In case of unexpected pregnancy, reaching the stage of final decision is quiet difficult. Lot of thinking is involved about what can be done. Keeping all situations in mind you will have to finally decide whether you want to go ahead or not.

How To Cope With An Unplanned Pregnancy:
An unexpected pregnancy can be exciting for many of us but others may become anxious on hearing the same news. To cope up with the trauma and anxiety caused by unplanned pregnancy there are few things which can be done:

• Give Time For Thinking: Once the information about unexpected pregnancy came into existence the period of tension also begins simultaneously. Give time and think deeply over the issue. If you will take the decision immediately it may be so that you will have to repent later. Therefore, sit with your partner and think on all aspects and then take decision about what you are going to do.
• Talk About The Issue: The planning about future can be done only when you will discuss things with others. Talk to your family members, friends and of course your spouse. They are ones who can guide you about what to do. You can also consult your doctor and her suggestion also. but communication is necessary.
• Take Care Of Yourself: All this while when you are undergoing a traumatic period, make sure that you are taking good care of your self. Proper diet, lots of fluid intake and fruits are very important.

Telling Your Spouse About An Unplanned Pregnancy:
Once become aware of your unexpected pregnancy; do not hesitate to tell about it to your husband. The process of decision making will become easier for you if you will do so. You agree with his decision or not is another part but he must be aware of the fact and you thinking regarding it.

So, make sure that you make your spouse aware of it and try to take a unified decision about the unborn and unexpected baby.

Studies have shown that the negative affects of Post Abortion Syndrome scars a woman for life, affecting her fertility rate and her relationship with her near and dear ones.

Abortion also causes great physical damages. Some of the several negative effects of abortion are as follows.

1) Convulsions
2) Cervical injury
3) Excessive bleeding
4) Infection
5) Ripping or perforation of the uterus
6) Hemorrhage

According to studies conducted it has been found out that most of the women who underwent abortion suffered from “Sterility”. Reason being infections of the uterine wall and contraction of venerable diseases during abortion.

Studies have also shown that when the first baby is aborted, there tends to be a weakening of the cervix. This leads to further miscarriages and greater difficulties in future pregnancies.

Complications of abortions further affects the fetus infecting the child with cerebral palsy, premature births, abnormal development of the placenta, and also these threats pose to be a great risk to the mother’s life too.

Women who have undergone an abortion have a great risk of dying during a later pregnancy.

Abortions lead to long-term damages, which are irrevocable. Therefore, a woman has to be very careful and prudent while making a decision in favor of abortion.

Abortion should be avoided as much as possible so as to avoid future complications in pregnancy.

Highlights of the causes

• Long term relationships lead to pregancy. Precautions may not be taken in such a situation.
• Carefree sex or rather casual sex without thinking too much about it.
• Lack of sufficient knowledge of the preventive measures.
• Immaturity.
• Lack of guidance from elders.
• Hushed up affairs.
• Rape
• Lack of self control
• Experimenting
• Not using birth control devices or they failing at times.
• Passion

Effects

• Physical changes in the body system, detrimental to the health of the teenager.
• Early responsibility . Not adequately equipped to cope up with the pregnancy.
• Complications due to lack of knowlege of handling it.
• Bodysystems not attuned to early pregnancies and can ressult in miscarriage or pregancy defects.
• Uterus expands. Need to consult a doctor for further sexual activity.
• Emotional trauma of handling a child at such an early age.
• Changes in life-styles, affecting the overall personality.
• Lose out on usual teenage activities and fun and frolic.
• Termination of pregancy affects the general health.
• Teenage activities such as drinking, smoking ,eating fast foods, taking drugs have negative impact on pregancy.
• Has to consult doctor about her activities during pregnancy and also later if required.

Chromosomal abnormalities
Miscarriages caused by chromosomal abnormalities are random occurrences. More than half of miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities-problems with the structure or number of chromosomes in the embryo or with the genes that the chromosomes carry.

Emotional Effects of unplanned pregancy

• Initial excitement
• Confusion
• Fear
• Resentment
• Fristration
• Unable to accept the situation.
• Depression at times.
• Decision problem of whether to terminate or continue pregnancy causing uncalled for emotional trauma.

