Pregnancy Testing and Options | Student Health and Counseling Services

Overview of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a common experience, but it’s not always a simple path from conception to birth. Nearly half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned and whether expected or not, pregnancy can bring up lots of feelings. Many people also struggle to get pregnant, experience pregnancy loss, miscarriage or stillbirth. Whatever your feelings or experiences with pregnancy are, this pregnancy options page aims to provide you with options and resources. We specifically provide information on abortion, adoption and parenting. We’ll also include helpful resources that are specific to UC Davis undergraduate and graduate students. Hopefully this page will provide a starting point to move forward in the way you want and feel will work best for your life.

Pregnancy Testing

*Disclaimer

Emergency contraception (EC) helps prevent pregnancy after having sex without condoms or other forms of birth control – or when your birth control method fails (e.g., the condom breaks). There are a few different EC options available, so visit our emergency contraception page to learn more. If you have specific questions, then talk to your healthcare provider or call the SHCS Advice Nurse at 530-752-2349.

Remember: while EC is effective at preventing pregnancy, it should not be used as your regular form of birth control. Check out Bedsider.org’s Birth Control Method Explorer to learn more about birth control methods that might be best for you. The most effective regular birth control method is one that you can remember to use consistently and correctly!

Pregnancy Tests

Pregnancy tests detect whether or not there is hCG in your urine. If you are pregnant, hCG will be most detectable around the time that you are supposed to get your period (about two weeks after ovulation) so this would be the ideal time to test for pregnancy. 10-14 days after penis-vagina sex is also another measure you can use for deciding when to use a pregnancy test. Contrary to popular belief, you can’t find out if you are pregnant the day after you have sex—sometimes it can take up to 7 days after penis-vagina sex for conception to actually occur because it can take a while for sperm to swim up the vagina and into the uterus to fertilize the egg.

Some pregnancy tests are more sensitive than others—the pregnancy tests that are most sensitive will be able to detect the hCG in your urine at an earlier time. When choosing a pregnancy test to use, look at the sensitivity level that the test advertises. They will range from 10mlU/ml (milli-International Unit per milliliter) to 40 mlU/ml. The lower the number, the more sensitive the test and the earlier you will be able to test for pregnancy. Also, check the expiration date of the test to ensure accuracy.

Where can I get a Pregnancy Test in Davis?

Pregnancy tests are available to graduate and undergraduate students at the UCD Student Health and Wellness Center over the counter at the pharmacy. These tests are home pregnancy tests and are accurate. If you would like to have the test administered by a provider, you can make an appointment with an SCHS provider at the Student Health and Wellness Center or in one of our primary care clinics by dialing (530) 752-2349. Blood pregnancy tests also test for the hCG hormone and can detect pregnancy a bit earlier than a home test would. However, you do have to wait for the results to come back and the test must be done in a medical provider’s office or clinic. You can also check out the UC Davis Sexcess Map to find pregnancy tests and other sexual and reproductive health resources.

Early Signs of Pregnancy

Symptoms that often occur during early pregnancy:

Missed Period
Breast tenderness and swelling
Fatigue
Nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to smell
Frequent urination
Mood swings
Unusual food cravings

If you are experiencing some of these symptoms and concerned about pregnancy, please contact the Advice Nurse Hotline (24 hours) at(530) 752-2349.

Abortion

On this page, we’ll cover the two categories of abortions available to patients— medication abortion (offered at SHCS) and surgical abortion). Abortion is an option that is available to you if you find that you are pregnant and do not want to continue the pregnancy. It is a very safe procedure if performed by a trained health professional—fewer than 0.5% of people experience complications.

If you are a student who is under the age of 18 and are in California, there is no parental involvement or consent required to receive an abortion; you can learn more on our Navigating Privacy and Confidentiality in Healthcare page

The state of California may not deny or interfere with a person’s right to choose or obtain an abortion prior to viability of the fetus (the ability of a fetus to survive outside of the uterus, determined by physician, generally after 23 weeks of gestation or more), or after viability when the abortion is necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant person.

