If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy and worried about how your partner will react to the news, your fears are understandable. Maybe you worry that they won’t support you or that they will blame you. Or worse, maybe you’re scared for your safety. No matter what you’re feeling, creating a plan can help you feel confident about telling them the news.
Read on to learn ways to approach telling your partner. Or, if you’re looking to speak to someone in person about your pregnancy, contact Elevate Pregnancy and Family Resource Center to be connected with one of our caring team members.
Think Through Your Pregnancy Beforehand
Before talking to your partner, it’s essential to work through how you feel about the pregnancy beforehand. This way, you can differentiate between your feelings and your partner’s. While their input and feelings are important, it’s vital to be aware of your own feelings so that you don’t feel pressured into a pregnancy decision.
Some questions that can help you think through your pregnancy include:
- How are you feeling about the pregnancy? What worries you the most? Is there anything that you feel excited about?
- Do you know your pregnancy options? If so, are you leaning more toward one? Why?
- Have you and your partner talked about what a future together might look like? How might your pregnancy decision impact that vision?
- What will you do if your partner doesn’t support your pregnancy decision?
- How will you take their feelings into account?
Thinking about these things beforehand can help you feel more prepared and less likely to be taken off guard by how they’ll potentially react to the news.
Make a Conversation Plan
A conversation plan consists of deciding the time and place that you’ll tell your partner about your pregnancy. This will give you an element of control and help you feel more confident going into it.
Some things to consider include:
- Where do you feel the most comfortable? Would you rather tell your partner in person? Over the phone? In public? Or in private?
- When is the best time to tell them? For example, is a weekday or the weekend better?
If you’re worried at all about your safety, it’s essential to put safeguards in place to protect yourself. This can include telling your partner in public or over the phone, and ensuring that you bring a trusted friend or relative with you.
Next Steps
Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be overwhelming, but you’re not alone. At Elevate Pregnancy and Family Resource Center, we’re here for you. We offer free pregnancy resources that can help you feel supported and informed. Contact us today to be connected to one of our caring team members. All appointments are free and private.