Think before you indulge in sex . Know the repercussions much in advance. Be funloving no doubt, but also make sure that the fun lasts! Youth is meant to be preserved and good health at that stage means good health at a later point in ones’s life. In other words,it is life-time investment to take adequate precautions in avoiding early pregancy.

What is miscarriage?
Miscarriage is pregnancy loss that occurs before 20 weeks, before the fetus is able to survive outside the womb. Most miscarriages occur in the first trimester or 12 weeks of pregnancy. As many as 50 percent of all pregnancies may end in miscarriage, because many losses occur before a woman realizes she is pregnant.

Most miscarriages are the result of chromosomal abnormalities in the developing embryo. In fact, about 7 percent of all pregnancy losses — miscarriages or not — have chromosomal abnormalities, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

Studies reveal that 40 percent of pregnancies detected by a blood test end in miscarriage and 25 percent of pregnancies detected by a fetal heart beat end in miscarriage. The risk of miscarriage increases as a woman gets older.

The causes of miscarriage
There are various reasons due to which a miscarriage happens, some of which are:

Chromosomal abnormalities
Miscarriages caused by chromosomal abnormalities are random occurrences. More than half of miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities-problems with the structure or number of chromosomes in the embryo or with the genes that the chromosomes carry.

Maternal disease:
Conditions such as lupus and other autoimmune disorders, congenital heart disease, severe kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid disease, and intrauterine infection are associated with higher-than-average miscarriage rates

Hormonal imbalances:
Hormone imbalances (for example, progesterone deficiencies) are also known to cause msscarriages

Immune system disorders:
Women with high levels of antiphospholipid antibodies (APA)-substances that increase the clotting tendencies of blood-are at increased risk of miscarriage.

Recreational drug and alcohol use:
Using recreational drugs and consuming large quantities of alcohol increase your chances of suffering a miscarriage.

Apart from the above mentioned reasons, a miscarriage could also be caused due to

• Lupus and other autoimmune disorders
• Severe kidney disease
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Thyroid disease
• Intrauterine infection

How to check for pregnancy Loss?
Prevention is always better than cure and it applies best here. You should constantly consult your family practitioner and undergo necessary prescribed tests. These tests would help predict any disorder which could prove to be a risk for your baby.

Among the tests conducted, is Genetic testing for recurrent pregnancy loss, which could help you identify treatments for any possible disorder.

Miscarriages are the most common type of pregnancy loss, occurring in approximately 15 percent to 20 percent of confirmed pregnancies, according to ACOG. Most miscarriages happen during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, and the vast majority go unnoticed. They can occur up to the 20th week of pregnancy.

Most miscarriages are the result of chromosomal abnormalities in the developing embryo. In fact, about 7 percent of all pregnancy losses — miscarriages or not — have chromosomal abnormalities, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

Some of the physical side effects which women face up to two weeks are:

• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

The duration of these side effects vary from individuals. Also there could be other types of side effects which would vary from person to person. There are a host of them, few of which have been listed here.

• Hemorrhage -There exists the possibility of Hemorrhage due to bleeding or other such factors.
• Infection – The person could be prone to infections which are an outcome of the procedure.
• Perforation of the uterus
• Crying/sighing – Owing to the mental trauma which the mother goes though, she could be found crying for long period in a bid to overcome the shock and grief.
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Exhaustion
• Nervousness

The ones mentioned above are found to be occurring more commonly. But that does not relegate other forms of side effects which exist. In fact, these side effects are specific and depends on several factors such as the individual, the social stigma and other such factors.

