Unplanned Pregnancy in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Unplanned pregnancy is common in the United States, and people in Grand Rapids are no exception. Nationally, about half of all pregnancies are unplanned. If you think you might be pregnant and weren’t planning it, you are not alone, and support is available locally in Grand Rapids and across Kent County.

Not All Unplanned Pregnancies Are Unwanted

An unplanned pregnancy simply means the pregnancy was not expected at that time. Some people feel happy, some feel unsure, and others feel strongly that they do not want to continue the pregnancy. All of these reactions are normal.

In Grand Rapids, people of all ages and backgrounds experience unplanned pregnancies, including teens, college students, working adults, and parents who already have children.

Your Choices: It Is Your Decision

If you are pregnant, it is entirely your choice what to do, regardless of your age or relationship status. Your main options are:

  • Continuing the pregnancy and becoming a parent
  • Continuing the pregnancy and making an adoption or alternative care plan
  • Ending the pregnancy (abortion – medical or surgical, within Michigan law)

The sooner you confirm whether you are pregnant, the more time and options you will have. Local health providers in Grand Rapids can help you understand each option and support you in making an informed decision.

Early Signs of Pregnancy

Early pregnancy symptoms can vary, but common signs include:

  • Missed or late period
  • Nausea or vomiting (“morning sickness” – can happen any time of day)
  • Breast tenderness or changes
  • Increased tiredness or fatigue
  • Needing to urinate more often
  • Changes in appetite, including cravings or dislike of certain foods

If you have had unprotected sex (or contraception failure) and notice these symptoms, consider taking a pregnancy test.

How to Tell How Many Weeks Pregnant You Are

If you know the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP), you can estimate how many weeks pregnant you are:

  1. Count the number of weeks from the first day of your last period up to today.
  2. This number is your approximate “gestational age” in weeks.

If you are unsure of your dates or have irregular periods, a doctor or nurse in Grand Rapids can help work this out using:

  • A pregnancy blood test
  • A pelvic exam
  • An ultrasound (usually done at a hospital or imaging center)

Confirming Your Pregnancy: Tests in Grand Rapids

Home Pregnancy Tests

You can buy home pregnancy tests at most Grand Rapids pharmacies, grocery stores, and big-box retailers. They are:

  • Up to 99% accurate if you follow the instructions carefully
  • Best done in the morning when your urine is most concentrated
  • Most reliable around the time your period is due or after a missed period

Home tests work by detecting the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. This hormone is produced during pregnancy.

Important points:

  • Testing too early can lead to a false negative result.
  • Occasionally, false positives can occur, though they are less common.
  • If your result is unclear, repeat the test in a few days or see a healthcare provider.

Pregnancy Tests at a Clinic or Doctor’s Office

If you don’t feel comfortable doing a home test, or if you want confirmation:

You can see a provider at:

  • Spectrum Health / Corewell Health clinics in Grand Rapids
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids clinics
  • University of Michigan Health-West (Metro Health)
  • Mercy Health affiliated practices
  • Community clinics and family medicine practices around Kent County

At a clinic, a doctor or nurse may:

  • Ask you to provide a urine sample for a pregnancy test
  • Order a blood test to measure hCG levels (more sensitive than urine tests)
  • Arrange an ultrasound to confirm and date the pregnancy

Blood test results usually take at least a couple of days. Once pregnancy is confirmed, you can begin exploring your options and planning next steps.

Getting Support to Consider Your Options

Deciding what to do about an unplanned pregnancy is not always easy. You do not have to make this decision alone.

Talk to Someone You Trust

Consider reaching out to:

  • A partner or co-parent
  • A close friend
  • A family member
  • A teacher or school counselor (for teens and students)
  • A faith leader, if that feels comfortable for you
  • A healthcare professional (doctor, nurse, midwife, counselor)

Talking through your feelings and questions can help you clarify what you want and what feels realistic for your life.

