Unplanned Pregnancy - Continuing a Pregnancy

If you’repregnant and have decided to have the baby, this fact sheet is for you. You may be feeling excited, worried or confused - or all of these emotions at once. You might not even be sure how you feel. All of these reactions are completely normal.

You have an interesting road ahead of you, some challenges to face and a lot of things to think about. Are you going to raise the baby with somebody else, or on your own? Is adoption an option for you? How does foster care work?

Let’s look at these options one by one.

Parenting With a Partner

Most of us look forward to sharing life experiences like pregnancy with a partner. Whether or not you choose to get married, to live together, or to live apart, making the commitment to raise a child as a couple is a big decision.

It’s important to talk to your partner about how you both feel about all the changes to your relationship, income and lifestyle that raising a child will bring. It’s normal to feel a range of emotions, and to be concerned about how you will cope. Some questions to consider might include:
• Are we financially and emotionally ready for a child?
• Are we okay with the thought of a long-term, committed relationship?
• Would we stay together if there weren’t a pregnancy?
• Are we prepared to raise the child alone if things don’t work out?

Sometimes it helps to have another person help you talk through these issues. To find out how to get in touch with a counsellor, checkout Parentline or call them on 1300 30 1300.

Parenting On Your Own

Being a single parent can be hard, tiring and scary - but also very rewarding. It’s good to seek support from your family, friends and community if you can and it helps to talk through emotional issues with somebody else. If you are living with your family while you have the baby, you may be able to talk to someone at home, or perhaps you can talk to a friend or another person you trust.

If you feel you don’t have anybody to talk to, counsellors can help you deal with the emotional and practical issues of raising a baby on your own. Find what counselling and support is available to you  by visiting Parentline or call 1300 30 1300.

You can also get financial support from the government to help you while you are pregnant. After the baby is born you can get help with rent, accommodation, or childcare. You can get special help if your child gets sick or has a disability.

For more information on the financial assistance available to you visit the ‘Parent or Guardian’ section for individuals on the Centrelink website.

Adoption

Adoption is the legal process of placing your child with people who will raise the child as their own. Adoption is a permanent decision, where all legal rights and responsibilities are transferred from the birth parents to the adoptive parents.

Your rights as a birth parent are very important – although adoption will end your legal relationship with your child, it won’t end your emotional connection to them and their racial identity and cultural heritage will be respected. For more information on what adoption involves, go to  this section of the NSW Community Services website.

Adoption is a less common today than it once was. In 1971-72, there were 9,798 adoptions, while in 2006-2007, there were 568 adoptions.

An ‘open’ adoption is when you and the adoptive family agree that the two families will keep in touch. You can contact the child with letters, pictures and visits. For more about what kind of information and contact is allowed, go to this section of the Community Services website.

If you’re thinking about adoption but not sure if it’s the right choice for you, you can contact DoCS Adoption and Permanent Care Services on 02 9716 3000 or email: adoption@dhs.nsw.gov.au, to ask about your options.

Fostering

Foster care involves your child being looked after by another family. There are different types of foster care.

Temporary Foster Care

This can be used while you sort out accommodation, financial or personal problems. During voluntary care (not ordered by the Court) you remain the child’s guardian and can see your child. Temporary care is usually limited to several weeks.

Long-Term Foster Care

If your child is in long-term foster care, you will lose legal guardianship and/or custody, but will still be your child’s legal parent. Children often become emotionally attached to their foster family. You need to know that the Court might not agree to return your child when you are ready.

You can find out more about your rights while your child is in foster care  in this section of the NSW Department of Community Services website.

Healthy Pregnancy

When you are pregnant, the sooner you see a doctor or midwife the better - it’s important both you and the baby are looked after properly.

To find out more about how to stay healthy when you are pregnant, you might like to read the Pre-Pregnancy Planning Factsheet.

To keep you and the baby healthy, eat a diet that includes lots of fruit and vegetables. Try to limit the amount of caffeine you drink (this includes coffee and cola drinks), as well as junk food that is high in fat and sugar.

Drugs, alcohol and smoking will also affect your baby, both while you’re pregnant and after the baby is born. It can be hard to adjust your lifestyle, but it’s important to remember that what you put into your body can affect your baby’s health. Using alcohol and other drugs on a regular basis can affect the way your baby develops and its long-term health.

For more information about pregnancy you can contact the maternity unit of your local hospital and speak to a midwife or a social worker. You can also call Healthline on 1300 658 886 to talk to a reproductive and sexual health nurse. Talking to the nurse is confidential and anonymous.

For Further Information

Contact the Healthline on 1300 658 886
NRS (for deaf) 133 677

Other resources

Family Planning NSW has books available for purchase on this topic. See Healthrites bookshop at www.fpnsw.org.au.

The information in this Factsheet has been provided for educational purposes only. FPNSW has taken every care to ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date at the time of publication. Individuals concerned about any personal reproductive or sexual health issue are encouraged to seek advice and assistance from their health care provider or visit an FPNSW clinic.

Reviewed: October 2011