CHAPTER 19UNEXPECTED PREGNANCY

By: Emily Mercier

UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES

More than 3 million unintended pregnancies occur

every year in the United States.

47% of these women use no contraceptives

53% of these women use some form of birth control (this results mostly because of inconsistent or incorrect use of the birth control)

M I S S E D , L I G H T E R , O R S H O R T E R P E R I O DB R E A T T E N D E R N E S SN I P P L E S E N S I T I V I T Y

F R E Q U E N T U R I N A T I O NF E E L I N G U N U S A L LY T I R E D

N A U S E A O R V O M I T I N GF E E L I N G B L O A T E D

C R A M P SI N C R E A S E D O R D E C R E A S E D A P P E T I T E

F E E L I N G M O R E E M O T I O N A L

SIGNS OF PREGNANCIES

FINDING OUT

Any women who has not reached menopause and has sexual

intercourse with a man can become pregnant. Every method

for birth control can fail. To not become pregnant you must

refrain from sex. It is also possible but rare to become pregnant

without intercourse if the mans sperm got near the entrance of

the vagina.

“ A B O U T H A L F O F T H E P R E G N A N C I E S I N W O M E N O V E R F O R T Y Y E A R S O L D A R E

U N I N T E N D E D, A H I G H E R R AT E T H A N A L L O T H E R A G E G R O U P S E X C E P T

T E E N A G E R S / Y O U N G W O M E N; F O R T H E S E P R E G N A N C I E S, W O M E N O V E R F O R T Y H AV E T H E H I G H E S T R AT E O F A B O R T I O N O F A N Y

A G E G R O U P.

I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT SUCH A HIGH AGE GROUP HAS SUCH A

HIGH ABORITON AND ACCIDENTAL PREGNANCY RATES. I ASSUMED

THAT MOST WOMEN BY THAT AGE KNOW HOW TO PREVENT

PREGNANCY. I GUESS IT REALLY IS TRUE THAT ANYTHING CAN

HAPPEN AND BIRTH CONTROL IS NOT 100% RELAIBLE.

THE TEST…..

If a women thinks she is pregnant she can take a pregnancy test from any drug

store to see if it tested positive. The test can detect pregnancy starting at the

time of your missed period, about two weeks after ovulation.

A women can also go to family planning clinics, women health centers, or your

own doctor for either a blood or urine test.

Both tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone present first in the

bloodstream and then in urine during pregnancy.

It may not show positive in a urine test right away if it is too early in the

pregnancy because it has not reached the urine yet.

THE TEST COMES BACK NEGATIVE……

SIGH OF RELIEF

If a women suspects she is pregnant but turns out not to be

and does not want to be there are steps that can be taken.

1. Find out better birth control methods

2. If one is being sexually abused: get help.

3. Learn where to get emergency contraception

4. Talk with a women counselor

SIGH OF REGRET

If one is not pregnant but wishes to be there are steps

that you can take to become pregnant to learn more

about preconception care and conceiving a child.

THE TEST COMES BACK POSITIVE……

CONTINUE THE PREGNANCY

If you decided to carry to term, you may choose to raise the

child yourself, or have the child raised through a closed or open

adoption or foster care. If you decide to continue the pregnancy

you must seek medical attention. Stop using alcohol, drugs, diet

pills, herbal medicines, birth control, and over the counter

medicine until you consult with a health care provider.

ABORTION

Abortion is safe and legal in the United States although

your financial situation, age, and where you live can

make it more complicated. The safest, easiest, and most

affordable time is within the first three months of the

pregnancy. It is very difficult to have an abortion after 12

weeks so this decision needs to be made ASAP.

FOSTER CARE

This system is common throughout the United States and the world. The

goal is to provide you time to resolve your situation and issues related to

this unexpected pregnancy and someday be a parent to your baby. A lot of

times a family member or foster parents will start raising your baby and

once you become independent and capable of being a parent your

parental rights can be awarded to you.

ADOPTION

ADOPTION CAN BE A DIFFICULT CHOICE. IF YOU CHOOSE THIS ROUTE,

YOU WILL CREATE A DILERBERATE ADOPTION PLAN WITH AN ADOPTION

COUNSELOR AND BY USING A REPUTABLE AGENCY. A GOOD AGENCY PAYS

FOR YOUR LGEAL AND COUSELING SERVIESS AND DOES NOT OFFER YOU

MONEY, IT IS STANDARD FOR YOU TO CHOOSE THE ADOPTIVE FAMILY TO

ENSURE THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHO IS RAISING YOUR

CHILD. THERE ARE OPEN AND CLOSED ADOPTIONS AND THE CHOISE IS

UP TO YOU AND WHAT YOU FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE WITH.

WHOM TO TURN TO…

It is important to have people behind you for moral and

emotional support in whatever decision you feel is best

for you. Sometimes our family and friends think they

know what is best for us but it is important to make this

decisions with yourself and the fetus’s best interest in

mind.

NOW THAT YOU’VE MADE YOUR CHOICE

Be gentle with yourself. Whatever route you chose you may

grieve for the path you did not take. Grief is normal. It does

not mean you made the wrong decision but you are feeling

a loss. This is when a strong support system is crucial.