ABSTRACT
In this chapter we find that teenage pregnancy can be viewed in many different ways, planned or unplanned. Through the cases of three young girls – Lucy, Vicky and Ava – we can see how very different their pregnancies were and the level of support they needed in contrast with the needs of Sandra and Adam, who were in their forties. Requesting a contraception consultation may feel embarrassing for some, but through Anna, Tina and Levi, we show how important it is to ask and to be open about sexual activity to get a full picture of what is going on. Joanne’s story shows how the HP’s anxieties and assumptions can have a profoundly negative impact, while Heather’s reveals that exploring the loss of sexual desire during pregnancy can lead to an unexpected revelation. In the section on terminating a pregnancy we explore how Eve found relief from her psychosexual problem when her grief was expressed and released.
