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Pregnancy and Post-Pregnancy Options
General Facts about ConceptionCopulation:
In order for a pregnancy to occur, a healthy ovum must be released from the ovaries and travel down through the fallopian tubes towards the uterus. Fertilization must occur within twenty-four hours of ovulation, or else the ovum begins to deteriorate. During sexual intercourse, between 250 and 400 million sperm are released into the vaginal canal when the male ejaculates. The length of the vaginal canal, its acidity, and its mucus content, especially at the cervix, combine to make it a very hostile environment for the sperm. About .001% of the sperm actually reach the ovum. These sperm must secrete digestive enzymes to penetrate the zona pellucida, a clear protein layer, and the corona radiata, a layer of cells, in order to fertilize the ovum. Once one sperm has penetrated these layers, all other sperm are blocked at the zona. The nuclei of the sperm cell and the egg cell combine their chromosomes, forming the zygote, the fertilized cell that develops into the fetus. There is no way of knowing whether or not conception has occurred during sexual intercourse. However, despite the apparent odds against it, any act of sexual intercourse carries with it the potential of pregnancy. Also, it is possible, though extremely unlikely, to become pregnant without engaging in sexual intercourse. Any contact between the female genitalia and the male's ejaculatory fluid can lead to pregnancy, as the semen deposited on the female's outer genitalia can work its way into her genital tract. While there are only approximately three days a month during which a woman can become pregnant, exactly when these days occur varies with the individual. A woman cannot determine the days she is fertile on her own. In practice, then, she can become pregnant at any time during her menstrual cycle, at any time of the day, whether it is the first time she has had sex or the hundredth. Because there is always a chance that a fertile ovum has been released, one MUST take precautions in order to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Pregnancy:
Signs of Pregnancy The most obvious indicator of pregnancy is the absence of menstruation. While a late or skipped period is not a definite sign of pregnancy, it indicates that pregnancy is possible, especially when accompanied by symptoms of morning nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness, and frequent urination. Another indication of pregnancy, evident to women accustomed to vaginal self-examination, is Chadwick's sign. Due to increased blood supply, the walls of the vagina and cervix change from their usual pink color to a dusky blue. Also, the basal body temperature rises to 98.8-99.8 degrees Fahrenheit. To measure your basal body temperature, take your body's temperature before you get up, move about, or eat. A physical examination reveals changes in the size, shape, and consistency of the uterus. A soft bulge appears on one side of the uterus at the site where the ovum is implanted in the uterine wall. A softening of the cervix can also be detected. Testing for Pregnancy: The presence of HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, in a woman's urine is usually tested to determine pregnancy. Any pregnancy test can produce false results. False-positives are fairly rare, and are usually indicative of some other complication, such as a bladder infection. False-negatives occur with greater frequency, especially if a pregnancy test is administered too soon after conception has occurred (in which case the level of HCG in the urine might be too low to detect). The results of over-the-counter pregnancy tests can be prone to inaccuracy, although they have been greatly improved in recent years. If a test result is negative, a woman is either not pregnant or she has performed the test too early it should be repeated in one or two weeks if menstruation has not begun. If test results are negative but menstruation has not begun, it is wise to see a doctor. If test results are positive, it is extremely important to see a doctor. If you think you are pregnant, go to your OB/GYN or health practitioner and get a pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests are covered under the Student Health Fee. Additionally, countless Chicago women's clinics offer free, confidential pregnancy testing. It is also advisable to get tested for HIV/AIDS soon after the pregnancy is confirmed. There are several free, anonymous or confidential places where a woman can get tested for HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area. Click here for more information on the signs of pregnancy. Health Care During Pregnancy: 
A pregnant woman should receive regular, monthly OB/GYN checkups as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed. These checkups are routine but very necessary. Even if you are between appointments, if you have questions or concerns, do not be afraid to call your OB/GYN or health practitioner for advice. Several local Chicago hospitals or clinics have prenatal (pre-childbirth) programs that offer sliding scale payments or inexpensive health care. Your OB/GYN will, at the first or second visit, ask you a list of comprehensive questions on previous pregnancies, abortions, STIs, and the kind of birth control that you have used in the past. Do not withhold information; it is in your best interest to provide your doctor with as much information as possible on your past health history. Follow-up visits should focus on answering your questions and concerns and treating possible complications with your baby. It is your right to be given time to ask questions both before and after the physical exam. Many health practitioners administer routine testing during the early stages of pregnancy to detect and treat (if possible) everything from anemia to cervical cancer to syphilis. Many of these tests are necessary in order to detect abnormalities or to prevent genetic and/or physical abnormalities in the baby. Normal Symptoms of Pregnancy: Click here for a week by week guide to pregnancy symptoms, health, and the growth of your baby Symptoms to Watch Out For: 
If you are experiencing abnormal symptoms (bleeding, cramping, severe abdominal or stomach pain) at any time during the course of your pregnancy, do not hesitate to seek medical help. This may signify trouble, or even a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is one where the fertilized egg has implanted outside of the uterus. Click here for more information on pregnancy complications.
