When your friend shares the news of a positive pregnancy test, it can feel like the weight of the world has landed on both of your shoulders. If she’s considering her options, including abortion, you may feel unsure of how to be the best possible friend. Thankfully, you don’t have to navigate this challenging time alone. By being a steady and informed presence, you can help her take the next steps in a way that is compassionate and empowering. Here’s how you can support her as she faces this unexpected pregnancy.
Create a Safe Space for Conversation
It’s natural for your friend to feel overwhelmed, confused, and perhaps even scared after learning she’s pregnant. The first step is to be there for her — listen without judgment. The decision she makes may involve difficult conversations with family, a partner, or healthcare providers. Offer a supportive and non-judgmental space for her to process her feelings and explore all of her options. If she’s considering abortion, it’s important to remind her that there are loving, life-affirming options available. You can offer support by connecting her with resources that can help her explore all of her choices and provide the guidance and care she needs during this time.
Consider reaching out to Advice & Aid to schedule a no-cost consultation where she can get compassionate medical advice, information and emotional support.
Help Her Understand Her Health and Options
Often, the hardest part of an unplanned pregnancy is feeling like you’re alone in a sea of unfamiliar choices. You can help by providing her with information and access to trusted resources. Abortion, adoption, and parenting are all options, but understanding them fully can feel overwhelming. At Advice & Aid, we offer comprehensive education on what each path entails, from the emotional and physical aspects to financial support. It’s crucial that your friend has access to this information, especially if she’s feeling pressured or fearful. Help her make an informed decision by sharing resources that highlight the value of life, the health benefits of pregnancy, and her rights to choose life for her child.
Assist with Navigating Conversations with Family or Partners
If your friend is considering telling her partner or family about her pregnancy, these conversations can be intimidating. Sometimes, the fear of judgment or rejection can be paralyzing. Offer to be there when she talks to her partner or family members, whether that means sitting with her during the conversation or helping her craft what she wants to say. The people closest to her may not have all the answers, but they should be part of her decision-making process. At Advice & Aid, we provide guidance on how to navigate these conversations with loved ones and empower women to express their feelings openly. This way, she can make her decision in a way that is supported by those who matter most.
Help Find Financial Resources and Support
A positive pregnancy test often brings immediate concerns about finances, especially if your friend isn’t financially prepared for a child. This is where you can step in by helping her find the resources she needs. Many women don’t realize that there are free or low-cost services available to support them, including medical care, housing, and parenting support. Advice & Aid can help by providing free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and connecting her with community resources for everything from financial aid to mental health support. Don’t let the financial burden add to her stress — help her explore all the options that can make this challenging time more manageable.
Offer to Accompany Her to Appointments
If your friend decides to move forward with an appointment — whether it’s for an ultrasound, a consultation about her options, or a parenting class — offer to go with her. Your presence will show her that she is not alone. At Advice & Aid, we encourage friends and family members to be involved in this process. Whether it’s for emotional support or simply to help her feel more at ease, your offer to accompany her to an appointment will mean the world to her. Give her the comfort of knowing that you’ll be there every step of the way.
Your Role is Invaluable
Being a friend to someone facing an unexpected pregnancy is no small feat, but your support can make all the difference. While Advice & Aid is here to provide the medical care and resources she needs, your love and presence are irreplaceable. You are the calm she needs in this storm, and by educating yourself and offering non-judgmental support, you can help guide her through one of the most challenging decisions of her life. Together, you both can walk this road with confidence and compassion. After all, when you’re loved unexpectedly, you may just find new ways to love, unexpectedly.