EMMA

*Emma came to PDHC after learning she was newly pregnant. She was discouraged, feeling lots of guilt and shame about this unplanned pregnancy, and was wishing she could just rewind her life for the past six months. Emma was in a relationship with someone she knew she didn’t want to marry, but with feelings of loneliness and little self-worth, she had been pressured into going further in this relationship than she originally anticipated.  

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When Emma told her boyfriend about the positive pregnancy test, he was angry and told Emma to “get rid of it.” Emma didn’t want to have a baby right now, and she didn’t want to have an abortion either, but she was fearful of what her boyfriend would say or do if she didn’t. When searching for “abortion information” on the internet, Emma found the number for PDHC and sent a text asking for help. 
Emma was scheduled for a confirming pregnancy test and an ultrasound to check and see how far along she was, and if the pregnancy was viable. During the ultrasound Emma was able to see her baby and knew it was a life that she didn’t want to take, but she could not bring herself to face the fact that she was going to be a mother either. She felt ill-equipped and not ready for such a big responsibility. Emma said, “How can I take care of an innocent baby when I cannot even take care of myself?” 
But the kind nurse that helped Emma that day brought up another option – an option that she never even considered – adoption. Emma expressed her concerns to the nurse saying, “Am I a bad person for giving away my baby to strangers?” The nurse explained that adoption is very different than how many people perceive adoption to be, and there is something called Open Adoption. Emma learned she could choose a family to raise her child, a family that has been thoroughly screened, and have an open relationship with them if she would choose to in the future. 
Emma left that day happy that she came to PDHC, happy that she was given REAL options, and happy that she didn’t feel pressured into making any decision she didn’t want to. She couldn’t rewind time, but she could make good choices going forward – for herself, and her baby.  
Emma returned to PDHC mid-pregnancy saying she wanted to go forward with an adoption plan for her baby. The nurse explained the process to Emma and gave her resources to get connected to an adoption agency. Emma is always welcome at PDHC for support as she goes through the adoption process and chooses LIFE for her baby.  

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