THE DOCTOR AND THE UNPLANNED PREGNANCY – UNPLANNED OR UNWANTED? (INSTANCE)
Miss A. came to the family planning clinic accompanied by her fiance. She requested a pregnancy test which was positive. The couple came into the office beaming with pleasure. Miss A. had missed a few Pills but they really ‘couldn’t understand’ how she had fallen pregnant. However, they felt sure of parental support and would just hasten their wedding plans. This apparently unplanned pregnancy was obviously not unwanted. The doctor wondered how unplanned this pregnancy was but further discussion at this point seemed irrelevant. The couple wanted the doctor to share in their good news and point them in the direction of antenatal care.
Some very definitely planned pregnancies may turn out to be unwanted. This may be due to a change in circumstances such as deterioration in the relationship, bereavement or redundancy, making the woman feel unable to care for a child or change her objectives. Sometimes a woman may like the idea of becoming pregnant, but once faced with the prospect of having a baby in a few months, she makes a more realistic appraisal of her circumstances.
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