It is important to eat healthy during the nine months of pregnancy. Eating foods loaded with Protein, Calcium, Vitamin C, and Iron are very important. For younger (adolescent) mothers who are still going through the final stages of development themselves, it is even more important that these women strive to maintain a varied, healthy diet. Taking iron or women's vitamin supplements may also be beneficial. A gradual yet steady weight gain is sensible and necessary. Expect an average of 30 pounds. However, a pregnant woman could gain as little as 15 pounds or as much as 60 pounds. Plot out a sensible diet and try to avoid empty calories. Drink lots of water and have healthy snacks. Do not attempt to diet or lose weight until the term of the pregnancy ends. If you want to exercise during pregnancy try walking, swimming, or exercise/fitness classes specifically designed for pregnant women. See your doctor for more information. Use of Drugs During Pregnancy: The consumption of alcohol, tobacco products, and certain drugs during pregnancy has proven to have highly destructive effects on the unborn fetus. A pregnant woman should refrain from consuming any alcohol whatsoever, as it is not known whether there is a minimal amount of alcohol that is safe to drink. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a pattern of birth defects including low birth-weight, facial abnormalities, and mental retardation, can result from the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. The National Organization on Alcohol Syndrome has more information on their website. In some states, the mother can be held on criminal charges for using drugs while pregnant. Before using any prescription or over-the-counter drug, a pregnant woman MUST consult her physician to avoid causing birth defects in the fetus. Emotional Health: An expectant mother also needs to pay attention to her emotional needs. Try to avoid the Superwoman Syndrome. Do not be afraid to ask for help or support. Attempt to regularly talk to at least one of the following people: your midwife or OB/GYN; a family counselor; other women who are mothers or who are expectant mothers; and, of course, friends and relatives. It is also advisable to join a support group for expectant mothers and/or a Lamaze birthing technique group, which will help prepare you for childbirth. Click here for more information on taking care of your emotional health during pregnancy. Giving BirthHospital Stay: 
Some items you might want to bring with you to the hospital include: personal toiletries and items (an old nightgown, massage oil, soap, sanitary napkins, going home clothes for both you and the baby, etc.), food (snacks, bottled water, juice), and amenities (radio, favorite tapes, magazines, books, "baby" books, camera, notebook and pens). An average stay in the hospital can be anywhere from three to five days. Depending on insurance, hospital policy, and birthing complications, you and your baby may be required to stay for a shorter or longer time. Once you go home, some hospitals offer a service where a nurse-midwife comes to visit you every few days for the first month after childbirth. Ask your OB/GYN or health practitioner for information on services such as these. Childbirth/Labor and Delivery Labor can be a confusing process. It is important to maintain steady contact with your OB/GYN or midwife and hospital or birthing center during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Make sure that a means of transportation is readily available to you. It is advisable to have someone live with you in case any complications arise, and, of course, for the beginnings of labor. As soon as your water breaks or you begin to feel pain or contractions contact your health practitioner for advice (most women experience pain, while only a few have their water break). Be specific about your symptoms. Prepare to leave for the hospital. Learn about the stages of labor and how you can know if you are going into labor. Cesarean Section 
Due to special circumstances, a woman may sometimes be advised by her OB/GYN to have a Cesarean Section (or C-section). Learn about C-Sections. Post-Conception Options:Motherhood Many women, whether a pregnancy was planned or not, choose to balance having and raising a child with serious careers or academic work. If motherhood is a viable option for you, it is important to learn more about the responsibilities of raising a child. After childbirth, it is essential for new mothers to continue to maintain a close relationship with their OB/GYNs and/or pediatricians. Talk to your doctor to ascertain appropriate appointment intervals for checkups for your child (and yourself!). Support groups for new mothers are numerous. Contact your local YWCA, child-care center, family health center, or a knowledgeable friend for a group that would best suit your and your child's needs. (See the resource pages at the end of this chapter for more information). Abortion
No form of birth control is infallible, and even the most conscientious user of contraceptives could be faced with an unwanted pregnancy. Before January 22, 1973, the option of terminating an unwanted pregnancy did not, for all intents and purposes, exist. Abortion was a taboo word and a dangerous undertaking involving bent coat hangers and chemicals. Today, however, abortion is much safer, legal, and a woman's constitutional right, as established by the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. Of course, abortion remains a highly controversial issue and the decision to have an abortion remains a very personal choice. However, it is an important option for women whose life-styles cannot accommodate pregnancy and childbearing. 
