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If you had unprotected intercourse less
than 72 hours, or three days, ago and you don't want to become pregnant, you can
read the message on the Morning After Pill, in the Birth Control
section.
If you had a
pregnancy test that was positive, that is, it said you are pregnant, but that
pregnancy was unplanned, you might be facing one of the most important decisions
of your life. This message will talk about the three choices you
have:
? continue the
pregnancy, and keep the child
? continue the pregnancy and place the child for adoption,
or
? end the pregnancy by
abortion.
All three of these
choices may have life-long implications. Not one is easy.
But it is the pregnant woman's choice. It
must be based on your needs and hopes, on what you decide is right for you now.
You must look at what support and help you will have.
Although there may be important people in your life
to talk with first, you can't make a decision just to please others. You have to
live with your choice, so it must be your decision.
Talking over the possibilities can help sort out
your ideas and thoughts. You may want to talk to your partner, your parents, a
relative or a friend. Find someone you trust who you think will support you --
whatever decision you make. Or talk confidentially to a counsellor at a family
planning clinic.
If you
continue the pregnancy, whether you will keep the baby or place it up for
adoption, good prenatal care can make the your pregnancy easier, and both you
and the baby healthier. Taking care of yourself before the baby's born means
eating well, avoiding tobacco, caffeine, drugs and alcohol, getting enough
exercise and rest. You can also read the messages about Pregnancy and Childbirth
or Teen Pregnancy sections of this document, for more
information.
Children can be a great joy. They also need
a lot of care for many years. Think about the support and help you will have.
Make a budget. Consider your life goals. What will having a child now mean to
you, to your education, career, the rest of your family? Is this the right time
for you to have a baby?
If
you want to place the child for adoption, either with a relative or a friend or
someone you don't know, you will need to know your rights and what to expect.
More information is given in the message on Adoption on this
page.
If you think you might choose to have
an abortion, remember that the procedure is safest and easiest within the first
12 weeks of pregnancy. Very few hospitals or clinics will do abortions if a
woman is over 20 weeks pregnant, that is, 20 weeks after the first day of her
last menstrual period. Putting off the decision too long can leave no choice but
to continue the pregnancy.
If you want to talk to someone, you can
call a local Planned Parenthood organization or Public Health Unit
.
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