Choosing to continue your pregnancy and to care for your child can be challenging. Parenting requires energy, patience and wisdom. It can also be a life-giving, maturing, enriching and rewarding decision.

In accommodating a new baby, the mother's body, mind and heart will need to expand.

Pregnancy is a natural process that begins with conception and ends with birth. Once a woman realises she is pregnant, the instinctual desire to protect and nurture her child is activated.

Attachment grows as the pregnancy grows.

When faced with an unplanned pregnancy a woman needs courage, understanding, compassion and support.

The mother is the only one who can nurture her baby but her partner, family and/or the community must protect and nurture the mother.

With the help of ongoing emotional support, practical help and encouragement, information on parenting and financial assistance, many women find the resources they need to complete their pregnancy.

There are several options open to you if you choose to have and keep your baby.

• Single mother with help from the baby's:
  a. grandparents who care for the child as foster parents
  b. grandparents who care for the child as theirs until it is well grown and then return him or her to the mother
• Single mother with help from a parenting support centre
• Single mother with support from government organisations and family services
• Marry the father and develop a home
• Single mother finding a new supportive relationship and building a family