When a loved one passes or is in the hospital, we send flowers. When a new neighbor moves in, we take cookies, but how do you know what to do for a friend experiencing an unexpected pregnancy?
The fact that you’re asking the question means you’re already helping her. You care, and she needs that more than anything.
Here are a few tips for supporting your friend during one of the most challenging times of her life.
Provide Physical Help
Early pregnancy symptoms include fatigue and nausea. Although not all women experience pregnancy symptoms immediately, your friend may be feeling extra tired and sick to her stomach.
One way to support her is to offer to do some of her normal daily activities. For instance, you could help her with:
- Doing her laundry.
- Washing the dishes.
- Grocery shopping for her.
- Taking care of her pet.
- Tidying up her home.
Other ways to show kindness include ordering her favorite meal, treating her to a movie, or going for a walk. Just be sure to ask which foods she feels she can still eat.
Provide Emotional Support
Another sign of pregnancy is moodiness. Your friend could be happy one moment and crying the next. Be patient with her mood swings and validate them as part of being pregnant.
Sometimes, our friends just need someone to talk to. They need to know you are trustworthy, and they can confide in you.
Practice intentional listening, which means you listen and repeat after her what you are hearing her say. She’ll know you’re trying hard to understand and respect her feelings.
Our counselors can also speak with her.
Encourage Her to Get the Information She Needs
If she hasn’t confirmed her pregnancy, now is the time. A late period and a home pregnancy test may not be enough information to get the whole picture. Experts estimate that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage. It is possible to get a positive pregnancy test days or even weeks after a miscarriage.
If she’s struggling with how to handle her unexpected pregnancy, encourage her to speak to someone about her options. The medical team at the Pregnancy Resource Center can provide a medical screening before an abortion and can give her the facts.
We offer free and confidential lab-quality pregnancy testing. If her test is positive, we’ll schedule your friend for a free limited ultrasound scan. Ultrasound confirms her pregnancy is developing, that it is located correctly, and the gestational age.
Have your friend schedule a free appointment and plan to join her. We’ll provide the support and care she needs. We’re here for both of you.