Let's say you're usually careful and take every precaution. Except one time... First things first, what signs might suggest you are pregnant? Well, often girls notice is that they missed their period for the month. While a late menstrual cycle does not always indicate a teenage pregnancy, if combined with other noticeable things going on with your body you should sit up and take notice:

• Some light bleeding or spotting – this type of bleeding is normally lighter in colour than a regular period and doesn’t last as long (see period when pregnant for more info on this)
• Nausea – Morning sickness is one of the typical signs of pregnancy. For some girls, the queasiness can start as early as two weeks after conception.
• The area around your nipples suddenly going a little darker.
• Going to the toilet a lot – pregnancy causes you to need to pee way more than usual.
• Really tired – it takes loads of energy to grow a baby and this might make you mega tired all the time.

If you have any of these things happening to you, a quick trip to the local chemist for a home pregnancy test might be a good option. They are really easy to use, it’s as simple as weeing on a little strip and hey presto in 5 minutes you know whether you are pregnant or not.

How to deal with an unforeseen teenage pregnancy

What if the pregnancy test is positive (gulp)? Well although the home pregnancy tests are quick and easy to use, they have been known to be wrong on some occasions so make an appointment with your doc to get a proper blood test, just to double check the results. The next step is talking to your parents; they might be even more shocked than you but in most cases will shower you with love and support to get you through this difficult time. If you feel that for some reason, you can’t talk to your parents, a friend, relative, teacher, or your doc are all good choices in terms of people to chat to. You may need to involve the baby’s father in some of these talks. The key thing to remember is that you need your friends and family more than ever before and being able to talk with each other, especially when emotions are running high, is important to making the situation as easy to deal with as possible.

If you want to know more about pregnancy check out the Huggies website for loads of excellent info.

The advice provided in this material is general in nature and is not intended as medical advice. If you need medical advice, please consult your health care professional.