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Unplanned Pregnancy, Unplanned Pregnancy Help Written by: Nancy Wurtzel |
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An unplanned pregnancy can come as a great shock, whatever age you are and whether you are in a steady relationship or not. It may also come at a very difficult time for you, with heavy work, financial or domestic pressures making the thought of pregnancy overwhelming, and this is a time when you will need a lot of help and support to make some difficult choices for the future.
These days there are a number of organisations that can provide expert and confidential counselling for women who are facing the difficult situation of an unplanned pregnancy, and they will be able to give you lots of information about your options and support you once you have made your decisions.
Abortion
Abortion is a very hard decision to make for any woman, and you will need a lot of support if you decide to terminate a pregnancy. The first step will be to see your GP and discuss the issue with them, and they will also be best placed to refer you to the relevant clinic for assessment. In the UK there are strict criteria and guidelines laid down for the abortion procedure, and two doctors will discuss your decision with you, normally your GP and the doctor who gives you the initial assessment at the clinic, and they will ensure that an abortion is in both you and the unborn babies best interests. Abortions are only legal up until the 24th week, unless there is an exceptional case where the mother's life is at risk, or the unborn child has been diagnosed with a severe physical or mental disability.
There are two types of abortion procedures, which correlate to which stage the pregnancy is in:
* Drug treatments - these are used commonly for up to nine weeks into the pregnancy and do not require a stay in hospital in most cases. The drug mifepristone (known as the abortion pill) is taken in tablet form and this works to block the pregnancy hormones and prevent the pregnancy from continuing. After 48 hours you must then take a prostaglandin-type drug which will expel the aborted pregnancy from the uterus. Drug treatments can be taken up to 24 weeks into the pregnancy as well, and this usually requires a stay in hospital, and the care of a midwife or experience nurse as the process takes longer and you may need more than one dose of prostaglandin.
* Surgical treatments - surgical abortions that are carried out from the 5th to 15 week of pregnancy are known as suction termination, where the contents of the uterus are removed under local anaesthetic. This can be done through outpatients and you will not be required to stay overnight in hospital. From the 15th to 19th weeks a surgical D&E is required (dilatation and evacuation) and this is normally carried out under a light general anaesthetic, with an overnight stay in hospital. More advanced pregnancies can be more complicated and may require some intrusive surgery that will be need to be carried out under a full general anaesthetic, with a short stay in hospital necessary.
If you are thinking of having an abortion then it is important that you get all the help and support you can, because this can have a significant psychological impact on your life, and it is important that you understand your choices, and are sure you are making the decision that is best for you.
Adoption
Adoption is another option for those women who find they have an unplanned pregnancy. If you come to the decision that you are not in a position to raise your child yourself, but don't want to go down the abortion route then you can put your baby up for adoption through specialised adoption services. There are many couples who are unable to have their own children, so demand for adoptive babies is high and potential parents are carefully scrutinised and great care is taken in placing these babies with the right families.
Before you decide to put your baby up for adoption it is important that you understand the process thoroughly, and you can contact a social worker or an adoption agency counsellor to find out more about what will happen during your pregnancy and after you give birth, and also your personal rights and responsibilities.
If you decide on adoption then you must ensure you get all the support and care you need after the birth of your baby, as you are likely to feel very emotional and vulnerable, and even if you are sure you have made the right decision you may experience feelings of guilt, loss and even grief. |
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