If you miss a period and have a positive pregnancy test this means you are pregnant.

Pregnancy Symptoms

Pregnancy symptoms include:

• breast swelling and tenderness,
• fatigue and tiredness,
• abdominal/tummy bloating,
• frequent wee/mimi,
• mood swings,
• mild headaches,
• pimples and acne,
• nausea and vomiting (from 6 weeks)

What are my options?

Once you’ve confirmed your pregnancy, you have two options:

1. Continue the pregnancy through to full term, or
2. End the pregnancy through abortion – a safe procedure that intentionally ends a pregnancy.

If you choose to continue with your pregnancy, you will have further choices to make:

• Parenting your child – either with a partner or alone;
• Adoption or foster care.

You may find some of these decisions difficult to make, so reach out for support from whanau/family, a midwife or other health professional you trust.

What should I do next?

Your first step should be to find a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC). Your LMC is the health professional, usually a midwife, who will monitor and support you through pregnancy, labour and birth, and the first 4 – 6 weeks after birth.

Midwives’ bookings fill up fast so call as soon as you know you’re pregnant. You’ll find many of our local Midwives listed below.

Some GP clinics offer BestStart, an early pregnancy assessment.