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She's Pregnant at 17

It's every girl's nightmare. You have a boyfriend, and you feel you're in love. Love to you means making him happy and giving him sex. You're not thinking straight. You haven't thought through the consequences of premarital sex.

If you have thought about the consequences, you're convinced you can beat the odds and have unprotected sex and not get pregnant. But one day, reality hits. It has dawned on you that you have skipped your period. But you put this experience in the back of your mind because girls have irregular periods all the time. But then you start having morning sickness. Something is definitely wrong. Could it be you're pregnant? You tell your closest friend your fears and the two of you head off to see the doctor. She runs some simple tests that confirm you are definitely pregnant. You're scared and you don't know what to do. The many questions you have about your situation only lead to mass confusion. What do you do next?

What Are Early Signs of Pregnancy?

If you have recently had unprotected sex, you might be wondering if you are pregnant. Some signs of pregnancy include:

• Missed Periods
• Nausea or Vomiting
• Increased Appetite
• Weight Gain and Bloating
• Dizziness, Lightheadedness, or Fainting
• Unusual Mood Swings
• Heightened Depression or Anxiety

If you have symptoms like these, especially if you have not had your menstrual period when expected, you should request a pregnancy test from your doctor or OBGYN. Over-the-counter pregnancy tests can give you a strong indication of whether you may be pregnant, but it is always best to see a doctor to confirm your pregnancy so they can be aware of your needs and advise you of next steps.

You Found Out She's Pregnant

It's every guy's nightmare. You have a girlfriend and she's really hot. Not only is she hot, but you think you're lucky. You told your girlfriend you really love her, and it becomes clear to you she will do just about anything for you. What you want is simple you want sex. Your body seems to crave it. It makes you feel strong, powerful, and loved. You have heard time and time again about the importance of either abstinence or safe sex. But you hate condoms and forget to use them half the time. When passion is high, who wants to stop and worry about a condom? You have had sex with other girls and never got them pregnant. Maybe you're bulletproof. Maybe you can play every day and not have to pay. But one day, the free ride comes to a screeching halt. Your girlfriend comes to you frantic, afraid, and confused. She is pregnant. You are the father. She is looking to you for support and that love you told her about. You are in a jam. You can't really support the baby and all you really want to do is run and somehow make this nightmare go away. You have no idea what to do next. How do you tell her parents? Should you marry her? What about abortion, adoption, etc? Suddenly it dawns on you. All that sex you had is not worth it. You had your thrill, but now all you feel is a chill.

They Thought It Would Never Happen

On my radio show, Dawson McAllister Live, I have heard these two scenarios literally hundreds of times. But it doesn't make it any easier to try and come up with a solution to the Whoops I'm pregnant! problem. So how is it two people get themselves into such a mess and what do you do once you're there?  There have been millions of teenagers and young adults who thought getting pregnant without being married would never happen to them. They were wrong. There are worse things than getting in trouble with an unplanned pregnancy, but nonetheless, it has rocked many a person's world.

Unplanned Pregnancy

Here is Megan's story that will help you get the picture of what I've been talking about:

I was 17 when I got pregnant and 18 when I had my baby. I got myself in that situation because I was desperate for attention and love... She is now 3 1/2 months old. When I found out I was pregnant I pretty much knew, there wasn't much surprise, and I knew from the beginning what I would do. Abortion is not an option and I thought that I could support my child enough to not have to give her up for adoption. Unfortunately, my journey has been an exceptionally tough one. my daughter's father broke up with me when I was 2 months pregnant, and I have had no support from him at all am very lucky to have a very supportive family and supportive friends. It has been a struggle and a lot of changes have had to be made for her, but it has all been worth it. I have had to put off college and I barely graduated high school. I just hope that anyone else in my position would do everything in their power to finish school and continue school, for the sake of their child. It can be done, and I hope that I can be an example of that. I believe I got myself in that situation because I was desperate for attention and love...the fact that I grew up without a strong father figure in my life made me have that desperate feeling. Thankfully I have come to forgive myself and accept God's forgiveness and move on with my life for my daughter. - Meagan

If you are wondering whether or not you're pregnant, you probably have a lot of questions and are feeling overwhelmed. Contact our crisis pregnancy partner, Optionline, for help. You Can chat online, call or text them.