How to Succeed While Pregnant in College

Have you discovered you’re pregnant in college? This post can help you move forward with a plan.

When planning for college, pregnancy was probably the furthest thing from your mind!

Yet, it’s actually really common. National surveys estimate that “millions” of college students either become pregnant, or are raising children each year. (source)

Finding out you’re pregnant can definitely be a shock at this stage of life, though.

So where do you go from here?

College female with green cap and gown at graduation.

Positive Test While in College?

Talk it through.

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What are the next steps for a college student who has just taken a positive pregnancy test?

Pregnant in College? Know for Sure

We always recommend a pregnancy test in a doctor’s office, or here at the Pregnancy Resource Center, to confirm your pregnancy.

If this test is also positive, you should follow up with an ultrasound.

African American female student walking on campus.

An ultrasound gives you valuable information:

How far along you are (in weeks of gestation)
Whether the pregnancy is viable (is there a heartbeat?)
Whether the pregnancy is in the uterus (to rule out ectopic pregnancy, which can be life-threatening)

Our office also provides limited OB ultrasounds, free of charge.

Rally Your Support System

Once you’ve confirmed your pregnancy, it’s time to talk it out with the baby’s father and any other important support people in your life.

We have a guide for How to Talk to the Father of the Baby, if you need help with this step!

If you’re in college and being supported by your parents, you need to find time to sit down and let them know what’s happening, too.

You might be surprised, but here’s what we often see:

If your relationship was stable to begin with, it’s likely this support and encouragement will continue, even if you’re pregnant as a college student.

And this is true of your friends and others: If they truly value your relationship, they will want to cheer you on, not judge you.

Watercolor graphic with text "Once you share your unexpected pregnancy, you might be surprised at the support and love- from those who truly care.

Your local Pregnancy Resource Center is another type of support system for you. Find your closest Pregnancy Center here.

Discuss Your Options

Maybe you’ve always wanted to be a parent, but the timing presents a huge challenge.

But is adoption right for you?

You can read about Open Adoption vs. Closed Adoption here.

Or, maybe you’ve heard that abortion is a simple solution. You’ve been told that can move past this and finish school without any regrets.

But…is it true?

Are there any complications of abortion to worry about? (Read more here.)

If you’ve already decided you are parenting this baby while finishing college, there are many resources to help you in this process.

Just know this: Many pregnant women have gone before you and succeeded, and you can, too.

Watercolor graphic with text "Many, many women have faced pregnancy while in college - and still succeeded in life."

Again, your local Pregnancy Resource Center can discuss all the pros and cons of each of your pregnancy options with you.

You can chat with a nurse on this screen right now, if you aren’t sure where to start.

Know Your Rights

You should know that while pregnant in college, you have certain rights to help you advance as a student.

Under Title IX, you have a right to continue your education while pregnant or parenting, and to return to the same academic status held prior to any medical leave.

Work with your school’s Title IX coordinator to understand the rights you have. It could make all the difference in finishing your degree.