How do I know if I am pregnant?
A urine test performed by medical professionals is the best way to find out.
You can purchase home pregnancy tests at most drugstores. The Wellness Center
on campus also has them available. They are simple to use. But they are not
accurate unless you very carefully read and follow the instructions in the
package. If your test is "positive," you will need a pelvic exam.
The clinician will feel the size of your uterus to estimate how long you
have been pregnant. Then you will need to decide what you want to do.
You and your partner have three choices if you are pregnant:
- You can choose to have a baby and raise the child.
- You can choose to have a baby and place your baby up for adoption.
- You can choose to terminate the pregnancy.
Planned Parenthood is an excellent community resource for counseling to help
you make the best decision for you and your partner.
What do I do if I choose to have the baby?
- Schedule regular pre-natal visits with your doctor or clinician
- Discuss pre-natal vitamins and/or supplements with your doctor
- Consume a healthy, well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole
grains, lean meat and fish, and low-fat dairy products
- Increase daily calorie intake by about 300 calories
- Limit or eliminate alcohol consumption and caffeine
- If you smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting
- Get plenty of rest
- Maintain a regular exercise routine; for more information go to our Pregnancy
and Exercise link under Exercise
Your emotional well-being is also important, so explore your feelings and/or
concerns about your pregnancy with family, friends, church members,
or a counselor. For more information regarding counseling, visit the
GVSU Counseling
Center
website at www.gvsu.edu/counsel.
For questions contact the GVSU Health Center at 331-2435, or Planned Parenthood at 774-0516. For more information you can go to www.plannedparenthood.org, www.childbirth.org, or www.pregnancy-info.net.
