Cathy Seapy

LivingWell, Pregnancy

Empowering Teens During Their Pregnancy

Empowering Teens During Their Pregnancy

Facing an unexpected pregnancy as a teenager can bring on a flood of emotions. We want you to know you are not alone. You are strong and brave. You can discover hope in this situation.

Take a Moment to Process Your Emotions

Emotions can be difficult to understand as a teenager, and pregnancy is an especially emotional experience. Be kind and give yourself grace. Create space to breathe and think through your pregnancy options. Don’t try to make any big decisions when you are emotionally overwhelmed.Seek out emotional support from an adult you can trust, whether that is your parents, a school counselor, a pastor, or a therapist. Here at LivingWell, Client Advocates are ready to sit down with you as you process your pregnancy and consider all your options.

Practice Some Self-Care

Caring for yourself and your body during your pregnancy is very important.

Focus on getting plenty of quality rest and sleep. To ensure you get a full 8 hours of sleep try going to bed earlier and don’t take your phone to bed so your mind can truly rest.

Exercise can be a lovely hobby, but it is important to discuss your exercise plans with your doctor during your pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor low impact activities like walking or swimming.

Reach out to your doctor about taking prenatal vitamins. You also want to make sure you are drinking lots of water and eating nutritious foods. You will need to add about 300 calories per day to your diet during your pregnancy. Try to avoid certain foods and drinks like alcohol, energy drinks, sushi, raw eggs, and some types of fish. Speak with your doctor for a complete list of foods to avoid. You can also find more information on this here.

Search Out Resources and Help

Your pregnancy may be stressing you out but knowing the right resources can help relieve that stress. Speak to your school counselor or local resource centers to find help. Make sure to ask about financial assistance programs that might be available to you. If you come into LivingWell, our Client Advocates may be able to offer you some referrals for resources.

Ask about other programs designed to help you reach your education goals such as childcare programs. There may be options through your school, federal programs, or local non-profits. Reaching your education goals will help you and your child in the future, so don’t be afraid to ask for help on your journey.

Lean on Supportive Relationships

Be okay with drawing boundaries to protect yourself. Remember that no one can force you to make a choice against your will. True friends will love and support you during difficult times, so lean on them. These friends are exactly the type of people you will always want and need in your life.

Consider Making an Adoption Plan

You can choose to carry your pregnancy to term without knowing what to do after you give birth. Give yourself time and space to consider adoption options. An adoption plan may be a good choice depending on your situation. Modern adoption can be unique for each mom, with differing levels of contact with your child, ranging from zero contact to frequent communication and interactions. If you want to read more about adoption plans, click here. Just remember, you can make this decision one step at a time.

How can we help?

LivingWell is here to offer you a safe place to process your pregnancy and learn about all your options. If you need to verify your pregnancy or progress, speak with a Client Advocate, or schedule your free and confidential appointment, give us a call at 530.272.6800. We would love to meet with you and answer any questions you may have during this time.

Jacobson, J. D., Zieve, D., & Conaway, B. “Teenage Pregnancy.” MedlinePlus.gov, ADAM Health Solutions, 5 Oct. 2020, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000607.htm.

Monigatti-Lake, N. “Five Questions You May Have About Adoption.” LivingWell Medical Clinic, LivingWell Medical Clinic, 2022, https://livingwellmedicalclinic.com/category/parenting/

Ben-Joseph, E. P. “Having a Healthy Pregnancy.” KidsHealthy.org, Nemorus TeensHealth, 2017, https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/pregnancy.html

Eva Fisher, BSN, RN, FCP

Nursing Director

The content on this page has been reviewed and approved by our Nursing Director.

LivingWell, Parenting, Pregnancy

Balancing Pregnancy and a Career

When facing an unexpected pregnancy, many women fear it will impact their job. If that’s you, here are some tips to take control of these impacts and balance your pregnancy and career.

Possible Accommodations

Do some research on the various laws that protect pregnant women against discrimination related to their pregnancy in the workplace. This can give you confidence as you address your needs with your boss.

Don’t be afraid to ask your employer for accommodations during your pregnancy. Possible accommodations to consider include temporary reassignment, time off for medical appointments, or working from home.

Tip: Best practice suggests submitting all accommodation requests in writing.

Tip: When asking for accommodations, frame them as a benefit to the company. For example, “I am more productive if I work from home during this time,” or “I would be more helpful in a different position currently.”

If you need to take time off during your pregnancy or after you give birth, refer to your employee handbook or ask your employer about their leave policy. This type of leave can fall under different terms, including Paid Family Leave or Pregnancy Disability Leave. There are some government protections around this type of leave, which you can find more information on here: federal protections or California protections. If you live outside of California, be sure to research the policies of your state.