If you decide that abortion is the right option for you, it’s vital that the abortion is done by a trained health professional.

Medication Abortions

If you have been pregnant for 10 or fewer weeks, medication abortion may be an option for you. Medication abortion services are provided to UC Davis students at the Student Health & Wellness Center.

Medication abortions are covered for students who have SHIP. For students who do not have SHIP, the cost is $450 plus the cost of medications -- which can range from $65 to $100.

You can learn more about medication abortion from Planned Parenthood’s website.

Surgical Abortions

There are two types of Surgical Abortions—Aspiration, and Dilation and Evacuation.

If you have been pregnant for 5-14 weeks, Aspiration may be an option for you.

If you have been pregnant for more than 14 weeks, Dilation and Evacuation may be an option for you.

Learn more about surgical abortion options at Planned Parenthood’s website.

Where can I get an abortion near Davis or Sacramento?

Medication abortions are provided at the Student Health & Wellness Center.

Surgical abortions are not provided at the Student Health & Wellness Center, but we are able to make referrals to Sutter Davis Hospital or another provider.

If you are considering any type of abortion and have an insurance plan other than SHIP, we recommend that you call the number on the back of your insurance card to ask about cost and how to access services.

Planned Parenthood in Sacramento on B Street also offers abortions; check out their page here to find information about how much an abortion might cost for you there with your insurance.

Please contact Planned Parenthood to talk about transportation to and from the clinic.

The UC Davis Health Equity Fund provides financial assistance to students who are unable to pay for healthcare services out of pocket; this includes abortion services.

Who can support me before, during, or after my abortion?

A doula is a person that can provide support to anyone. They are most commonly known as people who provide emotional and informational support during pregnancy--however, there are also full spectrum doulas who can provide support during other points in a person’s life.

If you would like to talk to someone over the phone, All Options, an organization that promotes unconditional, judgment-free support for people in all of their decisions relating to pregnancy, abortion, parenting and adoption, can be reached at 1-888-493-0092.

If you would like to talk to the SHCS Advice Nurse, a registered nurse who can help you make informed decisions about your health situation, or a counselor from SHCS Counseling Services, call (530) 752-2349 and follow the prompts to get to either professional.

Exhale is a post-abortion support hotline 1-866-4-EXHALE.

Adoption

Considering the possibilities of placing a child for adoption can bring many complex emotions. Adoption is the process where a birth parent gives legal rights to their child to another person or couple. There are a wide variety of options if adoption is the best choice for you. Here, we’ll briefly cover open adoptions, semi-open, and confidential/closed adoptions.

Open Adoption

A form of adoption where the birth parent(s) and adoptive parent(s) meet one another, share full identifying information, and have direct access to ongoing contact over the years. Even though the adoptive parents will legally become the parents of the child, the birth parent(s) could have an active part in the child’s life.

Semi-Open Adoption

Semi-open adoption is similar to an open adoption but may not involve the sharing of identifying information; the adoption agency will likely act as an intermediary in the contact between the birth parent(s) and the adoptive parent(s). The benefit of this is that confidentiality can be maintained if desired, but the sharing of important medical information can still be given if necessary, as well as pictures of the child and other basic information.

Closed Adoption

During a closed adoption, identifying information about the birth parent(s) and adoptive parent(s) is kept sealed. An adoption agency can act as an intermediary, sharing information between parties if appropriate.

Safe Haven Law

This is a law that decriminalizes leaving an unharmed infant with a state sanctioned person or institution, and the infant comes under the legal guardianship of the state. In California, the law specifies that “you can leave your baby, up to 3 days old, with an employee at any safe surrender designated hospital or a location designated by the board of supervisors in a county in California.” Anyone can call the 1-888-510-BABY safe haven hotline to receive counseling and get information on the address and directions to the closest safe haven in your state.

This website reviews laws governing guardianship in California.
This website goes over steps of the adoption process.

Parenting

Things to consider before giving birth:

Who will be my child’s doctor?

