Pregnancy counselling

Not every woman who finds out she is pregnant is thrilled with the news. Some women may feel scared or confused.

If you feel like this it is very important to talk about your feelings with someone you can trust. You may want to talk to a close friend or family member. You may also like to speak with someone who is not involved in your life, such as your doctor or a pregnancy counsellor. They will listen to you, support you and tell you about the help and services that are available.

What happens at pregnancy counselling?

Pregnancy counsellors will not tell you what to do, but will support you and give you accurate information about available help and services so that you can make a decision you feel comfortable with.

The choices that a doctor or trained professional counsellor can talk about with you include:

-          Going ahead with your pregnancy and keeping the baby

-          Going ahead with your pregnancy and having the baby adopted or fostered

-          Having an abortion (termination of pregnancy)

They will keep your talk private and confidential. It is their role to provide you with information and support, but not to judge you, no matter what decision you make. If you go to a pregnancy counselling service that is funded by the government, your pregnancy counsellor will discuss all of your options with you.

Deciding to have your baby adopted or fostered

Adoption

Deciding to have your baby adopted is an important and permanent decision. Adoption is the legal process that happens when a woman gives up her baby to be raised by adoptive parents.

Foster care

If you are not ready to go ahead with having your baby adopted, you may want to think about having your baby fostered until you feel able to take care of your baby. Foster care is not a permanent situation: you can see your baby while he or she is in foster care and work towards having your baby with you permanently.

This is sometimes a good option for very young mothers or mothers who need to work through some problems (such as drug problems) before they are ready to care for their baby. The Adoption and Family Information Service can tell you more about fostering.

There is more information in the topic Adoption and foster care.

Deciding to have an abortion (termination of pregnancy)

In South Australia and the rest of Australia, pregnancy termination is legal if continuing your pregnancy would harm your physical or mental health more than having the procedure, or if the child is found to be suffering from physical or mental abnormalities.

If you are considering an abortion, it is important for you to first talk with a doctor, counsellor or health worker. They will discuss all your options with you. You will also talk about what an abortion will mean for you: physically, emotionally and spiritually. These issues will be different for every woman. The decision to have an abortion is yours, and you need to feel completely comfortable with it.

Abortions are most straightforward if they are carried out before you are 12 weeks pregnant. After you are 12 weeks pregnant, there is more involved in having an abortion but it is still very safe.

There is more information in the topic Abortion (termination of pregnancy).

The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see your doctor or midwife.