Almost every woman aspires to get pregnant and have their baby someday. Once they get married, they hope to start a family and raise their children. But as marital life can be challenging, one must come in prepared and ready.
Unfortunately, some women get themselves into unintended pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claimed that 50 percent of all pregnancies are unwanted. This statistic is quite alarming as these can lead to several issues.
An unwanted pregnancy occurs when you aren’t ready to have a child or have no desire to add more children to your family.
“Moreover, in the face of an unwanted pregnancy, it’s crucial to prioritize personal choices and seek supportive healthcare options, such as consulting professionals at a reputable facility like the Hamilton Abortion Clinic, to ensure informed decisions and compassionate care. “It usually happens to young adolescents, women of racial or ethnic minorities, and those with lower education and income levels.
If you ever have an unintended pregnancy, here’s how to deal with it:
- Know your options
According to the American Family Physician, you have three options to handle an unwanted pregnancy:
- Raise the child: As a responsible adult, you can be accountable for your action. Go ahead, have a healthy pregnancy, and give birth to your baby. However, there’s a lot of considerations to make. These include getting approval from people, setting your finances, and preparing for the future.
- Opt for adoption: If you aren’t holistically ready to raise your child, there’s another option you can take. There are a handful of adoption centers in your area you can visit. Just carry out your research and consider having your child adopted.
- Have an abortion: The last resort is to consider an abortion if you aren’t physically, emotionally, and financially ready. Consider visiting a legitimate abortion clinic in your area. Just make sure that it’s legal to do so in your state or country.
- Consider some factors
Having an unintended pregnancy can be confusing. You most likely don’t know what option to take. However, you must sit down and talk to your partner. From there, consider the following factors:
- Personal goals: Assess if you have personal goals and plans in life that you need to pursue. You are still probably going to school or looking for a job.
- Your relationship: Ask your partner if you can work together to support and raise your child. Both should agree on giving birth. If not, consider the abortion option instead.
- Finances: Your finances might be the primary reason for the unwanted pregnancy. If you aren’t financially ready, consider getting an abortion.
- Family support: In most cases, family members won’t approve of the pregnancy of adolescents and young women. Hence, getting an abortion is the most viable option.
- Religious concern: Your religious factor can also determine your decision. Most religious sectors do not approve of abortion.
- Take proper actions
It’s crucial to take proper actions in dealing with your pregnancy. Whether you choose to keep or abort the baby, you must take a few key steps. Doing so will protect your health or that of your child. Hence, consider the following:
- Consult with a health professional: Be sure to talk to your doctor about your option. If you’re looking to keep your child, you must take care of your health and that of your baby. For instance, you need to have regular prenatal care. If you decide to abort the child, you should be healthy and physically ready.
- Ask for financial help: Consider asking for financial assistance, whether you’re keeping or aborting the child. Both options require you to have the financial means.
- Get social services: If you’re looking to have the baby adopted after giving birth, you must work with a social worker. While at it, consider getting social services.
- Have a support system: It’s vital to have a support system now more than ever. Be sure to talk to your family about your pregnancy. If not, seek help from your trusted friends.
- Take care of your physical and mental health
Pregnancy requires every woman to foster their overall health and well-being. As recommended by the CDC, consider taking some of the following measures:
- Eat nutritious and healthy foods
- Drink plenty of water
- Take vitamins and medicines (like Folic acid)
- Get enough sleep
- Have minor exercises
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
- Communicate with the right people
- Stay as positive as possible
- Plan for pregnancy beforehand or resort to contraception
The unintended pregnancy can serve as a lesson for you and your partner. If you don’t want this to happen, make sure to plan for your pregnancy. Set a timeline for getting pregnant and be holistically prepared for it.
On the other hand, resort to contraception if you aren’t ready. Consider the three types of contraception below:
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants
- Barrier methods (condom, diaphragm, contraceptive sponge, spermicide, and cervical cap)
- Hormonal methods (contraceptive pills, injections, and patches)
At this point, you now know what options to consider and the steps to take for your unintended pregnancy. Consider the valuable recommendations above, from understanding your options for unwanted pregnancy to planning for pregnancy in the future.
As such, you’ll know how to proceed with your pregnancy and protect your health and well-being. You’ll also understand how to prevent this from happening through contraception. Ultimately, you’ll be more responsible and prepared for future pregnancy.