Is it safe to get pregnant with the changes to reproductive healthcare?
It’s completely valid to have questions about pregnancy right now. The landscape of reproductive healthcare is changing quickly — and those changes may impact your care depending on where you live. But thinking through the risks doesn’t mean you have to rule out pregnancy. It just means being informed, prepared, and supported.
Healthcare Access
In states with abortion bans or restrictions, it can be much harder to access abortion care — whether you decide not to continue a pregnancy or experience complications.
This means you may need to travel across state lines for care, which can bring added costs, time off work, child care challenges, or delays in treatment. Understanding what care is available in your state — and where you’d go if you needed emergency support — can help you feel more in control.
If a national abortion ban or federal restriction is enacted, access will be limited even in states where abortion is currently legal.
Risks to Your Health
Abortion bans can affect how hospitals and providers respond to pregnancy emergencies like miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or premature rupture of membranes. In some states, there have been reports of providers delaying or withholding care due to legal uncertainty or fear of criminal liability.
If you’re considering pregnancy, it’s worth asking your provider:
“What is your protocol for treating miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy?”
“What are my options if something goes wrong during my pregnancy?”
Mental and Emotional Impact
The uncertainty around reproductive healthcare can add emotional strain — especially if you’re navigating pregnancy after loss, managing a high-risk condition, or just feeling uneasy about the current legal climate. Not knowing what your options would be in an emergency can increase stress, and that’s something to factor into your planning.
If you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, you’re not alone, and it’s okay to take time to process before making a decision.
Support Systems
Access to supportive, affirming care may look different depending on where you live. In some areas, clinics that once offered full-spectrum reproductive care may face new limitations. Peer groups, doulas, OB-GYNs, and other community resources may also be impacted by policy shifts.
Before trying to conceive, it may help to:
Research what services are currently available in your area
Ask your provider about their scope of care in emergency situations
Identify out-of-state resources in case travel becomes necessary
What You Can Do:
Stay Informed: Knowing what’s happening in your state and understanding your rights can make all the difference. Laws vary, and if you’re prepared, you’ll know your options no matter what.
Family Planning: If pregnancy doesn’t feel like the right time but you still want flexibility, there are options like IUDs or other long-term birth control methods that might work better for you in the long run.
Have a Plan: If you do end up pregnant, having a backup plan in case you need to travel to a state with abortion access could make things less stressful if the situation arises.
