, guilt, anxiety and depression both instantly and many years after their abortion. When untreated, studies have also shown that PASS can lead to substance abuse, self-harm, sexual escape, eating disorders and anxiety around children. If someone is unaware of this type of trauma, they might not know why they feel these intense emotions or are dealing with these types of addictions to try to escape and numb the pain they feel. The long-term emotional effects can be devastating for women and men because they are not informed of how an abortion can impact you both mentally and emotionally. Possible Physical Impacts In addition to the emotional risks, the physical risks are just as real. A case presented to the Supreme Court in July of 2021 regarding the health risks associated with abortion stated: “The legislative findings supporting the Gestational Age Act rest on strong empirical evidence. Study after study shows that abortions in the second and third trimesters—which we will call later-term abortions—correlate with multiple increased risks to women’s health. (SupremeCourt.Gov July 2021).” Although the abortion pill and various surgical options are considered to be legal in America, the increased risk of death in women is something that cannot be ignored when someone is thinking about having an abortion. In addition to the risk of death, many women experience unwanted and unforeseen serious side effects that they were often not informed could happen.. These side effects can include anything from hospitalizations and serious infections to even infertility in the future (Abortion & Pregnancy Risks). The physical risks could potentially alter your entire life, which is not the “quick fix” many women are promised with an abortion. How We Can Help Our team at Informed Choices is dedicated to helping you in a compassionate, safe, and non-judgmental environment as you consider your pregnancy options and your health. We understand you may feel overwhelmed while experiencing an unwanted pregnancy and feel like there is no right option for you. While we don’t perform or refer for abortions, , we are able to provide you with all of the facts so you can make the best decision regarding your health, both emotionally and physically. At Informed Choices, we provide free, lab-grade pregnancy tests with over 99% accuracy to any woman who is wondering if she could be pregnant or would like a confirmation test after taking an at-home pregnancy test. This is a great first step in regarding your pregnancy decisions, in addition to other free and confidential resources we can offer you. All our services are free of charge, so call, text, or visit us online today to schedule an appointment, or stop by our center at any time for non-judgmental support in your pregnancy decision.

If you are working towards your high school or college education and find yourself experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, you are likely to feel overwhelmed. Can I do both? Will I be able to finish school? These questions and many others are normal and at Informed Choices, we want you to know you are not alone. We understand that it can feel stressful when life isn’t going as planned, but we also know that a pregnancy doesn’t mean you have to give up your current goals or dreams. Despite how you may feel, it is possible to finish your education while you are pregnant. At Informed Choices, our goal and hope is that you feel listened to, understood, encouraged, and educated. Women and men deserve to be provided with complete, truthful information so they can make the pregnancy decision that’s best for them– and we are here to help and provide a safe place for you. Do You Know Your Options? If you are currently working towards your degree and find yourself in an unplanned pregnancy, you may feel scared and consider abortion. Did you know that you actually have options? It is important to be aware of all of the options that are available to you before calling a medical clinic, as each possible option has the potential to have both immediate and long-term impacts on your life. Before making a decision regarding your pregnancy, it is important to get it confirmed. At Informed Choices, we can confirm if you are pregnant or not with a confidential, lab quality pregnancy test that is free of cost. If your result is positive, we can then offer a free limited obstetrical ultrasound to confirm your pregnancy is viable and how far along you are. Your ultrasound scan will be performed by a registered nurse or sonographer and read by a physician to confirm that your pregnancy is in the uterus and measure development. Knowing this information will help you as you consider the options available to you: Parenting Adoption Abortion Support is Available At Informed Choices, all our services are free of charge, and confidential. We know that you might feel overwhelmed thinking about paying for your education and providing for a child as well. It is normal to feel these things, which is one of the reasons why we offer these free resources and support to anyone who may need them. For those who decide to parent, we offer free parenting classes and assistance with various baby items, which can help take off some financial stress that you might feel while completing your education. Some of our resources available to you are: Prep 4 Life Our vision is to assist each young mom and dad by equipping them with the skills they need to have a positive pregnancy experience and to understand their baby’s needs. We’ll walk with you during your pregnancy and the birth of your child, offering education on how to effectively and lovingly give birth and parent your infant and toddler. These individualized lessons will provide you with important information while earning points to use on items from our resource center. Baby Items We have new and gently used clothing that may be purchased with Points earned from participating in our Prep 4 Life and Parenting programs. In addition we have other baby items like diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, car seat, and crib, etc. Diaper Bank (Crystal Lake Only) Informed Choices can help you with diapers for your baby. At your first visit you’ll need a current ID and you will be asked to fill out a confidential Diaper Bank Intake form. Each month thereafter you may come into the Crystal Lake location to receive your diapers, subject to availability. Surround Yourself with Community It is easy to feel alone in this season of life if you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. But the truth is, we often put ourselves in that position. We can be so fearful of how people will respond to us that we often do not share with anyone what we are going through. This is one of the many reasons why at Informed Choices we are here to provide a safe and confidential place for you to talk about your situation. After talking with someone from our non-judgmental staff, it may give you the courage to reach out to a family member, friend or someone else in your life who will be there for you as you continue your education during your pregnancy. There is a reason they say, “It takes a village to raise a child.” You don’t have to do it alone when you build up a strong support system. Contact Us Today At Informed Choices , we provide men and women in Grayslake, IL, and Crystal Lake, IL, with help, understanding, and confidential, compassionate care. All our services are free of charge, so call, text, or visit us online today to schedule an appointment, or stop by our clinic at any time for non-judgemental support in your pregnancy decision.

