At 19 years old, I found out I was pregnant. I was scared, very scared. I couldn't hold this news in and I blurted it out to my boyfriend, Mike, at a friend's house. We didn't know what to do — we were stunned. I didn't want to tell anyone else until I could make a decision about this pregnancy, so no one knew for a month. I thought about abortion and I thought about having the baby. I really wasn't sure what to do.

I didn't think my life was over, but I knew if I had a baby everything would change forever. I thought I wouldn't be able to continue with school, and my dad had always insisted on staying in school, being independent and not relying on a man for things. On the other hand, I didn't know if I could deal with the guilt if I chose abortion. I don't think I could have lived with myself if I went through with it.

I called the Women's Choice Network in Oakland. I went there by myself as I didn't want anyone to influence my decision. The counselor did a pregnancy test, even though I knew it would be positive. She talked to me about making a decision then invited me to have a sonogram. During the sonogram, the nurse turned the screen toward me and showed me a beating heart. It had a beating heart! I cried when I saw that heart.

What I didn't count on when I went to this Center was that they would pray with me. When they prayed for me and my baby, the tears just came down. I cried so much. I grew up in the church but hadn't gone in so long and certainly hadn't prayed in a long time. This was the first time I had prayed again. I left the Women's Choice Network and within the next day or two I made my decision to carry my baby to term. I think two things helped me make my decision: one was seeing her heart beating and the other was God touching me again. The very next Sunday, I went back to church and I haven't left since.

When I told my family, it wasn't easy for them to take the news. My dad had a hard time with it. A few weeks later, I had an opportunity to take my dad back to the Center for another sonogram. They were training a new nurse and wanted to scan bigger babies. My dad hadn't seen a sonogram since he saw me when my mom was pregnant! He saw a heart beating and the baby moving all around. I don't think he knew how to deal with it, but it hit him on the way home.

After that night, my dad went to visit his brother for a week. His brother's daughter had gone through an unplanned pregnancy several years before. My dad came back a new man! I think he had a new perspective and he said, "Lauren, we'll get through this."

The rest of my pregnancy was filled with ups and downs, but one great thing was that Mike asked me to marry him. We are now engaged and very happy. As the time got close for my baby to be born, I started asking my mom more questions. My mom was my best friend during this time. I asked her "What happens when my baby is here? How can I do this?" My mom would reassure me and say, "You'll know." She was right. Rylee was born, and when our eyes met, I loved her. She is my world and I would die for her. My dad? Well, he really loves her too. Now Rylee can say "Pap pap" and he loves her to death. Yes, my life has changed, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Lauren visited Women's Choice Network.

Faces of Option Ultrasound Index

All Pregnancy Medical Clinics in the Option Ultrasound Program provide limited obstetrical ultrasound as medically indicated.  Clinics are licensed to operate under the supervision of a physician, using only trained sonographers. Focus on the Family does not endorse the use of ultrasound outside of a medical clinic setting and does not endorse the use of ultrasound for non-medical reasons.  Patient referrals are made to physicians for follow-up diagnosis and care as needed.