Pregnancy

I just learned that I am pregnant.

1. Perhaps the first thing that you need to do is seek medical attention to ensure that you are pregnant and to ensure that you and the baby are cared for. Home pregnancy tests are typically pretty reliable, but not always, and your doctor can run tests to absolutely confirm (or deny) that you are pregnant.
2. Consider all of your options very carefully, and don’t make decisions based purely on how you feel today. Feelings tend to change over time and the result can be lifelong regrets.
3. Seek out the help of a responsible adult who can help you. For example, perhaps you know of a minister, a teacher, or family member that you can trust to talk to about what is going on in your life and what decisions you will be making.
4. If your boyfriend has a history of violence or has been hurtful to you in the past, then you will likely want to be careful how you share this news with him. As you already know from your own experience, he is likely to experience a flood of intense emotions. Consider taking someone with you to share the news. If you have serious concerns about your safety, then consider sharing the news over the telephone.
5. Don’t expect your parents to understand or to embrace the pregnancy at first. Like you, they are going to need a time of adjustment and coming to terms with the reality. In most cases, however, parents decide that supporting their daughter and loving the child is the right thing to do. Parents often become the greatest source of support for these trying months and become real allies.
6. If your parents are among those who are not supportive, even after the initial shock, then it becomes even more important to find a responsible adult to help you through this time. You are going to need a lot of support and encouragement over the coming months.
7. Consider keeping a daily journal of your thoughts and feelings that you experience during the pregnancy. This will help you to process the experience and will also provide a pretty cool way to look back over all that has happened once the baby arrives.
8. Stay away from activities and/or habits that can cause harm to you or the baby. Drug abuse, alcohol use, and smoking can all be bad for the baby.
9. If you are considering adoption as an option, check out www.bethany.org
10. If you have no place to go, check out www.mercyministries.org.
11. Call the HopeLine (1-800-394-HOPE) or visit www.dmlive.com to chat with a live person.