Maintaining Your Career

Losing career momentum is a common concern related to an unexpected pregnancy. Here are some tips to set yourself up for success:

  1. Document your successes in the workplace! Start brainstorming all your accomplishments at your job and get them down on paper. This will concretely show the value you add to the company. (Bonus Tip: This is a great practice no matter where you are in your career.)
  2. You will be extra tired during your pregnancy and the early stages of parenthood, so establish the habit of writing everything down on paper now. Have daily, weekly, and future to-do lists. Create manuals or checklists for your tasks and projects. These documents will relieve your stress and help your coworkers during your absence.
  3. Build your network and try to help others. Having positive connections in your field will make returning easier.
  4. Follow a two-step process when telling your manager about your pregnancy. 1) Privately inform them about your pregnancy and schedule a meeting for further discussion. 2) Come to the meeting with a plan for how your tasks will be handled before and during your maternity leave. Come over-prepared to answer questions.
  5. Be direct with your needs and desires rather than leaving your boss to assume what you’ll want. Communicate your personal boundaries around things like scheduling, overtime, and traveling for work. (Bonus Tip: Speak to your doctor first to be fully informed.)

How We Can Help

If you think you are pregnant, we are here for you. If you want to talk to someone about your pregnancy options, schedule your free, confidential appointment, or call us at 530-272-6800 or text us at 530-802-0858.

Department of Labor Staff. “Employment Protection for Workers Who Are Pregnant or Nursing.” U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/wb/pregnant-nursing-employment-protections.

Department of Labor Staff. “Family and Medical Leave (FMLA).” U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-leave/fmla.

Downey, Allyson. “The Career Advice I Wish I’d Followed When I Was Pregnant.” TIME, 5 Feb. 2016, https://time.com/4192644/work-advice-pregnant/.

King & Siegel. “Pregnant at Work in California? 9 Things You Need to Know about Your Right to Accommodations.” King & Siegel LLP, 15 April, 2021, https://www.kingsiegel.com/blog/pregnant-at-work-in-california-9-things-you-need/.

Tulshyan, Ruchika. “Career Strategies to Advance During Pregnancy.” Forbes, 28 April 2016, https://www.forbes.com/sites/ruchikatulshyan/2016/04/28/career-strategies-to-advance-during-pregnancy/?sh=1a5319df1e0a.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. “Pregnancy Discrimination and Pregnancy-Related Disability discrimination.” U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, https://www.eeoc.gov/pregnancy-discrimination.

Cathy Seapy
CEO

The content on this page has been reviewed and approved by our CEO.

LivingWell, Parenting, Pregnancy

Completing Your Education While Pregnant

Do you think an unexpected pregnancy will make completing your education impossible? We want you to know it is possible. Whether you want to finish high school or get your bachelor’s degree, you can do it!

Ask About School Policies

Most schools have protections in place to help pregnant and parenting students have equal access to education and help them reach their goals. Go to a trusted school counselor or administrator who can help answer your questions about how your school can support and protect you on your education journey.

You should be able to maintain your previous academic and extracurricular activities and have equal access to additional education opportunities.

If you have a doctor appointment during school hours, speak to your teachers ahead of time about receiving excused absences related to your pregnancy or childbirth. Also make sure to ask your doctor for a signed note as many teachers require this to give you excused absences. Also ask your teachers if you can have opportunities to make up participation/attendance points for absences excused by a doctor’s note. If you must take a medical leave of absence, be sure to speak to your school advisor or counselor about the process of returning and how to come back at your previous academic standing.  

Search Out Resources

Asking for help can be daunting, but many schools and universities have resources to help students balance pregnancy and education. Talk to your school advisors about accommodations, such as locating larger desks in classrooms and computer labs or gaining elevator access. Speak to your professors about due date extensions, hybrid options, or working ahead in class. Make sure that you talk to the financial aid counselor at your school to learn about the options available to you. There may be additional scholarships in your area for women, mothers, or expecting mothers.

Get Creative with Your Schedule

Your class schedule can affect your rest, stress levels, and doctor’s appointments. It is important to make a schedule that will work for you, so get creative with it. Talk to your school advisors about reducing your units per semester to relieve some stress. Ask them about adding winter or summer courses if you want to maintain your graduation date. Also consider online classes as a flexible alternative. Possibly think about a gap year or, if that’s too long, just a gap semester to focus on your health.

Lastly, but most important, remember that you are brave, strong, and capable of reaching your goals!

How can we help?

If you believe you’re pregnant, we want to be a safe place for you! If you need to verify your pregnancy or progress or discuss possible resources, schedule your free and confidential appointment, or give us a call at 530.272.6800. We would love to meet with you and answer any questions you may have during this time.

Ironshell, McKenzie. “Pregnancy in College: Hard, but Not Impossible.” UNK Blog, University of Nebraska, 13 Mar. 2018, https://www.unk.edu/blog/2018/02/pregnancy-in-college-hard,-but-not-impossible.php.

U.S. Department of Education Staff. “Know Your Rights: Pregnant or Parenting? Title IX Protects You from Discrimination at School.” U.S. Department of Education, 10 Jan. 2020, https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-know-rights-201306-title-ix.html.

Start with FAFSA Staff. “FAQs.” Start with FAFSA, 2022, https://www.startwithfafsa.org/faqs.

University of the People staff. “Pregnant in College? Know Your Rights as a Pregnant College Student.” University of the People, 2022, https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/know-your-rights-as-a-pregnant-college-student/.

Cathy Seapy
CEO

The content on this page has been reviewed and approved by our CEO.