• Maybe you are concerned that your relationship is not strong enough to deal with a pregnancy at this time.
• Maybe you are concerned that having a baby will tie you to your current partner for many years to come and this may frighten you.
• Maybe you have plans for your life and a baby will disrupt those plans. I.e. traveling, returning to college or developing your career.
• Maybe you are concerned about what friends and family will think when they find out about the pregnancy.
• Maybe you are not ready for the commitment and responsibility of having a baby.

You may be facing significant pressure when you hear the news about an unintended pregnancy. We are here to support, inform and educate you and discuss the challenges you face by giving you information about all your options.

It can be very difficult for men to discuss an unplanned pregnancy. You might be concerned that you will push only one point of view and you don’t want to appear to influence your partner. Equally if you do not discuss the issue you may be concerned that your partner will think that you do not care.

Some men are relived that they do not have to make the final decision and so they may say to their partner “I’ll support you no matter what you decide.” Although this may seem to be the best thing to say, it could appear that the man is placing the burden of responsibility solely on the woman’s shoulders.

The only guide is to be led by the woman and ask her what she wants. This is an emotional time so be prepared that she may seem to change her mind regularly as she goes through the process of considering all the options. Equally it is important that you tell your partner honestly what you are thinking. Often women will sense that they know what their partners really want but if the man does not tell her she will only be guessing.

Many men experiencing an unplanned pregnancy can feel very isolated from the decision making process as it can seem that ultimately the decision lies with the woman. This can feel very frustrating for men.

Perhaps your partner has made a decision that she believes it is right for her life, but you feel very strongly that the decision is totally wrong for your life.

If your partner has a baby when you want her to have an abortion you will still have many responsibilities regarding the baby. Equally if your partner has an abortion when you would like her to have the baby you can feel a great sense of grief and loss.

The sense of being out of control can be very frustrating and can lead to serious difficulties in your relationship. It is important that you both discuss the issue calmly and respect each other’s opinions. Often talking to an independent person such as a counsellor at First Place OPTIONS can help. In a counselling session a prospective father will be given space to express his concerns to his partner and to talk in a safe and confidential environment about his concerns and wishes regarding the pregnancy.