DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional and in no way am I giving you medical advice. Please consult your doctor when seeking medical advice.
You’re in your early 20’s, you’re in a great relationship, and perhaps you’re still in college. You think you have the end of time to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life, and you are still enjoying being able to party on the weekends and not take life too seriously. Suddenly, your cycle gets interrupted and you take a pregnancy test, only to find that it’s positive. You don’t believe it and you take a few more followed by a trip to the OB/GYN only to confirm that you are in fact pregnant. This moment is one filled with uncertainty, fear, and stress. What are you supposed to do in that moment?
DON’T WORRY, EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY
The most important thing to keep in mind when this unexpected life changing thing happens is, you will be okay! Whether you decide to keep the baby or not, you will change along the way and gain strength in the process during pregnancy. It may feel super overwhelming and you may not know what to do right this second, and that perfectly normal. Every pregnant person feels this way in the beginning, and you become overwhelmed with the big decisions you have to make. You must take the time to decide what’s best for you, and handle this decision like an adult. If you want to have the baby, then you can do so and continue to live your life. If you choose not to have the baby, then you shouldn’t feel ashamed of your decision. Whatever it is, it’s your body and it is up to you!
IF YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE THE BABY, TALK TO THE SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE
My best suggestion to you when you find out you are pregnant is to tell the people in your life about the pregnancy as soon as you feel comfortable! It is best to think about it to yourself first to decide what you really want to do, and if you want to have this baby, now is the right time to talk about it. This gives you a chance to gain advice from some of the older people in your life, and you can console in your partner if you’re having a hard time with this new stage of life. Whether it be family, friends, coworkers, even a therapist, you will need to have a support system in place to help you along the journey of pregnancy, and especially for after you have the baby.
DO YOUR RESEARCH AND HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE
When you educate yourself about pregnancy, birth, and having a baby, it allows you to understand what your body is going through, and why you may feel so emotional. Having knowledge about these subjects will put your mind at ease and give you some expectations so you are not in the dark. To be able to understand what your next step is, you need to understand where you are in the present. Buy cheap pregnancy books on Amazon, research about it online, and watch pregnant women and mothers share their tips on YouTube. Being pregnant is no easy journey, and doing the right research will help you in the long run. The American Pregnancy Association has many helpful resources on their website for expecting mothers, so I recommend starting there.
No matter what happens throughout your pregnancy, know that you have a multitude of resources around you that will help you gain knowledge about what you are going through. Feel free to contact me if you need any personal advice about your specific situation, this is a safe space for a reason!