What Is Pregnancy Counseling and What Does It Do?

Pregnancy counseling is a service offered to women who believe they are pregnant. Typically, counseling includes a pregnancy test to confirm that the woman is pregnant, along with a discussion session to talk about pregnancy and women's options. This vital service is provided by a number of organizations, often on a walk-in basis, and is also available through telephone hotlines. If a woman believes that she is pregnant, the experience can be exciting or traumatic. For women who are trying to conceive, the discovery is often followed by a doctor's appointment to confirm the happy diagnosis and to begin prenatal care. However, in the event of an unexpected pregnancy, a woman may be unsure where to turn for help with prenatal care and other services, or she may simply be distraught. Pregnancy counseling, provided through a reputable organization, will help to alleviate her fears and to determine her options. For a low-income woman who knows that she wants to keep her child, pregnancy counseling can assist her in getting the help that she needs. A counselor can provide information about assistance programs for low-income pregnant women to help pay for prenatal and delivery costs. These programs often include food stamps and housing vouchers, in addition to providing help with medical expenses. After a session of pregnancy counseling, a woman will be informed of where to go and what to do, and the counselor will accompany her as she seeks assistance.

If a woman is unsure of what she wants to do, pregnancy counseling provides an opportunity to discuss the situation before making a decision.

A pregnancy counselor can ideally talk through the various options without pressuring her into any one of them. If a woman decides that she is not prepared to keep her child, pregnancy counseling can present her with options such as adoption or abortion referrals. In some cases, a doctor will require pregnancy counseling before performing an abortion; this is intended to ensure that the woman makes a choice on her own, without the pressure of anyone else, and that her choice is what is best for her. Typically, pregnancy counseling also includes family planning information and postpartum or post-abortion care. The idea is to care for pregnant women and to support their decisions in a neutral, healthy environment. If you are dealing with an unplanned pregnancy, you can look for pregnancy counseling centers in your area. Be aware that many anti-abortion groups have established fake "pregnancy counseling" centers that will send an anti-abortion message to women seeking help there. If you are looking for more complete information, you may want to seek pregnancy counseling through an organization such as NARAL, the National Organization for Women, or Planned Parenthood.