For many reasons, including a relative lack of access to family planning services and sex education, the United States has one of the highest abortion rates among developed countries. Each year, nearly three out of one hundred women have abortions. Forty-three percent of these women have had at least one previous abortion and 49% have had a previous birth. Since abortion was legalized in 1973, it has saved the lives and health of countless women. In 1965, illegal abortion accounted for nearly 17% of deaths due to pregnancy and childbirth. By 1985, the risk of dying from a legal abortion had decreased to 0.4 deaths per 100,000 legal abortions. Abortion is 11 times safer than carrying a pregnancy to term, and nearly twice as safe as a penicillin injection. The majority of women who have abortions are young: 58% are under age 25, including 26% who are teenagers (11-19). Only 20% are age 30 or older. Women aged 18-19 have the highest abortion rate of any age group (64 per 1,000). On average, women report more than three reasons that led them to choose abortion: three-quarters say that having a baby would interfere with work, school, or other responsibilities; about two-thirds say they cannot afford a child; one-half say they do not want to be a single parent or have problems in their relationships with their husband or partner. The greatest barriers to abortion for women are lack of public funding and lack of abortion providers. The number of abortion providers has declined 11% since 1996, especially in rural areas. A 2000 study found that 87% of all U.S. counties lacked an abortion provider. Lack of local services makes it harder for women to get information about options and facilities, and adds the burden of travel expenses, absence from work or school, etc., to the procedure. As a result of the Hyde Amendment of 1977, under which no federal Medicaid funds are available for abortion unless a woman's life is in danger, the number of federally funded abortions has fallen from 294,600 in 1977 to 165 in 1990. In states where public funds are not available, many low-income women who want an abortion cannot pay for it and are forced to bear children they cannot care for. Some women attempt illegal or self-induced abortions, or endure hardship in order to raise funds (which can delay the procedure and make it riskier and more expensive). Insurance can be used to pay for some abortion procedures. In addition, Planned Parenthood has a limited amount of private money to assist women with serious financial difficulties. Some clinics also offer discounts to students or women on public aid. Most abortions take place in non-hospital abortion clinics, though some are performed in doctor's offices or general hospitals. Some hospitals refuse to offer abortions to women who want them, which means that for women in rural areas, abortions can be difficult to obtain. Even in areas where many abortion clinics are available, it is important to be selective in choosing one. Abortions must be performed by a licensed, qualified gynecologist with hospital affiliations. The clinic must have appropriate equipment and personnel for preliminary tests, the procedure itself, and emergency backup. An available, professionally trained counseling staff is also an important part of an abortion procedure. Be sure to check counseling groups out beforehand, however, as some groups that offer abortion-counseling try to convince women not to have abortions. The abortion procedure is considered safest throughout the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. The complication rate becomes 91% greater when abortion is postponed until the twelfth week of pregnancy. After the twelfth week of pregnancy, it is illegal to have an abortion, except when there are medical complications. Additionally, so-called "partial-birth abortions," or Intact Dilation and Extraction (D&X) abortion procedure, has been made illegal nationally as of November, 2003. During the first trimester of pregnancy, the safest and most common abortion procedure is a method called vacuum aspiration. This procedure involves a dilation of the cervical canal and use of suction to evacuate uterine contents. The procedure itself takes less than 10 minutes. A local chapter of the National Organization for Women, a chapter of Planned Parenthood, a local women's crisis line, or Womancare at the University of Chicago can recommend a qualified abortion clinic. You can learn more about the National Organization for Women and Planned Parenthood. Women should seek referrals for clinics rather than going to an unknown place, as some clinics are much better than others, and this can change from year to year. University students can obtain first trimester abortions at U of C hospitals, and with a referral from Womancare can use their student insurance to defray some of the costs of the abortion. When scheduling an appointment for an abortion, a counselor will answer your questions, make an appointment, and provide some instructions. You might be advised to eat a light meal 2-3 hours before the procedure and bring the following items with you: personal identification, two sanitary pads, the fee for the procedure, and something to read or do as you will be at the center for 3-4 hours. Prior to the abortion, an extensive medical history is taken, laboratory tests are completed, and a physical examination (including a pelvic exam and Pap smear) is performed by a physician. The abortion procedure usually includes three steps: counseling, recovery, and follow-up care. In the counseling stage, each woman is given the opportunity to speak privately with a counselor. Women who wish to involve a family member, husband, partner, or friend may do so. In the counseling session, the counselor will discuss all options concerning the pregnancy, answer questions, explain the abortion procedure itself and the possible risks associated with it, and discuss birth control information and methods. Following the abortion, a period of one-half to one hour is spent under supervision. A nurse checks blood pressure and pulse, and provides further information on post-abortion self-care, post-abortion medications, and birth control methods. In addition, you will be informed of signs and symptoms which might indicate possible complications. If you experience any of these symptoms you should report them immediately. Usually, most problems can be avoided by following the nurse's instructions carefully. It is very important to have a checkup two weeks after an abortion. This checkup consists of a review of lab results from the day of the abortion, a breast and pelvic exam, and the provision of a birth control suitable to your needs. Questions to Ask the Abortion Clinic 