Professional Counseling in Grand Rapids

Pregnancy counseling should be:

  • Non-judgmental
  • Non-directive (they should not pressure you toward any specific choice)
  • Confidential

Counselors can help you:

  • Understand your medical options (continuing the pregnancy, abortion, adoption/alternative care)
  • Explore your feelings and values
  • Plan for practical needs (housing, finances, school, work, childcare)
  • Get connected to local resources and support services

You can ask for counseling or social work support through:

  • Spectrum Health / Corewell Health women’s health or OB/GYN clinics
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids women’s health services
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health OB/GYN and family medicine
  • Community health centers and mental health providers in Grand Rapids
  • Kent County Health Department and local public health programs

Unplanned Pregnancy After Sexual Assault or Abuse

In Michigan and across the U.S., many people experience sexual assault, intimate partner violence, or reproductive coercion. An unplanned pregnancy may result from:

  • Sex you did not agree to (sexual assault or rape)
  • Being pressured or forced into sex
  • Someone tampering with or removing contraception without your consent
  • Threats, blackmail, or pressure to become pregnant as a “proof of love”
  • Ongoing controlling or violent behavior from a partner or family member

Sexual assault, rape, and domestic violence are crimes. If your pregnancy may be the result of assault or abuse, you deserve safety, medical care, and emotional support.

Local and Statewide Help for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence

In Grand Rapids and Michigan, you can contact:

  • YWCA West Central Michigan (Grand Rapids) – sexual assault and domestic violence services, crisis counseling, and advocacy
  • Safe Haven Ministries (Grand Rapids) – support for those experiencing intimate partner violence
  • Michigan Sexual Assault Hotline (statewide, 24/7): 1‑855‑VOICES4 (1‑855‑864‑2374)
  • National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1‑800‑656‑HOPE (4673)
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1‑800‑799‑SAFE (7233)

These services can:

  • Help you access emergency medical care and pregnancy options
  • Provide counseling and safety planning
  • Connect you with legal and housing resources
  • Support you whether or not you choose to report to police

If you are in immediate danger in Grand Rapids, call 911.

Your Options in More Detail

1. Continuing the Pregnancy and Becoming a Parent

If you decide to continue the pregnancy and raise your child, early prenatal care is important for both your health and the baby’s health—especially with Michigan’s cold winters and seasonal illnesses like flu and RSV.

Your Grand Rapids provider can:

  • Confirm the pregnancy and gestational age
  • Discuss recommended prenatal care and tests
  • Screen for conditions more common in colder climates (like vitamin D deficiency)
  • Talk about nutrition, safe exercise, and staying healthy through winter
  • Refer you to antenatal (prenatal) care at:
    • Spectrum Health / Corewell Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health and affiliated hospitals

They can also help you explore:

  • Birth options (hospital birth, midwife care, pain relief options)
  • Parenting classes available in Grand Rapids
  • Community resources for new parents (WIC, Medicaid, support groups)

2. Ending the Pregnancy (Abortion in Michigan)

Abortion is legal in Michigan, with specific time limits and regulations that can change over time. Always confirm current laws and availability with a local provider.

There are two main types of abortion:

Medical Abortion (Abortion Pills)

  • Usually offered early in pregnancy (commonly up to 9–11 weeks, depending on provider and law)
  • Involves taking medications to end the pregnancy
  • May be provided by:
    • Some family doctors (GPs)
    • Community health clinics
    • Planned Parenthood and similar reproductive health clinics
    • Hospital-affiliated clinics in Grand Rapids

Surgical Abortion

  • A brief procedure performed in a clinic or hospital
  • Often available through the first trimester and sometimes later, depending on Michigan law and provider
  • Fewer services are available for abortions after the second trimester, so early decision-making is important

Research shows that when people make an informed decision and receive support, they are unlikely to experience long-term psychological or emotional harm from abortion.

If you are unsure or feel distressed about abortion:

  • Talk with a trusted person (partner, friend, family member, counselor, or healthcare provider).
  • Ask your doctor for a referral to a non-judgmental counselor.
  • Contact local clinics in Grand Rapids to ask about counseling and support before and after abortion.

