Did a sibling, friend, or your partner just announce they are unexpectedly pregnant? You’re likely shocked but want to be supportive. How do you respond? What should you do?
Research says approximately 45% of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned. An unplanned or unexpected pregnancy can be overwhelming, confusing, and sometimes frightening.
To be supportive, you need to remain calm, be an active listener, and offer positive encouragement. Here are a few ideas that might help.
How Am I Supposed to Stay Calm?
You may think they’ve ruined their life, but not all unplanned pregnancies are a tragedy. Although it may not seem like the perfect time, unplanned doesn’t mean impossible.
To be supportive, don’t panic. Likely, the person experiencing the pregnancy is panicking enough. They don’t need your added concern and fear.
Become an “Active” Listener
Active listening means being fully present and engaged with the person speaking. We are often distracted by our phones or the things happening around us. But we recommend turning it off.
When you listen actively, you make eye contact. You give your full, undivided attention. You put down your cell phone and turn it off.
It’s the perfect way to be supportive and engaged. You want to truly understand what the other person is saying, not just wait to respond or give advice.
Try repeating what the person said to ensure you heard them correctly, or ask open-ended questions for more clarity. Watch their nonverbal cues. Are they nervously twitching? Smiling? Angry?
The goal of all this is to determine how you can best help and support them.
Offer Practical Support
Pregnancy not only changes someone physically, but it also changes them emotionally. Early symptoms of pregnancy include fatigue, nausea, and moodiness.
They may require assistance with handling day-to-day tasks, such as food preparation, laundry, and household cleaning. Offer to help with grocery shopping or go with them to doctor’s appointments.
If they’re trying to decide how to handle the pregnancy, encourage them to consider all their options. When faced with an unexpected pregnancy, they have three choices: have an abortion, choose to parent, or make an adoption plan.
If they do not want to have an abortion, encourage them to talk with us at A Gift of Hope Adoptions. We can explain the adoption process without pressure. If they choose to parent their child, we can offer referrals to community services that will assist them.
Contact A Gift of Hope Adoptions
By staying calm, actively listening, and offering practical support, your sibling, friend, or partner will know you care about them. If you need advice on how to help them further, please reach out online or give us a call at (888) 564-HOPE (4673).