Unplanned pregnancy: It's consequences and implications
Although conceiving a child is considered one of the most joyous experiences that can happen to a woman, an unplanned pregnancy can leave a woman feeling otherwise even when she is in a steady relationship.
The many responsibilities associated with motherhood, the lack of support from the father or her family, and the social stigma put on unplanned pregnancy can all make it a devastating experience. Not to mention that raging hormones during pregnancy, in general can make matters worse, leaving women who become pregnant out of wedlock to suffer more emotionally than wedded women.
Unplanned pregnancy can lead to mothers to decide on three things: abortion, adoption, or keeping the baby. Whereas abortion is legal in majority of the western countries, it isn't in nations where Christianity is the predominant religion. But even when abortion is legal it still isn't an easy decision since it often accompanies emotional, physical, and psychological problems on the mother.
How to make an unplanned pregnancy worth saving?
A small number of young people might not be aware of the consequences of pre-marital sex, with unplanned pregnancy as one of those. However, if you're not one of these people then you should be somewhat informed of the high possibility of conceiving when you're sexually active.
With that as a huge possibility (in the absence of contraceptives), unplanned pregnancy is inevitable. The guilt associated with abortions can be emotionally overbearing to the young mother than to let the unplanned pregnancy continue and hold the baby for adoption.
Today, there are a great number of couples who, for some reasons, resort to adoption and babies are highly in demand. If you believe that you or the father of the baby will be unable to provide his overall needs, then adoption would be the best option. Nobody said it will be guiltless but guilt will be of lesser degree than the decision to abort the baby.
Emotional support is greatly needed during this time, which you can get from supportive networks like friends, relatives, and most of all your parents.
Unplanned pregnancy is one of the biggest issues that transcend beyond cultural. Many unwed mothers are more prone to experience poverty in their lifetime and be dependent in welfares. Statistics show that unplanned pregnancy accounts for more than half of all pregnancies, and the sad truth is that it is most prevalent in teenage girls who are neither economically nor emotionally prepared for the situation.
Unplanned pregnancy is more than just an individual's problem but it is among the biggest factors of population growth that affects an entire nation. Thus, if you're not ready to parent a child, then by all means use contraceptives or better yet don't engage in sex at all.
