This must feel unreal. You’ve worked so hard to get here. You’re probably thinking this is an impossible situation. You may think you only have one option. But let’s just take a moment. Breathe slowly. In and out. Let’s figure out what to do next. Even though you got a positive pregnancy test, and even though you’re worried about being a college athlete and pregnant – it doesn’t mean your life or your dreams are over.

First, you need to find out for sure if you are really pregnant. Let us help with that. We provide free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. If you are pregnant, we can also provide an options consultation to make sure you are aware of all your options.  

You may think that being a college athlete and pregnant might end your chances of competing. Or maybe you are worried that taking time off to have a baby will cost you your athletic scholarship. Don’t assume the worst! Here are some things you should know.   

Your right to continue to participate in sports in protected by the U.S. Department of Education. According to Title IX (Education Amendments of 1972): “It is illegal for schools to exclude a pregnant student from participating in any part of an educational program. This prohibition applies to specific classes such as advanced placement or honors classes, extracurricular programs, interscholastic sports, honor societies, and opportunities for student leadership, among other activities.”

This protection also applies to athletic scholarships. Title IX regulations require pregnancy to be treated like any other medical condition.

If you are a college athlete and pregnant, you should know that athletes can have healthy pregnancies with the right care and support. The National College Athletics Association understands that college athletes may become pregnant and it recognizes the importance of pregnant student athletes being able to continue to pursue their academic and sports goals. The NCAA actually created a handbook to educate colleges and universities on the best ways to support pregnant student athletes. This handbook is called The NCAA Model Pregnancy and Parenting Policy and it was “designed to provide information and resources to member institutions and their student-athletes to effectively meet the needs of student-athletes dealing with a pregnancy.”

According to the handbook, NCAA athletics departments “will allow a pregnant student-athlete to continue to participate in a limited manner on the team, including all team-related activities, unless the student-athlete’s physician or other medical caregiver certifies that partial participation is not medically safe.”

Now that you know your rights if you are a college athlete and pregnant, we can move on to what your next steps should be. First, you will need to choose an OB/GYN for prenatal care. Don’t know who to call? Our Registered Nurse can provide a list of OB providers in the area. You can also contact your health insurance company and ask for a list of local prenatal care providers who will accept your insurance coverage. If you do not have health insurance, we can help with that too. During your visit, you can receive information on how to apply for Medicaid. You can also receive information on medical clinics where you may be able to receive care.  

While waiting for your first prenatal care appointment here are some things you can do make sure you are off to a healthy start: