Teen pregnancy
It can be a shock to discover your young daughter is pregnant. She may have told you herself, or you may suspect something, or someone else may have told you. No matter how you have found out, it’s important to respond calmly and show your daughter love. You may be angry and upset, but she is probably frightened and anxious too.
What do I do?
- Remain calm
- Ensure your daughter can feel that she can come and talk to you about this
- Educate yourself about her choices (abortion, adoption, keeping the baby)
- Take her to her doctor for a thorough check-up
- Accept that she may hide the father’s identity or not want to talk about him very much
- Remember that she is feeling just as scared and as worried as you are
- Ask her what she wants to do.
This last point is the most difficult. You want your daughter to make an educated and well-considered decision. What she decides to do now will affect her whole life. Help her to find out about her options, and help her to understand how each option will impact on her life.
None of this is simple. But at first, put your own feelings aside. Give your daughter a hug, and let her know how much you love her. And don’t forget that you will need your own support person – a close friend, your partner or your own parent.
For more information about dealing with your teen’s pregnancy, see Family Planning who offer pregnancy testing and advice. The Community Law Centre offers legal information for pregnant teens:
Your child is probably looking for advice and support. The Word website and Youthline’s Urge website have information and advice for teens who may be pregnant. And the American Sex, etc website offers advice and answers questions for pregnant teens.