Thus there exist other kinds of side effects pertaining to the body. Some of them among the lesser known side effects are

• Extremely heavy bleeding, more than your usual period
• Excruciating stomach or back pains
• Discharge that has an awful odour

Apart from the physical side effects, a procedure takes its toll on the individual’s mind. The individual also goes through a host of emotional turmoil which could lead to:

• Lower self-esteem and confidence
• Denial
• Isolated and lonely feelings
• Relationship difficulties
• Emotional numbness
• Feeling agitated and angry more often
• Pain during sex
• Disrupted sleeping patterns or insomnia
• Fear of others finding out
• Eating disorders
• Depression
• Drugs or alcohol abuse
• Suicidal feelings or attempting suicide

Medical Abortion:
A medical abortion is one that is brought about by taking medications that will end a pregnancy. Either of two medications, mifepristone or methotrexate, could be used for medical abortion. Each of these medications is taken together with another medication, misoprostol, to induce an abortion.

Some of the other details and queries with regard to medical abortion are:

When Is Medical Abortion Used?
Medical abortions can be performed as early as a pregnancy can be confirmed. In fact, the shorter the time that a woman has been pregnant, the better the medications will work. Because they do not work as well later in the first trimester of pregnancy.

How Long Do Medical Abortions Take?
It could take anywhere from about a day to 3-4 weeks from the time a woman takes the first medication until the medical abortion is completed. The length of time depends in part on which medications are taken.

During and After a Medical Abortion
Some women will have vaginal bleeding after the first drug. This bleeding may be light, or it may be like a heavy period. In addition to cramps and bleeding, side effects may include: headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, or fatigue.

Follow-Up Care
Medical abortion requires a follow-up visit to the clinic or medical office. This return visit is very important to be sure that the abortion has been completed. In addition, a woman should contact her health care provider about any problems or concerns she has during the medical abortion.

The other method is called surgical abortion.

Surgical abortion
An abortion of this kind involves the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus, resulting in, or caused by, its death. This can occur spontaneously as a miscarriage, or be artificially induced through chemical, surgical or other means.

Certain medical facts regarding this procedure are:

• Surgical abortion usually involves an outpatient visit to a doctor’s office or clinic. The procedure removes an embryo or fetus from the uterus before maturity.
• A medical professional determines that a woman is pregnant, and how far along the pregnancy is. Almost 90 percent of all abortions are performed in the first trimester (less than 12 to 15 weeks). And 55 percent of abortions are performed in the first eight weeks of pregnancy.
• The woman may experience some discomfort during and just after the abortion procedure, most commonly a cramping feeling.
• The mortality rate for abortion is very low – less than one death for every 100,000 abortions.

• A spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, occurs when a natural cause ends a pregnancy. If you have had or may be having a miscarriage, see the topic Miscarriage.
• A therapeutic or induced abortion is one resulting from measures taken to intentionally end a pregnancy, using medications (medical abortion) or surgery.

A few things which should be known before undergoing abortion are:

What’s the right decision?

One thing which needs to be kept in mind while thinking about abortion is its two lives and not yours alone to be considered. Hence the decision needs to be a sound one for it’s not only your own future well-being, but your child’s. So it’s important that you make a well-informed decision.

Early pregnancy counseling helps you reach a positive outcome, regardless of whether you continue with the pregnancy or choose an abortion. Family planning clinics offer pregnancy counseling. You may also want to discuss your decision with a trusted person close to you who has a realistic view of how a pregnancy and parenthood would impact your life. Take time to think through your choices, which are to:

• Have an abortion.
• Have a baby and dedicate yourself to supporting and raising your child to adulthood.
• Have a baby and place the baby for adoption.

Types of procedures
Depending on how many weeks pregnant you are, you may have a choice between two or more types of abortion procedures. Medical and surgical methods available differ at each stage of pregnancy. As a pregnancy progresses into the second trimester, only surgical abortion can be used. Risks of second-trimester surgical abortion are higher than risks for first-trimester abortion.

Right person for an abortion
Early manual vacuum aspiration and medical abortion are offered by specially trained medical professionals, including some nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and medical doctors (such as family medicine doctors and gynecologists). Typically, only medical doctors offer machine vacuum aspiration and other types of surgical abortion. Abortion services are most likely to be available in university hospitals and family planning clinics.