Do you know if you are in a healthy relationship or not? Or are you considering starting a new one, but not sure how to tell if it is a good idea? The health of a relationship is important during any stage, but when you are pregnant, it is a good idea to really take some time to evaluate your relationship. Why? When you are pregnant, more lives are now impacted besides yours and your partner. At Informed Choices, we understand that you both will also be faced with many new decisions and even challenges. It is important to know you are with someone who is both safe and trustworthy. 4 Signs of a Healthy Relationship: In this blog, we will share some signs of red flags and also what a healthy, thriving relationship looks like to help you determine if your current or potential relationship is healthy or if it is in need of some help. Violence is NEVER Tolerated Violence is ALWAYS a red flag. If there is any kind of abuse in a relationship, it is the biggest warning that it is not healthy. Abuse can come in many different forms: emotional, verbal and/or physical. A healthy relationship does not tolerate any form of violence; it is not acceptable towards you or your baby. Even healthy relationships will experience disagreements and arguments from time to time, because as humans we may not always see eye to eye. However, a healthy relationship consists of two people being able to work through disagreements without ever becoming violent. If you are currently in an abusive relationship, do not wait any longer to take the steps you need to leave to protect both you and your baby. No one deserves to be abused, no matter how big or small. Trust and Respect for Each Other Trust and respect are two qualities that go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other, and all healthy relationships have both present in them. Trust is something that is built over time with someone. When you are able to completely trust your partner, that means you believe they are both reliable and honest. When you’ve built trust with someone, you believe the best about them because over time they have not given you any reason to question their motives. Also, if your current relationship is built on trust, it will have a very positive and helpful impact on your parenting. Trust will allow you to feel safe leaving your child in his or her care. However, if you or your partner are not being completely honest to each other, it is a red flag that will eventually diminish or even break the relationship because trust will be broken. Respect goes along with trusting your partner, because if you do not trust someone, there is no way you can respect them. All healthy relationships are built on respect for each other. When you respect someone, that means that you honor his or her rights, feelings, and needs. Before you start a new relationship, it is a good idea to talk about each other’s feelings, desires, and needs. By doing this, it will be clear to both sides how to respect each other, as well as establishing initial trust. If you’ve never taken the time to have this conversation in your current relationship, don’t worry– it is not too late! Take time to sit down and talk with your partner about your needs and desires as a couple and as future parents, as mutual respect for one another will also set a positive example for your baby as he or she gets older. Respect is a two-way street. It is important to remember that you matter and you do not deserve to be treated poorly in any way; it also is just as important that you show the same respect to your partner. If there are any desires or needs your partner cannot respect and a compromise or understanding can’t be reached, that is a sign that the relationship will become unhealthy at some point in time. Excellent Communication This may seem like an obvious sign, but it is one that is often ignored. Excellent communication is a MUST and is at the foundation of every healthy relationship. You and your partner should always feel safe to talk about the highs and lows of life together. If you do not feel comfortable doing that now, how will you have open communication when you become new parents and have to make decisions for you and your baby every day? It is also important to know that excellent communication isn’t just about talking to each other– it is also about listening. When you take the time to stop and listen to what your partner is trying to communicate to you, there will be less room for confusion and misunderstanding. Listening will also make them feel loved and respected, and they will feel they can tell you anything because you are trustworthy. Clear and Fair Boundaries Just hearing the word “boundaries” may cause some people to feel uncomfortable because they have a misunderstanding of it. But it is good to know that all healthy and thriving relationships have clear and fair boundaries put in place. Boundaries are not limitations, they are instead clear signs to help keep a relationship in a healthy state. A relationship doesn’t automatically come with boundaries; instead, boundaries must be talked about and formed. It is vital to talk about what is important to both of you, so you will know what boundaries are useful and appropriate for your relationship, as well as the boundaries you would like to establish for your baby. If you don’t make time to create boundaries, you risk creating an unhealthy environment for your relationship because you or your partner may hold unrealistic expectations over each other’s heads. If you haven’t communicated to your partner what boundaries you want to put in place and why, it is unfair to get mad at them if they do something you consider to be wrong. Take the time to talk about any boundaries you would like to establish and give