I am pregnant and I want to keep the child. What next?

Becoming a parent is a big responsibility, and it can be a difficult and challenging journey. Here’s what you can expect during pregnancy.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

1. You will need to go to the clinic or to a doctor as soon as possible to start your prenatal care, to make sure that you and your baby are healthy throughout your pregnancy.

2. Being a good mother doesn’t come with a guide, being there for your baby and taking care of your baby is the most important thing.

3. Your body will be experiencing a lot of different changes, which means you should get enough rest, eat regular meals and get enough sleep.

4. Getting a good support system during this time is important, you can talk to family and friends who will support you.

5. If you have questions about your pregnancy, you can contact MumConnect and professional nurses will answer all your questions.

Visit MumConnect

6. You don’t need to give up on your goals and education when you become a parent. You might want to check what programs are available in your community to support young parents.

Visit MumConnect

7. You will need to consider if you have the financial resources to take care of your child. You can apply for the child support grant

Child Support Grant

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Becoming a parent is a personal choice, it’s also important to consider all your options such as adoption and consider if you have all the resources you will need for childcare.

You can also check out this guide on good parenting that may help you.

Responsibilities of being a young parent

Becoming a young parent comes with many challenges and responsibilities, check out some of these responsibilities that you may not be aware of as a young parent.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

Making sure that your child’s needs are met by providing them with basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing.
Your child must be protected. They need to grow up in a safe environment so they can develop healthily.
Education, every child has the right to an education. You will need to provide your child with educational opportunities.
You and your partner will need to work to maintain financial stability to provide for your child or apply for the government grant
You will need to be there for your child, especially for the first year as your child will need a lot of attention and care

Remember, babies need all the care and support they need. Check out this guide on good parenting.

CHANGES TO YOUR LIFE

You will need to make a few adjustments to your life to take care of your child.

Your child will become your number one priority. You may have to change your lifestyle for example you may not have much time for friends or going out.
You will need to plan your days carefully. You will now have the responsibilities of a parent and you need to need your deadlines for school or career.
Spending habits will need to change, as you will need to provide for your child first
Your social life may change, you may even lose some of your friends because you won’t have as much time as you used to.

Becoming a young parent is a huge change in your life and you may feel overwhelmed during this time.

f you feel you need to speak to someone, please contact the local counselor or contact loveLife:

(from any Telkom public phone)

loveLife Pls Cal Me Service:

A young mum shares a day in her life as a teen mum

Pre-natal and post-natal care of pregnancy

Pregnancy care is very important for a healthy pregnancy and a safe delivery. There are two stages of pregnancy care called the prenatal stage (during pregnancy) and the post-natal stage (after pregnancy)

LET’S TALK ABOUT PRE-NATAL CARE!

Pre-natal care is important for both the mother and the baby. When you find out you are pregnant, you should visit your local clinic.

It’s important that you attend your prenatal visits at the local public clinic or at a private clinic every month. This is to make sure that both you and the baby are healthy.
Eat healthy! Eating a balanced diet, eating food form the five food groups
Remember to take the vitamins that your healthcare provider gives you.
Keep active, regular exercising such as taking daily walks or even doing light exercises at the gym or park. You should always consult your healthcare provider before you join any exercise program.
If you are a first-time parent, you should research and learn about the different stages of pregnancy, childcare, and pregnancy care. You can find a guide by Johnson & Johnson (Pty) Ltd
You will need to make lifestyle changes such as avoiding stress, eating healthy, quitting smoking, not drinking alcohol, and not using drugs.

You can also check out this guide by UNICEF on what to eat when you are Pregnant

LET’S TALK ABOUT PRE-NATAL CARE!

Post-natal care is care that the mother and the baby receive after delivery. It’s important for new mothers to get medical care and support if they experience any concerns or issues after delivery.

Things to remember:

You will need to watch your baby after delivery, this means that your baby is drinking milk, pooping and breathing normally.
Breastfeeding may be new to you if you are a first-time mother. Speak to the nurse and they will teach you how to breastfeed and they will support you in this process.
You may experience some pain in your stomach and vaginal area after delivery. Only take medication that was provided by your healthcare provider.
If you experience a big change in your moods such as anger, moodiness and fatigue you may want to speak to your healthcare provider about that and they will refer you to a counselor to help you through that process.
Your healthcare provider will also discuss the different types of contraception with you. It will be a good idea to start contraception straight after childbirth, to make sure that you lower the risk of pregnancy again.
Remember to attend your post-natal check-ups to make sure you and the baby are doing well.

MomConnect is a great way to get advice on your phone immediately if you have concerns about your health after childcare and if you have concerns about your baby

How to join:

Ask someone at a public health care facility to confirm that you are pregnant.
Dial *134*550# from your cellphone to register.
Answer a few simple questions about your pregnancy.
You will then be registered – welcome to the family!