Options in pregnancy

When you are pregnant you need to think about your options Finding out you are pregnant can be anything from exciting to daunting. You are the only one who knows how you feel about it and you may feel many different things.

You need to look after yourself and get support and advice. Firstly it is a good idea to confirm your pregnancy by seeing a doctor. The doctor can talk to you about the social and health issues involved in being pregnant. If you are not sure what to do the doctor can refer you to Family Planning or another agency for counselling to help you decide what you want to do. There are a number of options available to you when you are pregnant:

Continue with the pregnancy and keep the baby

You can decide to continue with the pregnancy and look after the baby when it is born. It is important you seek advice about your diet and health and continue to see a doctor throughout your pregnancy and decide where you are going to have the baby. You will also need to start planning to get all the things you will need once the baby is born. Depending on your circumstances there are many forms of support that you can access to help you care for your baby. You can ask for support from the father of the baby, your family and Centrelink. There may be other welfare agencies that can also give you assistance if you need it.

If you feel unable to cope once you have the baby

If you have a baby and don't feel able to look after it yourself, you can approach other members of your family to help you look after the baby or the Department of Community or Family Services in your State or Territory. Welfare workers from the Department can assess your situation and if it is appropriate they read more