Facing an unplanned pregnancy is 1 of the most frightening and overwhelming situations a woman can face. If you are the male parent of the infant, it tin can be scary for you too. Y'all may be angry that this happened. You may be embarrassed that this happened. It makes no divergence if this woman is your girlfriend, wife, or a casual acquaintance — yous need to accept your part in this pregnancy.

Ultimately, the adult female will make the conclusion that is best for her and her baby, but that doesn't mean you can't discuss the state of affairs with her. If you lot are a man facing an unplanned pregnancy, here is some advice for supporting the woman making this conclusion.

i. Remain calm.

An unintended pregnancy can rattle fifty-fifty the most grounded of individuals. Do not assign blame and practise non accept out your feelings on each other. Yous both had a part in this pregnancy. Do the best y'all can to work together equally a team.

2. Recall you lot are in this together.

It is natural to immediately call back near how this will affect your life. What will your friends, family unit, and coworkers say? If she is planning to parent this baby, will yous need to find a job, or a job that makes more than money? Have your dreams and goals been shattered? While yous volition want to talk with someone well-nigh all of these feelings, unloading them on the woman facing the unplanned pregnancy may not be the best idea. Ask her how she's feeling. Ask what her initial thoughts are on the pregnancy. When you prove care and business, she will be more willing to accept a positive conversation nigh the situation.

iii. Know your options.

Fifty-fifty though the woman will have the ultimate decision on how to handle her unplanned pregnancy, it is very important that yous sympathise your options every bit the father. You can have input in the decision as well. Here are some questions worth asking yourself:

  • Tin can you afford to raise a kid?
  • Are you willing to co-parent with or marry this woman?
  • Tin you back up the woman financially and emotionally should she decide to take an abortion?
  • Practice y'all empathize the abortion laws in your state?
  • What practice you know about adoption? Do you empathise what an open adoption is?
  • Do you want to be involved in the adoption process? Are you lot willing to sign abroad your parental rights to your baby?

Take some fourth dimension to understand all your unplanned pregnancy options — parenting, adoption and abortion. Then y'all will be able to accept a productive discussion with the mother.

iv. Be supportive of her determination.

This can be difficult if her choice is not the aforementioned as yours, but you need to take responsibility and ask how you lot can help. She may or may not want you closely involved, but offer aid either way. If she decides to parent the child, know that yous will likely exist legally required to pay child back up if y'all don't want to be involved in your kid'due south life.

5. And most importantly, learn from this experience.

Have precautions to avoid unwanted pregnancies in the future. Be prepared with multiple forms of nativity command. Regardless of the outcome of this unplanned pregnancy, you volition learn a major life lesson. Take this lesson to heart.

If you are interested in working with your child's mother to create an adoption plan, or if you would just similar to learn more virtually your options for unplanned pregnancy, you lot can phone call American Adoptions any time at ane-800-ADOPTION.