The following is a list of important questions to ask at an abortion clinic. Knowing the answers to them will give you an idea of what to expect, and will help you prepare for options that are not a part of the standard procedure:
Don't hesitate to ask any question that concerns you. Often the way the staff answers questions indicates their attitude towards women coming in for abortions. You should feel good about the way the staff of the facility you have chosen treats you both on the phone and in person. Support for a Woman Having an Abortion:
There are other resources available at clinics like Planned Parenthood, whose counselors are willing to discuss your questions and concerns. Adoption and Foster Care: 
For both personal and religious reasons, abortion is not a viable option for some women. For these women, there are many adoption alternatives and services available. You can find out about your legal rights from your own lawyer, a legal aid office, or an informed women's group. Do not seek advice from anyone who might benefit or profit from your decision, such as a lawyer or social worker suggested by an adoption agency. Adoption agencies are geared primarily toward performing adoptions, not serving the needs of a woman with an unwanted child. Adoption rights and laws vary from state to state. Some states only allow agencies to arrange adoptions, while others allow placement to be arranged privately by a lawyer, physician, or the woman who is pregnant. Never sign any papers until you are absolutely sure that you want to give your child up for adoption. Some states allow a grace period after you have signed the papers during which you can change your mind. Avoid yellow pages ads or phone directories, which invite pregnant women to come to another city, all expenses paid, to have their babies in privacy and surrender them secretly. Many of these adoption agencies blur the line between offering financial support to unwed mothers and baby-selling, which is forbidden by law in most states. Many lawyers have gone into the business of private adoptions, and some are as unscrupulous as the agencies. Be aware that there is a black market for healthy white infants and for children from overseas. Infertile couples sometimes openly solicit desperate pregnant women through advertising. For some women, giving a child up for adoption can be a traumatic experience. It is important to be certain that adoption is the best option for you, because it is not the only option. Foster care, in which others raise your child temporarily, is also available. If you have relatives who can take care of your child, you can avoid the necessity of going through an agency. If you do go through an agency, you are giving up control of your child, and your future wishes may not be followed. If you are not financially independent, keeping your child may be very difficult; however, you may be able to obtain financial support. When a child is given up for adoption, the original birth certificate is sealed permanently, and a new certificate is issued by the state designating the adoptive couple as the child's parents. In most states, when a child is given up for adoption, the child is barred forever from finding out about his or her birth parents, and the birth parents are barred from finding out about their child. In some states, you may petition the courts to open up sealed records; however, judges can refuse the request. In Illinois, for example, so-called "open adoptions" can occur if both the birth parents and adopted parents agree to allow the birth parents to maintain communication with the child after the adoption. Open adoptions are not enforced by the courts, however, and the adopted parents have the right to bar birth parents from contacting or knowing anything about the child. Resources:Adoption Services: The Cradle
Easter House
Family Resource Center
St. Mary's Services
ALMA (Adoptees Liberty Movement Association)
American Adoption Congress, Decree
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
Child Care Services: Chicago Child Care Society
Creative Mansion Children's Academy
Little People Learning Center (2 to 6 years old) K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Nursery School (2 years 11 months to 5 years old) University of Chicago Laboratory Nursery & Kindergarten Schools (3 to 5 years old) Ancona Nursery School (3 to 5 years old) Parent Cooperative for Early Learning (2 to 5 years old) Williams Day Care Homes (3 months to 3 years) Akiba Schecter Nursery School (2 to 5 years old) Chicago Abortion Services: U of C Hospitals/Womancare Planned Parenthood, Midwest Center Family Planning Associates
John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County 
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Interesting Fact: Did you know Hyde Park was once home to an underground abortion service? Between the years of 1969 and 1973, the service "Jane" performed over 11,000 illegal abortions in Chicago. The founder of Jane was a University of Chicago undergraduate, and many of core Jane members were either students or staff at the university. Learn more about