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I think I'm pregnant — what should I do?

If you are a teenager and think you are pregnant, the first thing to do is get support. Having someone to talk to can help you to make healthy decisions.

You will also want to make sure if you are pregnant or not as soon as you can.

Signs of early pregnancy

The most important sign of pregnancy is a missed period. But if you have an irregular menstrual cycle, it's hard to know if you are pregnant or your period is just late.

In early pregnancy, you may notice changes such as:

• morning sickness — nausea or vomiting that can come and go during the day
• sore breasts
• your breasts seem bigger
• feeling tired
• feeling dizzy

Having one or more of these changes does not necessarily mean you are pregnant. But it is a good idea to check with a doctor as soon as you can. You might be pregnant or there might be something else going on.

Taking a pregnancy test

The only way to be sure that you are pregnant is by taking a pregnancy test. The sooner you can find out for sure, the more time you will have to think about your options.

You can get a test from:

• a pharmacy or supermarket
• your doctor
• a women's health centre or family planning clinic

If your test says you are pregnant you will need to decide what to do next. You might want to tell the father of your baby straight away. Or you might want to talk to a friend or family member first. It might be daunting to tell someone, but getting care early can help.

Seeing a doctor

Home tests can be less reliable than a testing by a doctor. But if it comes up positive it is likely to be right. You should still see a doctor as soon as you can to get the pregnancy confirmed. The sooner you do this, the more options you have.

A doctor can talk with you about how to look after yourself while you are pregnant. They can keep your information confidential.

I could be pregnant after sexual assault — what does this mean?

Any unwanted sexual behaviour that you have not agreed to is sexual assault.

It might mean you were forced, tricked, intimidated or coerced into:

• unwanted or inappropriate touching or kissing
• having sex with someone without giving consent

Rape may also be called 'sexual intercourse without consent'. If this has happened to you, you might worry that you could be pregnant.

If you're still in danger or worried about your safety, call triple zero (000) or visit your nearest hospital.

Try to tell someone you trust about the assault, such as:

• a friend or family member
• a sexual assault helpline
• a health professional

You should not feel ashamed or to blame for what happened to you. Sexual assault is never the fault of the person who was assaulted.

Seek medical help as soon as you can, from a hospital, health clinic or rape-crisis centre.

Staff can help you with:

• medical care for any injuries
• counselling services
• information about sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• advice on contraception including emergency contraception

You don't have to report what has happened to the police if you don't want to.

What are my choices?

Finding out you are expecting a baby can bring up many emotions. You might feel confused and scared, or happy and excited. All these feelings are normal and OK. Your feelings will probably change while you are thinking about what to do.

If you decide to continue the pregnancy and have the baby, options for you to consider include:

• raising your child with a partner
• raising your child on your own
• using foster or kinship care for your baby
• having your baby adopted

Or you might decide to end the pregnancy (termination) and not have the baby.

It's important that you have enough information about all the options before you decide what to do. Talking with someone may help. This could be:

• a trusted friend or family member
• a doctor or another health care professional
• a counsellor

What is kinship care?

Kinship care is a type of out of home care where your child is cared for by a relative or someone you already know. A kinship arrangement can be more stable for the child than other types of foster care. It can give them a sense of their culture and family.

You can still see your child if they are in kinship or foster care.

Take your time to think

The following questions may help you work out what you want your future to look like.

Your relationships:

• Do you have support from family or a partner?
• Can you work things out through the tough times?

Your responsibilities:

• What does being a parent mean to you?
• Who can you call on for emotional and financial support?

Future plans:

• How would having a baby affect your plans for your education or work?
• Where do you see yourself in 1-, 2- and 5-years' time?

Unfortunately, many teenagers delay seeking advice when they are pregnant. You may feel alone, but other people have been in this situation before, and help is available.

How do I start telling people I am pregnant

As a teenager or adolescent your pregnancy reveal conversation may go differently than if you were an adult.

Some people find it helps to figure out how they are feeling themselves, before telling anyone else. For others, talking about it helps them work through their feelings.

Think about who to tell first and how to tell them. It might be your partner or your parents.

You could do it:

• in a phone call
• face-to-face
• using online messaging

For big news like this, in person is often best.

