I'm pregnant: what now?
If you haven’t planned to have a baby, discovering you are pregnant can be a very scary and confusing time; especially if you are under 18. You should always try and talk about your pregnancy with your partner, if this is not possible try and get support from either a relative, preferably a parent or an adult you trust.
If you do not have someone talk to you can call our Pregnancy Advisory Helpline on 0845 459 6060 visit your local Brook Advisory Service or speak to your GP, School Nurse, Connexions Service or Family Planning Clinic.
It’s important to discuss all your options and have an understanding of what each option will mean to you. Only you can decide what to do and you must not feel forced into any decision until you feel ready. You may not feel your decision is completely right but it must be the right decision for you and your current circumstances.
You have three choices:
• Continue with the pregnancy in keep the baby
• Continue with the pregnancy and give the baby up for adoption
• Have an abortion
Continue with the pregnancy
Although becoming a parent is not an easy option it can be wonderfully rewarding being a parent.
There are organisations and services that can help you with your baby such as Sure Start. Sure Start is a government programme which provides services for pre-school children and their families. Their services are available to you from pregnancy right through to when your child goes into reception class at primary school. It works to bring together early education, childcare, health and family support. Services provided include advice on health care and child development, play schemes, parenting classes, family outreach support and adult education and advice.
Adoption or Foster Care
If your choice is to continue with the pregnancy but you do not feel you could successfully take care of a child then you could consider putting the baby up for adoption.
By putting the baby up for adoption you are agreeing to allow someone else to legally become the child’s parents and for them to bring the child up. An adoption order is final and cannot be undone. It ends your legal relationship between you and your child and establishes a new legal relationship with the adoptive parents.
During your pregnancy you will need to have ante-natal care, so it is very important that you speak to your GP or Nurse. You should also speak to him / her about the adoption process and contact your local adoption agency. They will work with you and approved adoption agencies to plan and prepare for the adoption when the baby is born.
You can also speak to Social Services about a relative becoming the child’s legal guardian or foster care, this is less permanent and it means that your baby could be placed with a foster carer or relative who will bring up your child.
For more information contact:
British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF)
Contact them to find out where your local BAAF office is: 020 7421 2600
www.baaf.org.uk
Ask your GP or Nurse about contacting your local Social Services.
Abortion
There are many different reasons that a women or girl may choose to have an abortion. Maybe you feel too young, not emotionally ready to have a child, or have no financial security; whatever your reason, remember it is your decision.
Your decision to have an abortion will be personal to you and you should be able to make this decision without feeling under pressure from anyone or being forced into having an abortion. An unplanned pregnancy and making a decision as to what to do can be a difficult and upsetting time for some women.
For more information about abortion click here
