Tips for Dealing with an Unplanned Pregnancy
Finding out you’re pregnant, especially when it wasn’t planned, can feel like your world has turned upside down.
Whether you’re a teenager, in your early twenties, or somewhere in between, an unplanned pregnancy can be a significant life event. It’s a moment that can bring a rush of emotions like shock, confusion, fear, and even denial. Here are some tips that might help you when dealing with an unplanned pregnancy.
Confirm your pregnancy
If you think that you might be pregnant, the very first thing you need to do is confirm it with a pregnancy test.
You can buy pregnancy tests from most supermarkets or pharmacies, or you can go to your local sexual health clinic to get a free pregnancy test.
If you’re feeling a bit awkward about getting one yourself, you could ask a friend or family member that you trust to pick one up for you. Remember, many people have been in similar situations, and there’s no shame in seeking help.
Processing your emotions and getting support
Once you have a confirmed result, give yourself time to process your emotions. There’s no need to rush into any decisions.
Talk to someone you trust like a close friend, family member, teacher, or youth worker. Sharing your feelings can help you feel less alone.
There are many services available to help you get through this challenging time. Think about reaching out to a sexual health clinic for more information about your options. Staff there can offer non-judgemental support in making the best decision for your situation and answer any questions you might have.
Exploring your options
An unplanned pregnancy means you have choices to make. It’s important to learn about them so you can pick what’s best for you.
One choice is to have the baby and raise it. This takes a lot of work and support, but it can also be amazing. If you’re thinking about this, you need to think about things like money, a place to live, and who will help you with the baby.
Another choice is adoption. This means giving your baby to another family who can give them a good home. This lets you focus on your own life. There are places that can help you with adoption and give you information.
The last choice is ending the pregnancy. This is a tough decision, and you need to think about how it might make you feel, both physically and emotionally. If you’re thinking about this, talk to a doctor or nurse. They can tell you what’s involved and keep you safe.
Exploring contraception options
No matter what you decide about this pregnancy, it’s important to think about how to stop an unplanned pregnancy from happening again. Using contraception can help you stop getting pregnant when you don’t want to, and gives you more control over your body.
Finding out about different ways to stop pregnancy can help you make informed decisions. Sexual health clinics, doctors, and nurses can tell you all about different ways to prevent pregnancy such as pills, implants, injections, condoms, and more. Think about how well they work, if they have any side effects, and how easy they are to use. Many ways to prevent pregnancy are free or cheap at sexual health clinics and some GP’s.
If you’ve had sex without protection, or your contraception didn’t work, you can get emergency contraception (the morning-after pill) from pharmacies and sexual health clinics. It works best if you take it as soon as you can.
Taking care of yourself
No matter what you choose, you need to prioritise taking care of yourself. This means eating good food, sleeping enough, and doing things that make you feel less stressed.
If you want to talk with someone but aren’t sure where to start, talk with Meic. Meic is a free information, advice, and advocacy helpline service in Wales for children and young people. Contact by phone, WhatsApp message, text, or online chat every day from 8am to midnight.