You will be bringing your child to the doctor at least six times in the first year for routine well-baby visits. Some parents will choose a pediatrician, a doctor who specializes in the care of children. Other parents might prefer a family practitioner, a doctor specializing in family medicine who can treat the whole family. When choosing a doctor that works for you and your child, you can ask for recommendations from friends and family, your obstetrician or midwife, and check out the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to get referrals to certified practitioners.

What car seat should I choose?

If you are giving birth at a location other than your home and you need to transport your baby in a car, its legally required that you have a car seat for your baby. Check out this buying and installation guide for car seats.

Clothing, Diapers and Other Supplies for My Child (Free or low cost):

Sacramento County Family Health Line

1 (888) 824-2229

Free assistance in finding infant health insurance and a doctor for your infant and answers your breastfeeding questions.

Folsom Cordova Community Partnership

10665 Coloma Road, Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

(916) 361-8684

Safety-Net Services include FREE emergency supply of free diapers, baby formula, transportation assistance and more.

Chicks in Crisis

Elk Grove, CA

(916) 441-1243 | Toll-free (888) 208 -8086

Chicks in Crisis works with the community in many different ways if you are pregnant or have children and need guidance, diapers or clothes. No fee.

Birth and Beyond

Offers eight locations of services throughout Sacramento, CA

Parents given diapers, some baby formula and a home visitation opportunity with pregnant and parenting Parents. Recently opened Medical and dental services. Targeting children 0-5 years of age. Soon to come pre-natal for women. We accept Medi-cal and can Family Resource Center-arrange of parenting classes/Car seat safety workshop/Kids clothes closet/Healthy habits/etc. School readiness Liaison - Intervention Specialist – Transportation - Home Visitation services - Mental Health services - Assist families with Medi-cal applications. Walk ins accepted. All services are free.

6015 Watt Avenue, Suite 2, North Highlands, CA 95660

(916) 326-5830

Parent Education

A program of Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services

3308 Third Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817

2469 Rio Linda Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95815

(916) 313-7622. Call for next orientation date.

"Open to expectant, parents or legal guardians with children 0-5 years old in the greater Sacramento area. Supportive parenting courses, referrals, mentoring, access to parent resource center and more. After completion of each course, parents will earn credits for diapers, formula, baby food, clothing and additional items."

UC Davis Breastfeeding Support Group

Find their website here.

Free food/meals to students and their babies right on campus

Learn more about The Pantry.

Lactation services

Find more information here.

Housing & Accommodations

Housing is a necessity and the university provides options for students that plan to continue their education while pregnant and parenting. If you are a freshman living in the dorms, check out Residence Hall: Cancellation Process to find out about who to contact for dorming questions and either moving to a different location from the residence halls or cancelling your housing contract. UC Davis Housing would consider pregnancy as a reason for termination of dorm contract, if you choose. UC Davis Housing can help accommodate your needs and move you to another location if need be.

If you are pregnant, call the UC Davis Student Disability Center (530) 752-3184 to see what services you are eligible for as a pregnant student or a student with children. They can work with you if you will need services like exam accommodation etc.

On-campus childcare is also available. Learn more here.

There are numerous on-campus housing options that give priority to students with families. Learn more here.

UC Davis SHIP Insurance Coverage

Pregnancy services are currently covered under UC SHIP.

Students can enroll their dependents in the UC SHIP dependent plan. Newborn children must be enrolled within the first 31 days after their birth.

If you have specific questions, contact the Insurance Services office at insurance@shcs.ucdavis.edu

Pregnancy and Birth

Here we will explain some of the experiences people may have when pregnant, and resources to help them feel supported. Below we have some information about the pregnancy experience.

Pregnancy Support

You can get professional pregnancy support in the form of a doula. A doula is someone who provides emotional, physical and informational support to people during their pregnancy, labor and post pregnancy. There are a number of doula services in the Davis-Sacramento area. Learn about local services here.

Birthing Classes

UC Davis Medical Center offers birthing classes. Learn more here.

Sutter Davis also has an online system to help you find birthing classes wherever you are located in the Sacramento region. Check it out here.

Midwife or Obstetrician?

You also have more than one option when it comes to who you would like to help you deliver your baby. A midwife is a professional with an advanced nursing degree who is trained to provide care during pregnancy and delivery. An Obstetrician is a medical doctor that has been trained to provide care pre-, during and post-pregnancy and they are certified to intervene with drugs and surgery if necessary. Some midwives work in a team with an obstetrician.

You also potentially have the option of having an in-home birth over a hospital birth if you would like a midwife to be the one assisting you with labor and birth. Here is a resource if you would like information on in-home vs. hospital births.

The 3 Trimesters of Pregnancy

1st Trimester of Pregnancy: Weeks 0-13

During this time, you will notice some changes in your body. You might feel tired, your skin may change and you may become sensitive to certain smells. Morning sickness can sometimes start around week 6, but contrary to the name you could potentially experience it at any time of the day. You also might experience “spotting”, which is implantation bleeding. This is usually harmless, but it’s always a good idea to get checked out by your doctor, particularly if the spotting is bright red or you are experiencing pain.

You should also meet with your physician or midwife during the 1st trimester to make plans for your pregnancy and get your first scan. Check out our guide below on deciding whether having a physician or midwife is a good choice for you.

2nd Trimester of Pregnancy: Weeks 14-26

In the 2nd Trimester, your body will change more and you may have a visible bump by this point. Your breasts may feel significantly heavier at this point, so it may be helpful to get fitted for a maternity bra to give you more support. It might be helpful to eat smaller portions, more frequently if you are experiencing heartburn at this point in your pregnancy. You may also be offered a blood screening test to check for Down’s Syndrome in your baby between weeks 15 and 20.

3rd Trimester of Pregnancy: Weeks 27-40

During this stage, you baby will likely be moving around a lot. The baby will be quite developed at this point and will be able to see and hear although their lungs are still developing and they won’t be able to breathe on their own until they reach 36 weeks. You may feel Braxton Hicks Contractions at this point. These contractions can start in the first trimester of your pregnancy although you may not feel them then. Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish Braxton Hicks Contractions from regular labor contractions once you get to 37 weeks. It is best not to diagnose yourself so if you are experiencing more than 4 contractions an hour, call your provider so they can diagnose you. Walking, drinking water, or doing other, slow exercises can help if contractions become painful.

The 3 Phases of Labor

Phase 1: Early (Latent) Labor

This stage is the longest. During early labor your cervix will thin out and dilate (open) to about 3 centimeters--some people will dilate overnight and for some people it will take up to a month. You might experience mild to moderate contractions that last 30 to 45 seconds and are spaced 5 to 20 minutes apart--although you may not notice them until the final two to six hours when labor starts in earnest. During this time, contact your practitioner if discharge becomes bright red and you think you’ve release more than two tablespoons. Bleeding could indicated a problem with the placenta.

Phase 2: Active Labor

Contractions will become stronger, this face will potentially last 2 to 3 ½ hours. You will ideally be in the hospital/birthing center or with your midwife at your home at this point. The cervix will dilate to 7 centimeters and contractions will come every 3 to 4 minutes lasting between 40 and 60 seconds. You might notice a distinct peak halfway through each contraction. If you would like to receive an epidural, an numbing agent that numbs you from the waist down after 10 to 20 minutes, this would be a good time to ask for one, although you can request it at any stage of labor.

Phase 3: Transitional (Advanced) Labor

This is the shortest, most intense part of labor, generally lasting 15 minutes to an hour, your cervix will dilate to about 10 centimeters at this point. Contractions will be strong, between 60 to 90 seconds, with intense peaks and spaced only 2 to 3 minutes apart. During this phase, your baby will be born.

Delivering the Placenta

After the baby is out of your birth canal, the placenta, an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake etc. through the mother’s blood supply and is also known as the afterbirth, will come out. This stage lasts between 5 to 20 minutes, and you might experience mild contractions that last about a minute each--or you might not feel them at all. After the placenta comes out, you may experience a bloody vaginal discharge which is considered normal.