If you get pregnant by accident, you’ll need to decide what to do. There are two options: have the pregnancy terminated (an abortion) or have the baby.

Whatever you decide, you need to think carefully. Here are a few tips to help you.
 

Tip 1
Talk to someone you trust. Someone who can give you advice and support, preferably an adult – your mother, an aunt, a friend.

Tip 2
Tell your parents that you’re pregnant. This is definitely important if you still live at home. If necessary find someone to help you tell them. It could be another family member, or perhaps the doctor.

Tip 3
Go to the doctor to talk about the possibilities. Then you’ll still be in time if you decide to end the pregnancy.

What are you going to do?

• Do you want to end the pregnancy?

If you want to terminate the pregnancy, depending on where you live you can go to a clinic for an abortion. Your doctor can advise you.

• Do you want to have the baby?

You could decide to keep the baby. If you’re not married or in a stable relationship, will you be able to cope? How will it affect your life? Your education? Will you have enough support – from the baby’s father, or your family? Will you have enough money to live on?

You could also have the baby adopted. Again you need to think carefully. You don’t know how you will feel after you’ve given birth and the time comes to hand over your baby to someone else.