To be or not to be pregnant? That is the question

Health Talk with Jessica

Pregnancy — one of life’s biggest plot twists. The moment that little test shows two lines, life suddenly demands a decision. 

Signs of pregnancy

Hanna Smith, a junior majoring in child development, found out she was pregnant during her freshman year at Cal Poly Humboldt. She was in her dorm’s shared bathroom, gripping a pregnancy test with both hands. Two pink lines. Her fingers pressed hard into the plastic as she blinked, willing the result to change.

Her hands trembled, pressing against the cold sink for stability. The door creaked open. Laughter spilled in from her roommate. Smith turned away, shoving the test deep into her hoodie pocket. She needed time to think before anyone found out.

“A missed period is usually the first sign of pregnancy,” said Dr. Alison Palacios, a provider at Cal Poly Humboldt’s Student Health Center.

Palacios also said hormone changes may cause breast tenderness and enlargement, nausea and vomiting, frequent urination, altered digestion, headache, dizziness and mood swings. For Smith, the symptoms were more subtle.

“It’s embarrassing, but it felt like the worst gas I’ve ever had in my life,” Smith said. “It felt like gas cramps. I’m like, ‘Maybe I just had something bad from the dining hall.’” 

You’re pregnant. Now what?

Like many students, Smith turned to the Student Health Center.

“I just remember being like, ‘I want to go through with the abortion. When’s the next day?’,” Smith said. 

But before she could schedule the abortion she had to get an ultrasound to make sure she wasn’t too far along. 

The exam room was quiet. The ultrasound wand was cold against her stomach. She looked up to see a frown on the doctor’s face.

“There’s some bleeding in your uterus,” the doctor said. “It might be a miscarriage. Let’s wait a week and check again.”

Smith nodded, gripping the paper-covered table. Instead of feeling relief at the possibility of a miscarriage, she felt grief.

Two lines, one decision

Back in her dorm, she stared at a handout from the Student Health Center: Parenting. Adoption. Abortion. The words blurred. 

That night, she lay awake, her hand resting lightly on her stomach. What if my body is making the decision for me? The thought should have brought comfort. It didn’t.

Choosing pregnancy

A week later, the bleeding was gone. The pregnancy was progressing. The doctor asked Smith what she wanted to do.

Smith swallowed hard. She had been so sure. Now, she wrestled with her thoughts. 

“I think…,” she took a breath. “I think I’m keeping it,” Smith said.

As she stepped outside, the crisp air grounded her. She was still scared. But beneath the fear, something steadier took hold.

“I was like, okay, I need to find an OB. So I went to the Open Door Clinic in Eureka,” Smith said. 

If you choose pregnancy, you’ll want to start prenatal care as soon as possible to learn how to best care for your body and the baby. There is also still time to consider adoption.

Choosing abortion

If you’re considering abortion in Humboldt County there’s only two local options: Cal Poly Humboldt Student Health Center (for students only) and Planned Parenthood. They both offer medication abortion services up to 10 weeks. But only Planned Parenthood offers elective surgical abortion but at no more than 13 weeks according to a representative at Planned Parenthood.

Palacios also emphasized the importance of confirming pregnancy right away — it makes sense. The sooner you know, the more time you have to decide.

Mira Friedman is the lead for health education and clinic support services and advisor to the Women’s Resource Center. She also used to run sexual health support groups at Planned Parenthood and explained what to expect during the medication abortion process. 

“It is two pills: mifepristone, which stops the pregnancy from progressing, and misoprostol, which induces cramping and bleeding for a couple hours to expel the pregnancy. The first pill is taken at your first appointment and the second pill is taken 24 to 48 hours later in the comfort of your own home,” Friedman said. “The process can be uncomfortable but over-the-counter pain relievers and heating pads can help manage symptoms.” 

Friedman also clarified that Plan B is not an abortion pill. It is simply a high dose of birth control to prevent ovulation and is recommended for the morning after having unprotected sex.

One study shows no regrets

In 2020, a study published in Social Science & Medicine titled “Emotions and Decision Rightness Over Five Years Following an Abortion: An Examination of Decision Difficulty and Abortion Stigma” found that although the decision may have been challenging at the time, majority of individuals who chose abortion reported feeling a sense of relief and no regrets.

“It is important to remember that abortion now does not mean no children later,” Friedman said. 

Advice from someone who’s been there

“The only person who can decide is you. Not your family, not your friends, not your partner. Just you,” Smith said. “If I could tell anyone going through this one thing, it’s this: Take a breath. Sit alone with your thoughts. Block out everyone else’s voices for a moment and ask yourself, ‘What do I truly want?’ You don’t have to decide in a day. But whatever you choose, make sure it’s what’s right for you.”

She remembered how she felt in that bathroom, gripping that test, certain her college life had just ended. Now, she knows the truth: it wasn’t an ending. It was just a different beginning.

To speak to someone about pregnancy options contact the Student Health Center at 707-826-3146 or Planned Parenthood at 707-442-5700. See our Women’s Health Resources on page 24 for more.