Unplanned pregnancy

An unplanned pregnancy can trigger many feelings: from joy to fear and overwhelm. The important thing is that you don't have to deal with this situation alone. There are free, confidential counseling services that provide you with independent and open-ended support. Find out where you can get help and who you can turn to in the event of an unplanned pregnancy.

It's completely normal to be unsettled by an unexpected pregnancy. Maybe your life plan looks completely different right now:

• Do you feel too young or too old to have a child?
• You have personal or professional plans in which a place for a child seems unimaginable?
• You are in the middle of a partnership conflict or separation?
• You don't want to raise your child alone?
• Or you simply don't (yet) feel up to the responsibility of raising a child in the current situation?

There are many reasons why a pregnancy may not bring joy, but rather rejection at first. It is not uncommon for affected women to be plunged into an emotional chaos of severe conflict.

Accepting the rollercoaster of emotions and coming to terms with the new situation requires understanding and time. Talking to a trusted person, such as your best friend, can help to put your fears and worries into perspective. But especially in difficult life situations, sometimes you need the expertise of a neutral person to help you decide what to do next.

Good to know: Every woman is entitled to advice on all matters relating to her pregnancy. Pregnant women should be free to decide to have a child.

The central help hotline 0800 40 40 020 can be a first port of call.

You can find more information on this advice service here.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, more than 200 state-approved pregnancy advice centres offer free advice. Here you will always find a sympathetic ear for an open-ended discussion on all aspects of pregnancy and possible conflicts.All consultations are confidential and anonymous if you wish.

Pregnancy advice centers offer advice and help with all questions relating to pregnancy and parenthood:

• Information on all questions relating to family planning, pregnancy and birth
• Information on social assistance for pregnant women
• Support in applying for financial aid
• Support in finding accommodation
• Support in finding childcare for the expected child.

Unbureaucratic financial assistance from the Federal Foundation Mother and Child is also provided by the pregnancy advice centers. You can download a leaflet about the Federal Foundation Mother and Child on this page download.

You can find a counseling center near you on the website of the Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG).

You can choose between counseling services offered by welfare associations, churches, districts and municipalities. You are welcome to choose the service offered by the provider you feel most comfortable with. Please note that not all counseling centers issue a counseling certificate for pregnancy conflict counseling for the purpose of abortion because this does not correspond with their respective self-image.

If you do not know whether you want to or can have the child and are considering an abortion, you will receive valuable support in pregnancy conflict counseling. You will not be left alone with your worries and fears. Especially if you are in a quandary, perhaps even want children, but not now or not with this partner, experienced professionals can show you solutions without pressuring you. This makes personal decision-making easier.

If you are thinking about terminating a pregnancy, you will receive confidential, open-ended advice at the state-recognized pregnancy conflict counselling centres and then a counselling certificate. There must be three full calendar days between the issue of the counseling certificate and the abortion.

The counseling certificate is a prerequisite for an abortion without penalty.

You don't have to commit yourself immediately. It's important to take a deep breath first to make a balanced decision. If you are considering an abortion, you need to know: In Germany, an abortion is generally possible without penalty within the first 12 weeks after conception according to the counseling regulations. As already mentioned, the prerequisite is pregnancy conflict counseling with a certificate. The earlier you seek advice, the more time you have to take the next steps.

If you have decided to have an abortion, you need to consider where and how the abortion will be performed. The sources of information for women are still limited, as doctors in Germany are not allowed to publish whether they offer an abortion.

There are various methods for terminating a pregnancy. Which method is considered depends, among other things, on how far advanced the pregnancy is. A distinction is made between medical and surgical methods. You should find out exactly which method your doctor or clinic offers beforehand.

Medical abortion is possible up to the 63rd day after the first day of the last menstrual period. Medication abortion requires two or three visits to the doctor within approximately 14 days, including a follow-up examination.

The suction method and scraping are surgical methods. Both are usually performed on an outpatient basis in a clinic or doctor's surgery. After the procedure and a short rest period, you can go home. The surgical abortion can be performed under a short general anesthetic or under local anesthesia.

For detailed information on medical methods, visit the portal Familienplanung.de from the Federal Institute of Public Health.

A termination of pregnancy is not usually covered by health insurance. If you have sufficient income and assets, you will bear the costs yourself. However, if this represents an unreasonable financial burden for you, the state may cover the costs of the abortion. To do this, you must submit an application to your health insurance company. You can find more information in the information sheet "Cost coverage of abortions in special cases".