A positive pregnancy test in your dorm room or apartment can feel like a contradiction. Your desk is covered in textbooks and syllabi, your calendar is full of midterms and social plans, and suddenly, you’re facing a life-changing decision that wasn’t part of the plan.
If you’re a college student facing an unplanned pregnancy, your first thought might be, “My life is over,” or “I’ll have to drop out.”
At New Hope, we want you to know that is not true. You are not alone, your future is not over, and you have time, support, and options.
Your First Step: Get the Facts
Before you can make any decision, you need clear medical information about your pregnancy. An at-home test is an important first step, but it doesn’t give you the full picture.
We provide free services so you can get the facts you need. This includes a lab-quality pregnancy test to confirm the result and a limited ultrasound. An ultrasound is crucial because it answers three key questions:
- Is the pregnancy viable? (Is it developing with a heartbeat?)
- How far along are you? (This determines the availability of different options.)
- Is the pregnancy in the uterus? (This rules out a dangerous ectopic pregnancy.)
These medical facts are the foundation for any choice you make, and we provide them at no cost in a completely confidential setting.
Know Your Rights: Pregnancy and Your Education
Let’s address the biggest fear first: You do not have to drop out of school because you are pregnant.
You are protected by a federal law called Title IX. This law prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy in any educational program that receives federal funding (which includes almost all colleges and universities).
According to the U.S. Department of Education, your school must:
- Allow you to continue your classes.
- Excuse absences related to your pregnancy, childbirth, or recovery, and allow you to make up the work.
- Provide reasonable accommodations, just as they would for a student with a temporary medical condition (like providing a more comfortable desk or allowing frequent bathroom breaks).
Your college’s Title IX coordinator or Dean of Students can help you understand and secure these accommodations. Your education is valuable, and you have the right to pursue it.
You Have Time to Explore All Your Options
Once you have confirmed your pregnancy and understand your rights as a student, you may feel pressure—from yourself or others—to make a choice immediately. Please know that you have time to breathe and think.
This is your decision, and you deserve to make it with clarity and without pressure. At our center, we can provide a safe place for you to have a confidential options consultation. We’ll talk through all your options:
- Parenting: We can discuss what it would look like to parent as a student and connect you with our “Earn While You Learn” program and other community resources that can support you.
- Adoption: We can provide information about modern adoption, a choice that allows you to create a loving plan for your child while continuing your own life path.
- Abortion: We provide factual abortion information, including details on procedures and potential risks.
We do not perform or refer for abortions, but we believe you deserve all the facts to make an empowered decision.
We Are Here for You in Cleveland, TN
Balancing college life with an unplanned pregnancy is a unique and significant challenge. You don’t have to sort through it all by yourself. Our team at New Hope is here to be your confidential first step. We provide the medical services you need for free, and we offer a judgment-free space to process your thoughts and make a plan.
Wrapping Up
An unplanned pregnancy in college is a major hurdle, but it is not the end of your education or your future. You are strong, capable, and you have rights. Your first step is to get the facts.
We are here to help you do that. You can schedule a free appointment online or contact us to talk with our team. We are here for you.