Unplanned Pregnancy

An unplanned pregnancy is either unexpected or unwanted such as in a case when no more children or no children were desired. It may also be mistimed, such as pregnancy before the parents’ desired timeline. Most unplanned pregnancies are the result of improper use of contraception or not using it at all.

What are the causes of unplanned pregnancy?

It is a well-known saying that the only type of birth control that is 100 per cent effective is abstinence. Other forms of birth control do work; however, accidents are always possible. Birth control pills, condoms, and intrauterine devices are a few popular methods of contraception. If one doesn’t use or use birth control incorrectly, their chances of getting pregnant increase.

The biggest reason for unplanned pregnancy is not the ineffective use of birth control; it is not using any form of contraception. Some women do not use birth control at all, whereas some fail to use it regularly. The reasons for not using contraception can be varied. Some women do not like using it, some do not have access to it, whereas others may have partners who don’t want to use them.

Some women may not even realise that they can get pregnant, which is known as cryptic pregnancy. Women who have struggled with infertility and don’t have regular periods may believe that they will not get pregnant. However, it may still be possible for them to conceive.

Pregnancy Prevention

Women who wish to prevent or delay pregnancy can do so with the help of contraceptive services such as:

• Full-range of contraceptive methods approved by FDA.
• Brief assessment to identify different methods of contraception that can safely be used by the patient.
• Contraceptive counselling helps them identify the right method of contraception for their needs.
• Provision of multiple contraceptive methods, preferably on-site or by referral.

Set up an appointment with a medical professional

If a woman suddenly finds herself with a surprise pregnancy, she will be filled with tons of questions, such as how far along they are, what should be their next step, and what the options are. The doctor will be able to answer all these questions. Those who already have an OB-GYN can get in touch with them and meet them as soon as possible. However, for those who don’t already have a doctor, the first step will be to look for one. Ask a friend, local clinic, or hospital for recommendations.

Permit yourself to experience your emotions

A positive pregnancy test can lead to feelings of surprise and shock. However, in case of unintended pregnancy, one can experience tons of additional emotions, which are all-natural. Whether a woman feels stressed, overjoyed, suspicious, calm, or freaked out, all these feelings are natural and reasonable.

Odds are they are moving from one feeling to the other as they come to terms with the news and start planning their next steps for the future. The important thing is to be kind to oneself while one is going through this huge wave of emotions. One should not judge themselves for any negative, neutral, or positive emotions one may feel.

Discover your options

If someone finds herself with an unplanned pregnancy, there are many options for the next steps. The extent of these options will depend on several factors, including how far along the pregnancy is, where one lives, and one's preferences.

• Parenting / Co-parenting: Several surprise pregnancies turn into wanted pregnancies once the parents get the chance to process the information.
• Adoption: If one is pregnant but sure that they don’t want to become a parent, they can help someone else become a parent by giving the baby up for adoption. Several options are available that one can use for arranging this adoption. These include adoption agencies, social media, parent profiles, and word of mouth.
• Abortion: A woman may also want to end their pregnancy. Choosing an abortion is one's personal decision and no one should be allowed to tell them otherwise. The timeline for abortion varies from one state/country to the other varying between 6 weeks – 15 weeks.

Ask for assistance

Whether one is planning on keeping the baby after the pregnancy or not, it is necessary to have a solid support system. This support system could be a friend group, family members, neighbours, or anyone else. Irrespective of what decision one makes about the pregnancy, one will be filled with emotions and the support system will be able to help them through it. If there is no one in one's network they feel comfortable with, they can ask for help from a mental health professional, life coach, or fertility/abortion doula.

Decide for yourself

Once a woman has enough information to make her decision, the first step is to decide whether to continue with the unplanned pregnancy or not on her own. She needs to ask herself tough questions such as:

• What are her heart, brain, and gut telling her to do?
• How long does she have to take the decision depending on where she lives?
• Who will raise the child with her?
• Do her finances allow her to make this decision?
• How does she feel about parenthood in the current circumstances?
• How will she feel about this decision in the future?

Take action to avoid becoming pregnant again

This step is optional and only for those who do not want to have a family at all. If this surprise pregnancy left one feeling frazzled, now would be a good time to take steps to prevent future unintended pregnancies. If one is sure that they never want to be pregnant again, they can choose permanent contraception options such as tubal ligation. They can also ask their partner to have a vasectomy. If not, they can choose non-hormonal or hormonal birth control options such as:

• Condoms
• Diaphragm
• Pills
• Cervical cap
• Shot
• Patch
• IUD
• Ring
• Implant

Conclusion

If a woman recently found out that she is pregnant and was not expecting it, she will go through a flood of emotions. As one is processing this information, it is important to remember that all these reactions are completely natural. Once they are ready, they can take the next steps toward the choice they make about the unplanned pregnancy.