3. Continuing the Pregnancy and Choosing Adoption or Alternative Care

If you feel you are not ready to be a full-time parent, but you want to continue the pregnancy, you may consider:

  • Kinship care – where extended family members help care for the child
  • Temporary foster care – where the child lives with another family for a period of time
  • Adoption – where another family becomes the child’s permanent, legal parents

In Michigan, adoption and foster care are overseen by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and licensed adoption agencies. They can:

  • Explain different types of adoption (open, semi-open, closed)
  • Discuss your rights as a birth parent
  • Help you understand what support is available during and after pregnancy

If you are considering adoption or foster care, talk with:

  • Your OB/GYN or family doctor in Grand Rapids
  • A hospital social worker (for example, at Spectrum Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids)
  • A licensed adoption agency in West Michigan

Emergency Contraception in Grand Rapids

If you have had unprotected sex or contraception failed and you do not want to become pregnant, emergency contraception can help prevent pregnancy if taken quickly.

Options include:

  • Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) – can be taken up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex, but are most effective the sooner they are taken
  • Copper IUD – a non-hormonal intrauterine device that can be inserted by a doctor or trained provider within 5 days of unprotected sex and provides long-term contraception

You can get emergency contraception at:

  • Pharmacies throughout Grand Rapids (many without a prescription)
  • Urgent care centers
  • Primary care clinics, OB/GYN offices, and sexual health clinics
  • Some college or university health centers (e.g., at Grand Valley State University’s local campuses)

Youth and Student-Friendly Services

Teens and young adults in Grand Rapids can access confidential care and information about unplanned pregnancy, contraception, and sexual health through:

  • School-based health centers (where available)
  • Pediatric or adolescent clinics at major health systems (Spectrum Health / Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health)
  • College and university health services
  • Kent County Health Department clinics

These services are generally youth-friendly, respect your privacy, and can help you understand your rights, including confidentiality laws for minors in Michigan.

Local and Regional Resources (Grand Rapids & Michigan)

If you think you might be pregnant, or are dealing with an unplanned pregnancy, consider contacting:

  • Your Primary Care Provider or OB/GYN

    • Any family doctor or women’s health clinic in Grand Rapids can help you with testing, counseling, and referrals.

  • Kent County Health Department

    • Offers reproductive health services, STI testing, and information on pregnancy options and local resources.

  • Local Hospital Systems

    • Spectrum Health / Corewell Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health and affiliated clinics

  • Planned Parenthood of Michigan (nearest health centers serving West Michigan)

    • Pregnancy testing, options counseling, contraception, and abortion services (where available).

  • Mental Health and Counseling Services

    • Community mental health providers in Grand Rapids
    • Social workers and counselors attached to OB/GYN and family medicine clinics
    • Local nonprofit counseling centers and faith-based organizations (if you are comfortable with that setting)

In any life-threatening emergency, or if you feel unsafe, call 911.

Grand Rapids & Michigan Health Considerations in Pregnancy

Living in West Michigan brings specific health considerations:

  • Cold winters and icy conditions – higher risk of falls in pregnancy; talk to your provider about safe footwear and activity.
  • Seasonal illnesses (flu, COVID-19, RSV) – vaccination and infection-prevention are important for pregnant people.
  • Vitamin D – with long, cloudy winters and less sunlight, your provider may check your vitamin D and recommend supplements.
  • Great Lakes region allergens and seasonal changes – discuss asthma, allergies, or seasonal mood changes (SAD) with your provider, as they can affect pregnancy comfort and mental health.

Your local Grand Rapids healthcare team can tailor your prenatal care to these regional factors.

Key Points to Remember

  • Unplanned pregnancies are very common, including in Grand Rapids and across Michigan.
  • It is important to confirm your pregnancy as soon as you can so you have time to consider all your options.
  • Home pregnancy tests are highly accurate when used correctly, but testing too early can give unreliable results.
  • You have three main options:
    • Continue the pregnancy and parent
    • Continue the pregnancy and choose adoption or alternative care
    • End the pregnancy (abortion, within Michigan law)
  • You do not have to make this decision alone. Support is available through:
    • Local doctors, nurses, and midwives
    • Counselors and social workers
    • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids clinics
    • Sexual assault and domestic violence support services if abuse or coercion is involved
  • Whatever you decide, your health and well-being matter, and confidential, professional care is available in Grand Rapids, Michigan.