Tests needed
Your health professional would ask about your medical history and will do a physical examination, including a pelvic examination prior to performing the abortion. Lab tests will be done to confirm your pregnancy. An ultrasound may also be done to figure out the stage of the foetus.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus is a specific type of diabetes that only pregnant women get. To support the foetus as it grows, the mother’s body makes hormones. In some women, these hormones work against their bodies, making them less able to make the insulin needed to get energy from body cells. Without this insulin, the level of sugar in the mother’s blood starts to build up, which, if left untreated, can cause health problems for both mother and fetus.

Even though it usually goes away after the baby is born, GDM can affect the health of both mother and baby later in life. For instance, women who have GDM during pregnancy have a 40 percent greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. You could get additional information in this regard from Managing Gestational Diabetes: Your Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy which provides general information and guidelines for keeping yourself healthy if you have GDM.

Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Preeclampsia describes an abnormal increase in a woman’s blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy. Preeclampsia is often associated with swelling in the face and hands. (A woman’s feet might swell, too, but swollen feet are common during healthy pregnancies; swollen feet do not always mean there is a problem.) This dangerous condition occurs in 3 percent to 4 percent of all pregnancies and is the leading cause of maternal and fetal death in the United States.Currently, there is no definite way to predict which pregnant women will develop preeclampsia.

Eclampsia
Eclampsia is a more severe form of preeclampsia that can lead to seizures and coma. Estimates place the number of women affected by eclampsia at one in 200 women who have preeclampsia. Eclampsia can be fatal if it’s not treated quickly.

High blood pressure is one possible sign of preeclampsia. Having abnormal levels of protein in the urine is also part of preeclampsia. If you are pregnant and your blood pressure normally runs high, or is suddenly high, your health care provider may ask for frequent urine samples throughout your pregnancy, to test your urine for protein as a sign of preeclampsia.

How is DNA used in paternity testing?
There exists certain regions of human DNA which show variations between people. At each of these regions a person possesses two genetic types (known as alleles), one inherited from each parent. By looking at a number of these variable regions in a person a DNA profile is produced. And by comparing the DNA profiles of the mother and child it is possible to determine which half of the child’s DNA was inherited from its mother (maternal alleles). Thus, the other half must therefore have been inherited from the child’s biological father. .

Another approach which could be taken but which has a few limitations is testing the DNA using mitochondrial genome. Proving a relationship based on comparison of the mitochondrial genome is much easier than that based on the nuclear genome. However, testing the mitochondrial genome can only prove if two individuals are related by common descent through maternal lines only from a common ancestor and is thus of limited value.

How efficient is the testing?
DNA tests are also carried out to ascertain biological parents. The above process enables this process. If a man is not excluded as the father of a child, a “probability (or likelihood) of paternity” is reported. That figure is usually greater than 99.5%. .

It is never possible to prove 100% that a man is definitely the biological father of a child, as there is always a chance, however remote, that another man in the population may have DNA types which match that child. .

Nowadays, there are Home DNA Paternity Test kits available which help these tests to be conducted at home without visiting a hospital. But the accuracy of different home DNA paternity differ but they help in ascertaining to a great extent.

Teen pregnancy may cause many health risks. Especially a teen mother may have to experience health, social and emotional problems. Premature labor and socioeconomic consequences are also the possible complications that arise because of pregnancy. Both the baby and mother will be at risk in major areas of life like school failure and physical or mental illness.

Pregnant teenagers generally may not take proper medical care and it may lead to many medical complications. They need understanding, medical care and education – particularly regarding nutrition and complications of pregnancy.

Pregnancy in teenagers brings various sorts of emotional problems. Some do not want their babies while others want it. Some feel guilty and anxious while others want to have a baby to love. But those who want a baby may not be aware of the special care it needs. Depression is also a common problem during pregnancy. A pregnant teenager may even need the help of a psychiatrist to give proper advice for different emotional complications.

Generally teen pregnant may give birth to underweight babies. Poor eating habits and smoking and drinking tendencies of the teen mother may worsen the situation. Lastly, a teen mother will be less likely to seek prenatal care.

Through open communication unwanted pregnancy can be prevented. Teen mothers should be provided guidance regarding contraception, sexuality, and risks and responsibilities of teenage pregnancy. Sexual education and family life in schools are also helpful to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Finally, support of family and love are very important for pregnant teens.