Sometimes, life takes an unexpected turn. These five women didn’t have a positive test on their to-do list, but suddenly, there it was; those two lines. From shock and panic to love and acceptance, they share their honest stories about an unexpected pregnancy.
"3 kids under 4 years old, how am I going to do this?"
My biggest dream was to become a mother, but now already?
Mandy: “When I found out I was pregnant, it was a huge surprise. My boyfriend and I had been in a relationship for a while, but we didn’t live together. We wanted a baby in the future, but it didn’t seem like the right time. When I was a week late, we decided to take a test, and that’s when we discovered I was pregnant. We’d always used protection, except for one time, and apparently, that was enough.
The first symptoms came when we were in Prague, and I felt really unwell. I thought it was from the flight, but the nausea persisted. After the test, worries started: how would we manage in our small apartment? My boyfriend wasn’t prepared at first and didn’t know what to do, but I had already decided to keep the baby.
The following period was mostly filled with conversations about how we would handle this. I temporarily moved in with my mother for more space, and gradually, my boyfriend came around. We figured things out together, even though we didn’t live together. After 40 weeks and 6 days, our healthy daughter was born, and I was in love.
Despite the stress at first, I look back now with so much love. It was challenging, but every moment with my daughter has been worth it. She’s almost 2 now and makes me happy every day. She has a strong bond with her father, and she’s truly the best thing that ever happened to me.”
"There I was, with a positive test in my hands, in a camping restroom, with no job, house, or money."
Gabrielle: “In 2018, my boyfriend and I decided to leave the Netherlands behind for a new adventure. We traveled through various countries and worked in Australia for five years. After traveling through Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia, we temporarily returned to the Netherlands. Once back in Australia, I started feeling unusually tired and had cravings for foods I normally didn’t eat. My period was also late, but I thought it was just jet lag.
Eight days late, my boyfriend asked if I could be pregnant. The positive pregnancy test in my hands was a huge shock. We realized our travel plans had to change. We quickly scheduled an appointment with the doctor, and on the ultrasound, we saw a tiny heartbeat.
We decided to return to Adelaide, where we had lived for five years. Fortunately, we both had good qualifications, so finding a job and rebuilding wasn’t an issue. It was a bit of an adjustment, especially without family and friends around. I started a new job, already 10 weeks pregnant.
Our son turned one in February, and although some moments were tough, we really enjoy our adventure in Australia. Before my pregnancy, I mainly wanted to travel, but my son has brought me peace, and I now enjoy the small moments. We plan to return to the Netherlands, but for now, we are soaking up our time here.”
I felt ashamed, is it weird to become unexpectedly pregnant?
Anna: “I found out I was pregnant because I hadn’t gotten my period. It wasn’t unusual for my cycle since (as I now know) I have endometriosis, so my cycles sometimes differ from the norm. I remember sitting on the couch and giving my boyfriend a hug when I felt a sharp pain in my groin that I didn’t recognize. That’s when I thought, ‘I should take a test.’ I did this alone to avoid my boyfriend panicking right away. The test came back very positive, and I was already two weeks late.
In the beginning, things weren’t going well for me. I was extremely nauseous, throwing up a lot, and feeling depressed. I was still living with my parents, and they took great care of me. I felt a bit ashamed because, in this society, getting pregnant unexpectedly is often looked down upon. Yet, for me, it has been one of the best things that’s happened to me. Sometimes it was hard though, as people quickly form (negative) opinions that you didn’t ask for. A few months later, I moved in with my boyfriend, and just before the birth, we bought a house. My whole life changed. I had just graduated and was still living at home. In a few months, I moved twice and had to prepare for motherhood. I did my best, but unfortunately, we had a traumatic birth, something I still struggle with, especially when I’m pregnant again.
We’re doing well. My son is healthy and a lovely, stubborn toddler. After him, we had two more unplanned sons. But by then, I was better prepared. I wouldn’t want it any other way! I feel very lucky and blessed with my three boys. Looking back now, I think it was meant to be, and it’s taught me so much. I love my life right now and enjoy every moment with my children.”
"A second baby was welcome, but it came much sooner than expected!"
Annike: “It took a year and three months to conceive our first child, which felt like a long time. Probably due to the stress from our own business and stopping the pill. After the birth, we didn’t want to wait for years for a second child, so I decided not to use contraception anymore.
When I was late, I took a test, and sure enough, I was pregnant! After taking the test, I couldn’t help but laugh, but also had tears in my eyes. I never expected it to happen so quickly! Our oldest was 7 months at the time, and we wondered how we would manage with two little ones and two businesses. But we quickly overcame the initial worries and were happy about the unexpected pregnancy.
At first, we kept it to ourselves, waiting for the first ultrasound. I hadn’t even finished ‘recovering’ from the first pregnancy, so everything happened quickly again: a big belly, maternity clothes, and nausea. This pregnancy was harder than the first, especially due to the pelvic pain I’ve had ever since.
Our youngest is almost one now, and it’s getting easier. Having two kids under 2 wasn’t too hard for us, although there are days when it’s challenging. Thankfully, our kids aren’t difficult and play together a lot. We hope they will always have a close bond.”
