If you’re coping with the anxiety of an unexpected pregnancy, you might be asking “What if I take the morning-after pill when pregnant?”
Whether this is because you’re unexpectedly pregnant and wondering if you can use the morning-after pill to terminate your pregnancy, or you are worried that it may affect the baby, you’ve come to the right place.
Research shows that the morning-after pill is not likely to harm your baby. That also means that the morning-after pill cannot be used to terminate a pregnancy. But, that doesn’t mean you have to parent if you don’t want to or are not in a position to. There are unplanned pregnancy options available to you.
To learn more about your unplanned pregnancy options, reach out to an adoption professional today. If you have questions about the side effects of the morning-after pill if you’re pregnant, contact your healthcare provider today.
Does Morning-after Pill Work If You’re Already Pregnant?
If you’re taking the morning-after pill in hopes of preventing unplanned pregnancy, you should always be sure to read the instructions that come with the pill to ensure you are using it effectively.
The sooner you take it after unprotected sex or failed contraception, the more effective it will be. If taken within 24 hours, your chances of becoming pregnant are reduced by 95%. The pill can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex, but the potency will decrease with each day.
If you took a pregnancy test that came back positive, and are wondering “Does the morning-after pill work if you’re already pregnant?” the answer is no. Taking the morning-after pill after pregnancy will not end your pregnancy.
The morning-after pill is only meant to be used as a method of emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy.
If you’re already unexpectedly pregnant and don’t want to parent or add another child to your family, there are options available to you. We’ll explain more about these options below.
You can also reach out to an adoption professional to get more information. Even if you’re not considering adoption, they can provide you with free information.
Adoption
If you’re not ready to parent or your family is already complete, adoption is a wonderful way to give your baby an amazing life.
Adoption allows you to resume your life and pursue the life goals you had laid out for yourself. By working with a licensed adoption agency, a caring and compassionate adoption professional will guide you through the adoption process.
You will also have access to resources and services such as:
- Financial assistance. Adoption is completely free to you as an expectant mother. The adoption agency will cover your pregnancy costs and living expenses throughout the entire adoption process.
- 24/7 counseling. Adoption is an emotionally complex process. That’s why there are adoption counselors available to you 24/7.
- Open adoption. Adoption doesn’t mean goodbye forever. Open adoption allows you to stay in touch with your child and their adoptive family.
- Your adoption plan. This is your adoption. You get to make all the decisions as you move through the adoption process. Your adoption professional will guide you, but you call all the shots.
“Honestly, just sit down and think about the best interest of your child,” Julia, a woman who chose adoption for her baby, says. “You’re going to contemplate the decision a hundred times but, at the end of the day, you’re going to know what’s right for you and what’s right for your child. Don’t think that your life is over; yeah, you have a little bump in the road, but that’s not going to stop you.”
Abortion
While taking the morning-after pill when pregnant won’t terminate your pregnancy, abortion is still a viable option for you. If you are considering the morning-after pill, you’re likely early enough in your pregnancy that you are within your state’s abortion laws.
Abortions are typically between $500-$2,000 depending on how far along in your pregnancy you are. About 90% of women don’t regret their decision to choose abortion, but it will be a choice that can impact you for the rest of your life. It’s important that you are confident in your decision before committing to anything.
Talk to your doctor to see if abortion is a safe decision for you.
Can the Morning-after Pill Affect Pregnancy?
If you took the morning-after pill and later discovered that you are pregnant, you can rest assured that there are no morning-after pill pregnancy risks.
Emergency contraception like the morning-after pill will not harm your unborn baby if taken while you’re pregnant. However, you should avoid taking it while pregnant because it can affect your hormone levels.
So, while taking the morning-after pill when pregnant will not end your pregnancy, you do have unplanned pregnancy options if you are not ready to parent. Talk to an adoption professional today to get guidance about which option is best for you. They can provide you with unbiased advice about all your options.
