Surprise! You're Pregnant!

Did not the expect the good news? Amrita Chatwal tells you how you can take it from here

- Amrita Chatwal

“I’M pregnant,” my friend said as soon as she answered the phone three years back. “Congratulations!” I shot back. “How do you feel?” “Like I just got a prison sentence!” Saying that she burst into noisy tears.

I was flabbergasted. Why was she sounding so miserable when this could have been the happiest moment of her life? “I’m not ready to be a mother. I’ve barely settled into married life. It’s too early! What will I do about work? This is just plain embarrassing!” It’s three years since then, and my friend, after a few minor hiccups, has settled beautifully into motherhood. She’s even planning another baby. “Gosh, planning for it has got to be better than being surprised by it,” she told me.

So what do you do if you are surprised by unplanned pregnancy? How do you deal with the prospect of having your life completely turned around in a matter of minutes? How can you reorder your list of priorities when you can’t even think straight? Read on to find out.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

The first decision you have to make when you unexpectedly find out that you’re pregnant is whether you want to keep the baby or not. Dr. Sumati Chauhan, a senior consultant psychologist in Gurgaon, tells her patients that nothing is right or wrong when it comes to opting for an abortion. “It’s all about what is helpful and unhelpful for your circumstances. If a woman is having trouble deciding what option to take, it is best to consult a counsellor and tackle the problem.”