Talking Contraception and Sexuality with Your Child

Your Teen is Pregnant: Finding the Best Among Several Solutions

If your teenaged daughter is pregnant, she has several options, including:

• terminating the pregnancy (an option until about 24 weeks after conception)
• carrying the baby to term and giving it up for adoption
• carrying the baby to term and raising it herself, with or without the father
• carrying the baby to term and having it raised by relatives

Each situation brings different factors to consider: your daughter's age, her health, your health, life plans, religious beliefs, financial means, and so on. Your daughter is going to need guidance and support as she works toward a decision that makes sense for her and her family. You may be upset or angry at her for getting herself into this mess, but you need to be there for her, to help ensure that she stays physically and mentally healthy during her pregnancy or after her abortion.

To further explore the choices available to your daughter, you may find it helpful to contact the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health (www.cfsh.ca). Your local/regional sexual clinic can also steer you toward appropriate counselling services.

Last Modified: September 5, 2006