January is usually the month of "The Plan." You write down your resolutions, you map out your semester, you set career goals, and you visualize exactly where you want to be by December.
But if you started this year with a positive pregnancy test you weren’t expecting, that neatly organized list of resolutions probably feels like it just went up in flames.
It is normal to feel like your life has been derailed. You might be looking at your list—Finish degree, Get promoted, Travel, Move out—and thinking, "Well, I guess none of this is happening now."
At iChoose, we want to challenge that thought. An unplanned pregnancy changes your life, absolutely. But it does not have to erase your dreams. Here is how to handle the collision between your resolutions and your new reality.
1. It’s Okay to Hit the "Pause" Button
When we face a crisis, we often feel like we have to solve the next five years of our lives today. You might be spiraling, trying to figure out how to pay for childcare two years from now or how to finish a semester that hasn't even started.
Take a breath. You do not need to rewrite your entire life story right now. You just need to navigate the next few weeks.
Hitting "pause" on your goals doesn't mean deleting them. It just means you are taking a moment to assess the situation. Give yourself permission to step back from the pressure of your New Year’s resolutions and focus on your immediate health and needs.
2. The Detour is Not a Dead End
One of the biggest myths about unplanned pregnancy is that it is a "future killer." We often hear women say, "My life is over."
The truth? Your life isn't over; the timeline has just shifted.
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School: Did you know that Title IX protects pregnant students? You cannot be expelled or stripped of scholarships due to pregnancy. Many women finish their degrees while parenting—it might just mean taking fewer classes per semester or doing online coursework.
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Career: Your career goals are still valid. The path to getting there might look different, or it might take a little longer, but the destination is still on the map.
Think of it like a GPS rerouting. The destination hasn't changed, but the path to get there has become more complex. You are capable of navigating complex paths.
3. Base Your New Plan on Facts, Not Fear
You cannot build a new plan for the year based on "what ifs" and panic. You need concrete information.
Before you decide whether to parent, place for adoption, or pursue abortion, you need to know the medical details of your pregnancy.
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Is the pregnancy viable? (Is there a heartbeat?)
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How far along are you? (This determines your timeline for decision-making.)
At iChoose, we provide free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. This medical information is the foundation you need to make any decision about your future. Once you have the facts, the "unknowns" become a little less scary.
4. Adjusting Your Goals with Support
You might feel like you have to choose between your goals and a baby, or that you have to choose abortion to save your future.
We encourage you to slow down and look at all your options.
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Parenting: What resources (material support, community aid, family) would you need to make parenting work alongside your goals?
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Adoption: If you aren't ready to parent but want to give life, adoption allows you to pursue your goals while placing your child in a family you choose.
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Abortion: If you are considering this, you need factual, pressure-free information about the procedures and risks.
You don't have to figure out how these options fit into your New Year alone. We are here to help you map it out.
Wrapping Up
This year is going to look different from what you thought it would on New Year's Eve. That is undeniable. But "different" doesn't mean "bad," and "unplanned" doesn't mean "impossible."
You are stronger and more resilient than you know.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by your new reality, come see us. Schedule a free, confidential appointment at iChoose. Let’s sit down, look at your goals, and help you find a way forward that empowers you.