Pregnancy - Your Options

Making a decision about a unintended pregnancy can be difficult especially if other people are pressuring you into making a choice you are not sure about.  You can an discuss your options with family planning clinics, contraception and sexual health service, your school nurse or GP. They will be able to give you support and unbiased information so you can make your own decision. 8 Signs That May Indicate Pregnancy Having a Pregnancy Test Finding Out About the Pregnancy How do I Tell My Parents/Carers

• your period is late/has stopped.
• feeling sick or nauseous (at any time of the day).
• feeling tired.
• going off certain things e.g. coffee and fatty food.
• strange taste in your mouth.
• needing to wee more often.
• breast tenderness, tingling and enlargement.
• increased vaginal discharge.

If you are pregnant your periods will stop and you may not experience any other signs listed above.

You can buy pregnancy testing kits from most chemists (they cost about £10).

Some chemists will perform the test for you at a cost.  You can also get a free pregnancy test from a range of services:

• a young persons clinic.
• a family planning clinic.
• a community pregnancy testing service.
• your practice nurse or doctor.

A pregnancy test is only accurate if done on or after the first day of the missed period or two weeks after possible conception (unprotected sex). If a test is done too early it may not be accurate, so it is best to wait.

If the test is negative you may be asked to repeat the test with an early morning specimen, that's the first sample of urine of the day.

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When you do tell your family and friends, they may be shocked, upset or even angry at first, but they soon accept the situation.  The sooner you tell people the sooner you'll be able to get their help and support.

Regardless of what your decision about the pregnancy may be, you will need to see a nurse or doctor as soon as possible - whether to begin the referral process for an abortion (which can take some time) or to begin antenatal care (care during pregnancy). Don't be put off seeking medical help which you make your decision, or you may find that you have to continue with a pregnancy that you didn't want due to the time limits on abortion.  If you don't want to see your GP, staff at your local family planning or young person's clinic can help you.

If you are thinking of continuing with your pregnancy it is important that you contact your GP or midwife to arrange antenatal check ups during pregnancy.

If you would like to find out about sources of financial support and any benefits you may be entitled to, your Connexions Personal Advisor for Teenage Parents and Pregnant Teenagers can be contacted on 01623 821562, or visit your local job centre who will be able to give you more information.

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Telling your parents or carers that you are pregnancy or are about the become a young dad can be really scary. They may not even realise that you are in a relationship and therefore a pregnancy can be a shock.  Most young people worry that their parents will kill them or throw them out when they hear the news. If you are not sure what to do about your pregnancy you do not have to tell your parents straight away but telling them can really help you to make your decision and certainly the support of an adult that you trust at this difficult time is very important. You may be worried or frightened about telling people that you are pregnant particularly if it wasn't planned - but you can't hide it forever.  The longer you leave it the more stressed you will become and the harder it will be to tell someone.  You could talk through your options with a trained counsellor, Youth Worker, Health Worker or other professional worker that you know.

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