Unplanned Pregnancy? Keep Calm and Take These Next Steps

There’s no doubt that coming to terms with an unplanned pregnancy is one of the greatest emotional dilemmas. An unplanned pregnancy comes as a big surprise, which is accompanied by a wide range of emotions, including panic, fear, anger, and/or disbelief. There are some steps to take immediately after finding out you are pregnant when it wasn’t planned.

You are not alone.

First of all, you need to understand that you are not alone. In the United States, about half of all pregnancies are unplanned. That means there have been many other women in the exact same situation you are in. If it is going to be easier for you to deal with your unplanned pregnancy, you can consider contacting someone else who has made it through the experience to share their story with you. Other people can be helpful and inspirational, so try reading their blogs, look through forums, watch videos, and don’t hesitate to ask for advice.

See a doctor.

Make an appointment with your OB/GYN to confirm the pregnancy. Seeing a doctor is important since it can reduce the stress and the uncertainty of an unplanned pregnancy. This will also give you time to think about your options and devise a strategy so you don’t have to make quick decisions later. After the pregnancy is confirmed, you will need to stay calm and explore your options.

Find some support.

Decide who you want to tell about the pregnancy. You are not alone in this situation. If you are afraid to tell your family and friends, consider seeing a therapist or counselor or seek out some support groups. Perhaps you feel like you don’t want to talk or seek help, but remember that as long as you are postponing your decision, you are going to continue to feel anxious and unsure. You can take a couple of days for yourself after finding out about your unplanned pregnancy just to organize your thoughts, but after that, you will need to seek help and guidance.

Keep a journal.

It is understandable that you feel lost, but that is not going to last forever. Consider keeping a journal where you can record your thoughts and feelings. After you acknowledge your feelings, everything is going to be much easier. Also, try writing up the pros and cons of each of your options. You don’t need to do these things in one session, but give yourself some time to reflect on what is important and what you really want to do.

You have options.

You have options, and one of them is adoption. There are many reasons why a woman might decide to go with adoption. Some of those reasons might be that she isn’t emotionally ready to be a parent, she doesn’t have sufficient financial support to raise a child, she is still in high school or college, or she just doesn’t want to terminate the pregnancy. If you feel similarly, you may want to think about adoption as an option. The staff at an adoption agency could provide you with real support and great guidance. Just remember that you shouldn’t feel forced to do anything you don’t want to do. Stay calm and explore your options thoroughly and with care, since this is a decision only you can make.