Anyone who dreams of becoming pregnant would never consider the idea of an abortion. But have you ever stopped to think about the despair of a woman or girl faced with an unplanned pregnancy? What are the feelings involved in this situation?
How pregnancy happens is something many women know all too well. And also how to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. However, there are cases where pregnancy happens and can cause major upheaval in this woman or girl’s life. Most of the time this type of situation occurs because of a lack of care during sexual intercourse1. The use of condoms by very inexperienced couples, or a lack of prevention through birth control methods, can bring the risk of an unwanted pregnancy. However, recklessness at the time of sex goes far beyond an unexpected positive result.
Many cases of unwanted pregnancy have a bigger story behind the pregnancy. Whether it’s teenagers who made a mistake and ended up pregnant, cases of infidelity within marriage, financial difficulty, or any other situation that causes more fear than joy at being pregnant. See, we’re not talking about a pregnancy that comes as a surprise, the kind that, despite the initial shock, ends up being welcomed. We’re talking about a pregnancy where the woman prefers to end the life of the being growing inside her. 
The number of abortions increases every day. Clinics that carry out this kind of procedure are 100% clandestine, since abortion is illegal in Brazil. Anyone who performs one, in addition to committing a crime, is usually providing a service of poor quality, since hygiene in these places is not great. There are also websites that lead women to buy abortion pills. However, these can also end up causing side effects, which can lead to the woman’s death or to a serious state from the hemorrhaging they cause2.
How to Deal with Unplanned Pregnancy?
The important thing is to face the situation head-on. If you are a teenager, tell your parents about the situation. Sometimes the scare and thoughts like: “I’m going to get yelled at” or “my dad’s going to kill me” are much worse than reality. Telling your parents is the best option. Obviously, support from your partner is essential at this delicate time. If you can’t bring yourself to do it, tell a trusted adult. They’ll know how to help you tell your family.
How to tell your family may vary. But an honest conversation is the best way to open up about the situation. Explaining how it happened and with whom is very important. Parents may be angry at first, but soon that initial feeling passes. Love for their children eventually outweighs everything else. If the case is more complicated, like adults who don’t want the baby, for example, the prevailing advice is to give this child a chance to be happy with someone who can truly love them. Even if the body changes and hormones give that mother a chance to love her baby, there’s also the financial aspect, which in some cases can be quite difficult. The option to leave the child for adoption is a good idea. Leaving a baby at the maternity hospital to be cared for is not a crime!
Everyone should do what they wish with their own body. However, there should be responsibility during sexual intercourse. Consequences can arise from it, such as unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections, like HIV and so many others out there. The important thing is to know that everyone is vulnerable to this kind of situation. Any contact of the penis with the vagina during a woman’s fertile time can result in pregnancy. That’s why a condom should always be at hand when the moment happens. Aside from that, there are pills and so many other contraceptive methods available for free at health centers3. Don’t be embarrassed by doctors, or by picking up or buying a condom. The best thing is to take care of yourself.
What can be done in cases of an unwanted pregnancy is to prevent it from happening. And if you’re already pregnant, keep in mind that life is bigger than anything you will go through. The responsibility of a pregnancy is always shared by two people! As the saying goes, it takes two to tango… It’s your body, but life is for God to decide whether it continues or not, okay? Abortion pills may seem like a good solution and even help at first. But your conscience will always be right there. Taking care is the best thing to do. Be smart, kids! Pregnancy is serious business, and it involves another life beyond your own!
Note: We’ve seen cases in the news where a woman went through with an unwanted pregnancy. But, after giving birth, left her child in the trash. No wonder cases of women abandoning their babies in plastic bags on the street have become more frequent. However, there are also cases where unwanted pregnancy led to an increase in children available for adoption. From a human perspective, this would be the best way to go. If the pregnancy happened “by accident,” the least that can be done is to respect the life of that innocent being.
See also: Getting Pregnant While Taking Birth Control: Can it Happen?
Photo: raj