If you're worried about how it will go, think through the conversation beforehand. Practice saying the words in your head. You might be able to guess how someone will react, or they may surprise you.

Whatever happens, it's best not to delay the conversation for too long.

Telling the father of your baby

How you do this will depend on what type of relationship you have. If it is safe, tell them in a private place. They might be shocked, excited or scared.

Just as you might have gone through a range of emotions and responses, so will they. Give the other person time for the news to sink in.

Then you can discuss how you both feel and what you want to do.

Telling your parents

Telling your parents that you are pregnant can be a lot!

If you're worried they'll react badly, plan a safe place to go afterwards.

This gives your parent or carer a chance to take in the news and calm down.

It's normal for your parents to be concerned for you. Here are some possible ways they could react:

• They may be shocked, anxious, angry or feel a sense of guilt or responsibility.
• They may feel like they have lost the dreams they had for you.
• Perhaps some of your choices go against their values.
• They may feel disappointed that you didn't tell them about the pregnancy sooner.
• They may be concerned about what friends and other family members think.

Kids helpline has some advice on talking with your parents.

There are services available to help if you don't feel supported by your family. See the Resources and Support section below.

Continuing my pregnancy

Your health

If you choose to continue your pregnancy, it's important that you get medical support.

As a teenager, you are more likely to have an early birth or a small baby. Good pregnancy care helps keep you and your baby healthy.

During pregnancy, it's important that you:

• eat well
• avoid drinking alcohol
• don't smoke or vape

You can get help to stop drinking or smoking. Your local pharmacy has products to help you quit. Or you can call the Quitline.

Some young people see being pregnant as an opportunity to get healthy.

Teenagers have a higher chance of postnatal depression, anaemia and urinary tract infections (UTIs) than pregnant adults. But you should have a lower chance of gestational diabetes or blood clotting problems than a pregnant adult.

After having your baby, you can get help to breastfeed if you choose to. You should also think what contraception you'd like to use.

Your life as a teenage parent

Being a teenage parent can make it harder to finish your education or get a job. Juggling the responsibilities of being a parent with work, school and a social life can be a challenge.

On the other hand, as a young parent, you will have more energy to keep up with a toddler. You may find it easier than older parents to deal with getting little or no sleep.

Being a teen parent can make you feel lonely and apart from your family and friends.

Your finances

Find out how Medicare can help with healthcare costs during pregnancy.

Parents can find it difficult to find affordable childcare. If you can't earn money because you are home with your child, this can make it hard to cope financially.

Support for teenage parents is available through Services Australia.

Ending my pregnancy

If you choose not to continue the pregnancy, there are 2 ways that you can have an abortion:

• Surgical abortion — is safe, simple and low-risk when done before 12 weeks of pregnancy.
• Medical abortion — this is where you take some tablets to end your pregnancy. This can only be done for pregnancies of less than 9 weeks.

While it's best to have a termination as early as you can, it's also important to take the time to make the best decision for you. Speak to your doctor or family planning clinic about this.

Abortion is legal in Australia. However, there are different abortion laws in each state and territory. These laws state the latest time you can go ahead with an abortion.

Your rights

It's your right to have:

• confidential care
• safe, non-judgmental care
• respect, whatever choice you make
• the chance to make shared decisions about your health with your healthcare providers and any other support people you choose
• time to get information and ask questions so you can give informed consent for medical treatment

For more information see the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights.

Healthcare complaints

If you are unhappy with your healthcare, here are some people you could speak to:

• your midwife or doctor
• the health complaints agency or health department in your local state or territory
• the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman

Resources and support

Being pregnant as a teenager can put a lot of stress on you and your family. However, there is support available to help you make decisions that are right for you.

• The BRAVE Foundation provides resources for young people who are expecting a baby or parenting.
• Family Planning Alliance Australia can help you look at your options in confidence.
• Relationships Australia offers family counselling and mediation. You can call them on 1300 364 277.
• Teenagers and young adults aged 18 to 25 years can also call Kids helpline on 1800 55 1800, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Read their tips.
• headspace also provide support for young people going through a tough situation.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby can help you:

• find local health services
• understand maternity care in Australia
• learn more about the support available for teenage parents