Complications related to unintended pregnancy mostly arise because most women remain unaware of their pregnancies according to experts. In such cases, most women fail to receive the required medication and care for themselves and the fetus. In this story, we delve into the complexities that arise from personal choices and the obstacles that lie ahead.
This 21-year-old woman is a new mother. She was already over 5 months pregnant when she knew that she had conceived. As she was oblivious to her conception, she could not obtain her handbook on time missing out on critical medication and supplements.
She said, “It was unplanned. By the time I knew I was pregnant, it was already past 5 or 6 months. I just graduated and I had a lot of things I wanted to do in life. However, I became pregnant. Becoming a mother was not something I wished for.”
Unintended pregnancy or unplanned pregnancy usually go unreported in most cases. According to studies, the overall pregnancy registration in the country is around 90 to 95 per cent.
However, almost 40 per cent of the expecting women register their pregnancy after the initial 3 months, which is supposed to be the optimal time for pregnancy registration.
According to a gynaecologist at the National Referral Hospital, mothers are issued the Mother-and-Child Health or MCH handbook as soon as it is confirmed that they are pregnant. The book is required to maintain medical and vaccination records among others of the mother and the child.
When pregnancies are not registered on time, it leads to delays in the issuance of the MCH Handbook. This, according to doctors, not only delays in receiving optimal pregnancy care, but puts both the mother and baby at very high risk of illness and complications, and even death.
Further, experts say that delaying pregnancy registration, especially beyond the initial three months, poses risks as the mother misses out on vital supplements.
‘‘Mothers should take medicines such as folic acid for the first three months. It is an essential medicine as it helps the baby grow without disabilities and with a normal birth weight. If they don’t make the handbook, they will also miss out on vitamin, iron, and calcium supplements which could lead to low birth weight,” said Phuntsho Lhamo, Adolescent Friendly Health Service, Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck Mother and Child Hospital.
According to the adolescent focal such unintended pregnancy is even more challenging for young girls who are not able to make decisions.
Phuntsho Lhamo said, “When they are not supported by their parents and partners, it poses a great challenge in decision-making. Such situations also make young girls consider aborting their child illegally. When they opt for unsafe abortion, it will be done in an unhygienic manner. It only causes more complications for the young girls.”
At The Pema Secretariat, which aims to help build a society that promotes mental health and well-being, young girls facing unintended pregnancy are given counselling and support including the facilitation of adoption of their child.
“Unintended pregnancy is mostly seen happening among young children. At such a tender age, they are unable to open up to anyone and decide. In such cases, where the partner is unwilling to accept the child or they want to keep it a secret, we do help them in adopting the child as long as the adopting parents fulfil the criteria,” said Kezang Choden, the Protection Officer with The Pema Secretariat.
Currently, there are no records of unintended pregnancy available in the country. Although the subject is not talked about much, it is quite prevalent especially among young women according to doctors.
Sonam Yuden
Edited by Kipchu
