Facing an unplanned pregnancy can feel stressful enough, but pressure from your parents to make a particular decision about your pregnancy can feel completely overwhelming.
While wanting to please your parents is a natural reaction, remember that it is your body and pregnancy, and ultimately your decision.
Keep reading for tips on recognizing pressure from your parents, how to respond, and where you can get help in your area. You can also schedule a free appointment to talk with our caring team about our next steps.
Types of Pressure?
Pressure from your parents to get an abortion could be direct or indirect.
Direct pressure usually takes the form of specific threats or actions. These threats can take the form of ultimatums, such as cutting off their relationship with you or refusing to let you live in their house.
Sometimes, direct pressure can move from threats to actions and become physical or verbal abuse, and you should leave immediately and call 911 if you feel like your safety is threatened.
If you have already experienced physical or verbal abuse, you should contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE to make a plan to protect yourself.
Indirect pressure can manifest as passive or aggressive behavior. This behavior can range from your parents giving you the silent treatment to refusing to be involved in your life.
Tips for Talking to Your Parents
- Remain Calm and Focus on the Facts: Your parents will likely respond emotionally at first. One way to counter this is to have details about your pregnancy.
- Having an ultrasound scan before talking with your parents can provide you with many facts about your pregnancy. Sharing these facts can help move them from an emotional response and show them you have a plan for moving forward.
- Give Them Time and Space: Remember that your parents will likely experience many of the same emotions and fears that you felt when you first discovered you were pregnant.
- Giving them time and space to process those emotions can create an environment where they can respect your decision and become helpful as your pregnancy progresses.
- Communicate Boundaries: Be open to listening to your parents’ concerns and fears, but gently remind them that this is your decision to make. Reinforce that you will not be pressured into making a decision that you are not comfortable with.
Where to Get Facts and Help for Your Pregnancy
Salem Pregnancy Care Center is here to help you.
We offer free, medical-grade pregnancy tests and a follow-up limited OB ultrasound to give you important details about your pregnancy.
Our trained staff will also answer all your questions and provide tips on talking to your parents about your pregnancy.
Contact us today to schedule your free and confidential appointment.