What do you say? How can you help? Thankfully, you don’t need a counseling degree to provide valuable support.
The following are five ways to lend emotional and tangible strength to someone processing an unexpected pregnancy.
1. Listen
This might be an obvious one, but a listening ear is exactly what she needs right now. Start by creating a safe and non-judgmental space for your friend to process her shock, joy, grief, or fear. Turn off any distractions, engage with her through your body language, and listen to hear rather than respond or “fix”. To help others well, we must first become good listeners.
2. Ask Good Questions
Clear, non-leading questions will help your friend discover what she truly wants. Don’t pressure, assume to know what’s best, and never project fear. Help your friend process her options in a positive light, rather than overwhelming her with too many “what ifs”. Always remind her what she’s capable of and just how strong she really is.
3. Offer Practical Help
People often struggle to ask for help in their time of need. Lend strength to your friend by offering to research pregnancy symptoms, setting up an ultrasound appointment, or providing practical help. Ask “can I do X, Y, & Z for you?” Rather than “let me know what I can do.”
4. Remind Her That She’s Not Alone
An unexpected pregnancy can cause feelings of isolation or helplessness. Remind your friend that you and others are there for her. Offer to sit with her when she feels anxious or accompany her to her appointments. Remind her that there are people and organizations with the heart and resources to help. She doesn’t have to do this alone!
5. Connect Her to Us
You can help her by contacting our clinic on her behalf or share our information with her so she can find additional support.
We provide private and professional services to women experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. Some of our our services, all cost-free, include pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, options consultations, abortion information, and more.
As a good friend, you can help her be informed, supported, and empowered!