A pregnancy is a life-changing event, regardless of whether you have children already or not. When it’s unexpected, it can feel like even more of a shock and something that can be hard to navigate if it’s not something that’s planned.
Regardless though, there are decisions that need to be made but it’s a journey that you don’t need to work out on your own. Here are some helpful tips for navigating an unexpected pregnancy.
Allow yourself to process the news
A pregnancy that’s unexpected is news that’s going to take you by surprise and that surprised feeling can make you feel emotional. It’s important that you allow yourself to process the news and acknowledge that you can have that moment or longer period of time where you come to terms with the pregnancy.
Pregnancy that isn’t planned will be a challenge, even if you feel as though you have a wealth of support available should you need it. Allowing yourself to process the news is a great first step because it can provide some clarity that you might need in order to navigate the next few decisions and stages within the process.
Face any doubts you might have
It’s easy to doubt your ability to go through this pregnancy, particularly in cases where it’s not planned or perhaps the father isn’t going to be around to help support you. These doubts can often feel like heavy and dark clouds above your head. It’s important that you’re facing any doubts you might have.
These doubts might be financial concerns and perhaps whether you’re able to afford the cost of having a baby. It might be your position in life and where you are in terms of how it could affect your lifestyle. For others, the pregnancy might come earlier on in life and therefore you might feel you’re too young to have a baby.
Facing these doubts certainly helps create a clear judgment rather than letting it fester away in your mind.
Understand that you do have options
It’s important to remember that you’ll always have options when it comes to an unexpected pregnancy. Many believe that keeping the baby is the only option, however, there are plenty of other options to consider. It’s important not to rush your decision making and ultimately the choice should fall into your hands.
Of course, the control you do have isn’t always the reality depending on where you live, so it’s good to understand the options you might be limited to, should that be the case that you have to continue with the pregnancy as normal.
If you have a lot of choices, then of course, make sure you’re considering all of your options before moving forward with any decision.
Seek professional support and advice
When navigating an unexpected pregnancy, it can often feel like you’ve got no immediate support in the way of guidance and advice. However, that’s not true, especially as there are now plenty of organizations in place that exist in order to help those who find themselves in this situation.
Whether that’s teenage pregnancy support or support for pregnancy in general, it’s useful to reach out to these organizations. All are free to use and offer the best advice and support when going through such an emotionally charged time.
Put preparations in place
In order to navigate what can often be an unpredictable journey, it’s good to try and put some preparation in place for when the baby arrives – if you decide to go through with the pregnancy and keep the baby for your own.
Saving money is helpful to support yourself when the time is needed to buy all of the baby’s essentials. You might want to consider who you’ll rely on as your birthing partner and to notify anyone who needs to know about the pregnancy whether that’s the father of the child to your workplace for maternity leave.
These preparations are good to do in order to feel more in control of what can be an uncontrollable situation.
Surround yourself with loved ones
Finally, to help with navigating the pregnancy and having the baby afterward, it’s good to surround yourself with loved ones, who will all offer the support you need. Surrounding yourself with loved ones is important because they’ll be there to help prop you up and provide the help you might need along the way.
Navigating an unexpected pregnancy is challenging. However, with the right support and guidance, it can be a lot easier as a result.
