UNPLANNED PREGNANCY

Everyone has different reactions to finding out they’re pregnant. Some people will be delighted, others will feel shocked. Everybody will need some time to think and some information about what to do next.

When a woman finds out that she’s pregnant she has three main options:

• to continue with the pregnancy
• to have the baby adopted
• to have an abortion

People have lots of different feelings about abortion and you will need to think about how you feel about it for yourself. There are different laws for abortion depending on which part of the UK you live in. There’s more information on abortion and the law on Brook’s website.

Choosing whether or not to continue with a pregnancy is a really big decision and some people find it helpful to talk things through with someone. The most important thing is to talk to someone as soon as possible. If you don’t feel you can talk to anyone you know, contact Brook or FPA and they will help you find somewhere you can get help.

To get an abortion free on the NHS you need to be referred by a doctor or nurse – either your own GP, at a family planning clinic or at a young people’s clinic.

You can also have a private abortion which you would need to pay for. You do not have to be referred by a doctor or nurse for this.

The links below will give you more information about pregnancy and abortion.

• Pregnant and don’t know what to do?
• Abortion: your questions answered.
• Pregnancy and abortion information for young people.