Pregnant in college
What are the options?
By UWeekly Staff
Pregnancy — at the right time in your life, when you’re ready to take the next big step, it can be a wonderful thing. The trouble is, those who find themselves pregnant in college rarely plan for it to happen, forcing a young couple to make a slew of unexpected decisions they likely weren’t prepared for.
According to a new study released last month by a leading pro-life group, Feminists for Life of America, many college students who are dealing with a pregnancy are largely unaware of the services available to them, and often feel they must either choose between aborting their child or aborting their education. The group surveyed 165 respondents across 117 different colleges and universities to arrive at their conclusion.
For example, 45% of respondents said their college did not offer on-campus daycare, while another 22% had no idea if the school did or not. Likewise, 77% of those who responded had no idea if the student health insurance plan would provide maternity coverage — another potentially large thing to consider for a mom-to-be.
While many colleges and universities do offer services to students who are expecting, the survey says that not enough is done on the college’s part to publicize this information to students. The authors of the study then argued that a pregnant college student’s “perception is reality,” meaning that being unaware of the support available to them would make them more likely to terminate their pregnancy.
At Ohio State, the Student Wellness Center contains an abundance of information and resources for those wishing to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. The Center provides services such as the Condom Club, where students can purchase up to 50 condoms a day for $5. Information for students who have already become pregnant, however, appears to be virtually non-existent by comparison, leaving students to look off-campus for help.
The Pregnancy Decision Health Center (PDHC) is one location young adults can turn to when confronted with an unexpected pregnancy. PDHC has a campus office located at 6 E. 17th Ave.
PDHC is upfront about its mission. “We seek to provide caring services for responsible sexual values and alternatives to abortion to as many individuals as possible in the Central Ohio area,” the organization says, according to their mission statement. A similar philosophy group is Birthright, located at 4768 N. High St.
Like the Feminists for Life of America, the PDHC feels that those with unexpected pregnancies are unaware of the options available to them. “We focus especially on individuals considering abortion because they lack information or support,” they say.
As part of their services, the PDHC offers free pregnancy testing at their campus office, as well as a 24-hour hotline anyone can call to get information or find out more about the services available to them. The center also offers information and counseling on abortion, and provides an adoption support and referral program to professionals who can assist with adoption, if so desired. At two of its other offices in Columbus, the PDHC offers ultrasound and physician consultation services.
The PDHC stresses that its staff is caring and non-judgmental. In keeping with that non-judgmental attitude, they also offer post-abortion assistance through a program called H.E.A.R.T. (Healing the Effects of Abortion Related Trauma). The program is a series of workshops designed to help deal with and recover from the emotional effects of a previous abortion.
On the other side of the token, however, not everyone decides that keeping a child is the right decision for them. Students have to worry about their financial ability to not only take care of themselves, but another human life, as well. There’s also the issue of juggling going to college and being a parent, or having to consider dropping out of school completely. It’s a scary prospect for someone at any age to deal with, let alone when you’re in college.
While Planned Parenthood also has a location off-campus at 18 E. 17th Ave, just a few steps away from the PDHC, the campus location provides Emergency Contraception (known as the morning-after pill), but not abortion services. For that, Planned Parenthood operates a facility called the Central Ohio Women’s Center, located at 3255 E. Main St.
At the Central Ohio Women’s Center, visitors must first come in for an “education visit.” This visit last about two hours and provides education about pregnancy and birth control options, as well as providing a face-to-face consultation with a physician who will explain the risks of the procedure. By Ohio law, there is a 24-hour waiting period between this physician visit and an abortion procedure. For those who cannot afford the $400-$475 cost of the procedure, Planned Parenthood provides discounts based on household income and size.
Few of us want to be confronted with an unplanned pregnancy at this age, but if it does happen, it’s a decision not to be taken lightly, whatever your political or religious beliefs may be. Take time to consult with your doctor or another professional about the situation. Look to your partner and other loved ones for support and guidance. Most importantly, remember that whatever decision you make, you don’t have to go it alone — there is help out there from both sides if you’re willing to look for it.
The phone number for the PDHC’s 24-hour hotline is (614) 444-4411. Birthright International can be reached at (614) 263-2514, and the campus area Planned Parenthood can be contacted at (614) 222-3604.
Originally Published: Issue 647 - May 7, 2008
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