Dear krazychica6987,

You may find it really intimidating, scary, or embarrassing to talk to your mom about your pregnancy. But many parents can give their kids better information, advice, and support than they could get anywhere else.

First, think about how your mom may react. If you think she might freak out, you may want to turn to another trusted adult. Talking to another adult whom you trust can give you the opportunity to rehearse what you want to say to your mom.

If you've thought about her reaction, you can give your mom a heads-up by scheduling your talk in advance. Just say something like, "Can we have a private talk tonight?" This will let your mom know that something is on your mind.

You can also talk about your feelings with your partner, someone in your family, or a trusted friend — someone you think will be supportive. Family planning clinics have specially trained educators who can talk with you about your options.

A woman who is pregnant has three options:

• She can choose to have a baby and raise her child.
• She can choose to have a baby and place her child for adoption.
• She can have an abortion.

Only you can decide which choice is right for you. But deciding may be hard to do — there's a lot to think about. To help you decide which choice is best for you, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:

• Which choice(s) could I live with?
• Which choice(s) would be impossible for me?
• How would each choice affect my everyday life?
• What would each choice mean to the people closest to me?
• What's going on in my life?
• What are my plans for the future?
• What are my spiritual and moral beliefs?
• What do I believe is best for me in the long run?
• What can I afford?

Finding out that you're pregnant — especially if you don't want to be — can be stressful, but you don't have to go through it alone. Talking about how you feel with your mom or another trusted adult can help relieve your anxiety and begin to make your decision.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.