The discovery of an unplanned pregnancy brings all of the usual emotions and concerns of pregnancy to mind, but with an urgency and clarity unlike that of a pregnancy that has been planned for months.
When you first discover that you are pregnant you will experience the same emotional reactions as someone who has been trying to conceive. But the months of preparation that she has had now needs to be accelerated. If your pregnancy is unplanned, your routine prenatal visits become more important, so that you and your baby can be properly monitored over the coming months.
The sudden discovery that you are pregnant affects everyone differently. If you are married, and not using contraception, other than the withdrawal method, then you may be surprised, but not unhappy with the discovery. A single woman who is actively using contraceptives may experience a completely different reaction.
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As soon as you discover you are pregnant you should visit your doctor. It is important that you get the pregnancy confirmed and get the appropriate screening tests completed as soon as you can. You will need to be candid with your doctor and provide details about the circumstances of your pregnancy and the type of contraception you have been using, if any.
Regular prenatal visits are an important part of your pregnancy, making sure that both you and your baby are healthy. During your visits your caregiver will be alert for potential problems, planning to stop them before they become serious. This could even be something as simple as making sure that you are getting enough iron to prevent anemia or and ultrasound scan to ensure that your baby is developing normally. routine prenatal visits will give you the tremendous reassurance that your pregnancy is going exactly as you planned.
An unplanned pregnancy may cause unexpected complications. If you were using an IUD or hormonal contraceptive such the pill, then you will need your doctor's advice about how best to proceed.
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If you become pregnant as the result of a casual encounter and the condom broke, then you will need to be screened for sexually transmitted diseases, and especially for HIV.
If you don't know who the father is, you will need to tell the doctor. It is important that you doctor understands the details of your circumstances so that the appropriate screens, including genetic testing can be performed. There are many free resources including counseling, legal advice, birth control and even abortion to help in situations such as this.
If you decide to keep the baby, then you may need to make a sudden and dramatic change in your lifestyle. If you are using drugs, alcohol or tobacco, then your doctor may be able to advise you about the best way to quit.
Your medical history will need to be examined, and the condition of your ovaries, age of the pregnancy and the types of medications you are taking will need to be considered. Depending on your circumstances, a therapeutic abortion may be recommended.
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