your partner the reasonings. This is a time to be vulnerable and honest. Don’t forget to listen to your partner with an open mind and seek understanding if they are requesting a certain boundary that you may not understand. However, it is a red flag if a requested boundary is something that would hurt you or your baby in any way. These four signs are a great guide to check the health of a potential or current relationship, but also know they are not the only ones to test the health of a relationship. Relationships are made up of two people who come from different walks of lives and views, so there is no fool-proof way to make sure it will last. However, these four signs are still very helpful when checking on the health of a relationship. No matter what your situation looks like, you deserve to be valued, loved and respected. We Are Here for You If your current relationship or potential one is struggling in any of these areas, it may be a sign that you need to evaluate if it is the best situation for you or not. If you need someone to talk to, no matter what your current situation looks like, our caring team at Informed Choices is here for you. All of our services are free, and we are here to help you through your journey with the information and support you need and deserve. Call, text, or visit us online today to schedule an appointment, or stop by one of our centers for non-judgmental support during your pregnancy.

If you or someone you know is pregnant, there is a good chance that you have wondered about the impacts the COVID-19 vaccine has on a pregnant woman’s health. In this blog, we will share recent studies and information from the CDC and other medical experts to help you learn more about this new topic. Although this is a great resource, please keep in mind that this blog is not a medical guideline. It is ALWAYS best to ask questions and discuss the COVID-19 vaccine with your healthcare provider and/or OBGYN. Current Information for Pregnant Women Considering the COVID-19 Vaccination At the moment, both the CDC and the independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have made all known information available to help pregnant women with their choice to be vaccinated or not. The current COVID-19 vaccine is for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) only. This means that the ACIP suggests that healthcare personnel and other frontline essential workers, followed by elderly individuals, qualify for EUA use. It is important to keep in mind that women who are pregnant, just like those in the current EUA groups, have the choice of whether or not they want to be vaccinated. Whether you are currently pregnant or planning to be in the near future, you should discuss all of your questions and concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccine with your healthcare provider and/or OB-GYN to help you make the best decision for you and your baby. Currently, There is Limited Information Regarding Safety of the COVID-19 Vaccine and Pregnancy Since the COVID-19 vaccine hasn’t been around very long, there is currently only a small amount of data available regarding the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines for women who are pregnant. More information will be readily available over time, after more studies and clinical trials are completed. As of now, both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC have set up safety monitoring systems to obtain all information concerning pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccine. Presently, the vaccine manufacturers are monitoring women in the clinical trials who have become pregnant after being vaccinated. Vaccination is a Personal Choice Vaccination is your choice; women who are pregnant have the right to choose if they want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or not. In order to help you decide if being vaccinated during your pregnancy or not is the best choice for you, you should have a discussion with your doctor. Here are some suggestions of questions you can talk about with your OB-GYN. (This list is not an all inclusive list; make sure to ask any other questions or concerns you may have regarding the vaccine): What is the most up-to-date information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy? How well will the vaccine protect me and my unborn baby? How likely am I to be exposed to the COVID-19 virus? What are the possible side effects, both to me and my unborn baby? Talk to Your OB-GYN Experts all agree that the best thing a pregnant woman can do to help her make a decision about the COVID-19 vaccination is to schedule an appointment with your OB-GYN. “The Food and Drug Administration’s EUA for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine states: ‘If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, discuss your options with your healthcare provider.’ (John Hopkins Medicine)” It’s their job to help you, so don’t feel bad about asking ANY questions regarding the safety and your concerns about pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccination. Your OB-GYN wants to assist you in making the best choice for you and your baby regarding the vaccination, so don’t hesitate to reach out for help! How We Can Help It’s important not to stress during your pregnancy, which is often easier said than done. That’s why our team at Informed Choices is dedicated to helping you during this process. Whether you are looking to learn about pregnancy, need help finding an OB/GYN, or want to talk, we are here to help. If you have any questions or need support, call or text us to schedule an appointment. We would love to meet you. Additional Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/the-covid19-vaccine-and-pregnancy-what-you-need-to-know