We invited Dr. Gergana Krasteva, who calmly and openly spoke on some topics that concern us, despite the taboo around them.
Pregnancy is often called a “miracle” when in fact it is one of the most natural things in nature. When intercourse occurs between a healthy man and a healthy woman at the right time, the chance of pregnancy is quite high. It is for this reason that sufficient attention should be paid to risky sexual behavior in adolescents and teenagers. This article is not aimed at preventing pregnancy. Nor is it aimed at reprimanding or scolding you. Its purpose is to shed light in the tunnel when, despite warnings and literacy, pregnancy does occur. Because believe it or not – it can happen to anyone.
How do you know you’re pregnant?
This is a question most women know the answer to. The most classic and early sign of pregnancy is delayed menstruation. When the cycle is irregular, this is not always an objective criterion. Other suspicious pregnancy signs can be chest pain, increased appetite, morning sickness with vomiting, increased headaches, intolerance to certain smells and a lot more things. The at-home solution to this dilemma is to get a Surecheck urine pregnancy test, which is accurate at all times and sold throughout the pharmacy network. If two lines appear – then you are most likely pregnant.
You are pregnant – now what?
As a minor or soon to be adult – the one thing to think about is who you would be most comfortable sharing with. This is the first and most basic step you need to take to be able to protect yourself and take the most suitable measures. It would be best if you shared with a parent – mother, father, grandmother, aunt or someone with enough experience and empathy who will respond calmly. It may seem terrifying, but these people were once in the place you are now and will most likely be understanding. It is important to have someone by your side that can give you guidance and accompany you to an appointment with an obstetrician, where the pregnancy will be confirmed with further tests. In addition to confirming the pregnancy, the period in which it occurred should also be determined. For this, you need to know the first day of your last regular menstruation. Therefore, those calendars in your phone with which you track your monthly cycle are not to be underestimated at all. It’s something of an algorithm that’s nice to follow when you have suspicions that you’re pregnant – a pregnancy test – a positive result and a follow-up with a doctor. If the pregnancy is confirmed by a specialist, you are faced with two options – continue it or terminate it.
You will keep the baby – what next?
If you decide on this scenario, it is better to choose an OB-GYN who will follow your pregnancy until the birth itself. This is the person with whom you will build a strong relationship based on a lot of trust. It is important to know that at any point you feel unsure or dissatisfied with the treatment, you can turn to another specialist. An OB-GYN does not need to be highly specialized in working with adolescents and teenagers, because when you are pregnant you will be facing practitioners dealing mostly with mature women. A high-risk pregnancy is mistakenly associated with the advanced age of the expectant mother, because sometimes women under 18-20 years are also exposed to many risks associated with childbirth. All of this should be calmly and clearly explained and clarified to you so that you, together with your loved ones and the attending physician, can devise an individual strategy to support a smooth pregnancy and the successful birth of a healthy baby.
You will be surprised how little depends on your doctor and how much depends on you. After all, pregnancy is not a disease but a process, you are not sick, you are just pregnant. It’s good to keep telling yourself this, because going to the doctor’s office on a regular basis can have a negative effect on your psyche. It is advisable to eat properly during pregnancy. And by properly, I don’t just mean qualitatively, but also quantitatively. Many women find these nine months to be a period where excess weight mirrors good fetal growth. The truth is that as much as malnutrition, overeating is detrimental to the natural progression of a pregnancy. Normally, a woman gains between 12 and 15 pounds by the time she gives birth. Of course, there are exceptions, but eating right keeps the pregnancy toned and gives you energy and self-confidence. During this period, the body’s needs for certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients increase, such as folic acid, iron, vitamin B12, protein and others. It is your doctor’s task to conduct accurate tests and prescribe medication, supplements or even diet to avoid deficiency of an important element for you and the baby. Harmful habits such as smoking, alcohol or drug use should be put aside at least while pregnancy and breastfeeding lasts.
Right from the start you will start to experience symptoms that were previously unknown, so you must learn to distinguish between normal and a condition that threatens you and your baby. Morning sickness with vomiting is very common in the early stages of pregnancy and most women do not pay attention to it. However, when you start vomiting more than 5-6 times, regardless of food and fluid intake, see your doctor, because this poses a danger of dehydration and a drop in potassium levels, which will have a negative impact.
Another rather important thing is the occurrence of genital bleeding. A huge percentage of pregnant women associate its occurrence with a miscarriage. The truth is that this is far from the case. But still, if at some point bleeding appears, you need to signal immediately. If you feel stronger pains of a menstrual nature in the abdomen or waist, it is right to notify your follow-up doctor.
If you paid attention, the words “pregnancy” and “childbirth” are everywhere in the paragraph, the word “growing” is nowhere to be found. This is because once the child is born, you have two new options – to continue raising the child or to give the child up for adoption. With the second option, it is a good idea to study the steps of the process accurately and to fill yourself with patience, because it is often tied to a lot of paperwork and institutions. And here the most important thing is to have someone by your side who will support and help you, because no woman, regardless of her age, deserves to go through this alone.
You decide to terminate the pregnancy – how and when?
It is about the so-called “willful abortion”. It is right to know that if you decide on this step, no real professional will condemn you or approach your case with disdain. Abortion is part of family planning and as fellow citizens we have the right to choose our own reproductive route. Such manipulation can take place up to the end of the third month, or more precisely, up to the 12th gestational week. The earlier you decide to terminate the pregnancy, the less traumatic and risky the process will be. There are two options for termination – instrumental or with tablets, both of which have pros and cons. They should all be explained to you by an experienced doctor who will carry out the procedure and do a continence gynecological examination afterwards. “Will it hurt? “- is the question that excites and worries most women. Naturally, every woman has a different sensitivity and threshold, but the pain of abortion can be compared to a more painful menstruation. Even if you are soon to be of age and legally do not need a guardian present, it is nice to have someone by your side while the process lasts. They will be able to help and assist you not only physically but also mentally. Willful abortion does not carry the risk of difficulties in becoming pregnant again, besides it may not be listed in any documentation in case it is your wish. Don’t be embarrassed to seek support and help because by doing so you are minimizing the risk to your health. After all, your loved ones are there for a reason, to support you in your decisions and choices.
Last but not least – preventing unwanted pregnancy is something that all young people should be aware of. Responsible sexual behavior can save you a lot of stress and worry. Using reliable contraception when having sexual intercourse is not only important for preventing pregnancy, but is also the first line of defense against sexually transmitted infections. That’s why we need to talk more and more openly about sex, because information is the first step to safety.
