Hands up, how many of us have an unplanned pregnancy?

Never wanted children - why another story. Told my DH if he did better find someone else to marry. Four years later and about to go abroad with my job found fate had other plans. Fifty-two years on and two lovely grandsons so very glad fate intervened.

Blimey, I can't believe how many people's contraception failed! After suffering from postnatal depression after having my second child I was paranoid about not getting pregnant again; if I had read this thread then, I would have become celibate!

I've had seven in total - 5 on the pill!

When I was in hosp for a hysterectomy, my Obi/Gyn informed me that research in the USA had discovered that the pills I take for my epilepsy cancelled out the birth control tablet...

Then he ran like hell down the corridor.....

I am Spartacus! We were newly married and struggling to furnish our home and pay the mortgage, when I found out I was pregnant. My BiL said "Congratulations and hard luck" when he heard the news.

Second baby was deliberately conceived but not very carefully planned. I had had surgery in the intervening years and the doctor said it might be a good idea to be satisfied with one child. I got very broody, told my DH that I wanted another baby, and luckily got pregnant straight away. Also lucky that I was fine throughout, up to the final month. The delivery, by C-section, was a bit fraught due to previous surgery.

Accidental or not, they're the best thing that ever happened to me.

First was unplanned but not unwanted. Tried for second and suspect had two very early miscarriages which were never confirmed, then number two. I wanted a third but three more miscarriages later decided it wasn't meant to be as I'd hit 40 and thought myself too old!
People can be cruel when they speak of planned parenthood as being simple. It certainly wasn't for us. Also circumstances change. How many couples have children they can afford very adequately but then a redundancy comes along, or a marriage breaks down, leaving a single mother struggling. For all my ex's faults he did provide for me and my children despite trading me in for a younger model, but not all men do!

jocork, I hope this thread hasn't been upsetting. I realise how fortunate I've been, three children, two carefully planned, the third a big surprise and a bit scary. 34 years old now, total joy so yes, blessed in that.
I have three much loved family members who longed for children, would have been great parents but fate / biology wasn't working for them\

Best accident I ever had...been married for 12 years and had decided not to bother about children. Then found out I was pregnant and was terribly shocked (!). He was of course the most perfect baby and is now a gorgeous doctor with his own new baby. As soon as he arrived I knew I didn’t want him to grow up alone as I had been a rather lonely only child. My beautiful daughter was born three years later, very much planned and wanted.

No, always wanted four, then was sterilised.

No accidents just bonuses

My first was 'Shall we? Shan't we?' Oh - we have!

I’m Spartacus
I’m Spartacus
I’m Spartacus
I’m Spartacus
All four happy accidents, wouldn’t change a thing.

Yup, me..I was 22 years old & so naive..But only the one son I had...Shock to the system..But he's a great son, very proud of him [ smile]

My girl was unplanned when I was 17, she's the best thing that ever happened to me. No more babies after her because I could only afford one .

We always wanted 2 children and after an anxious four years of marriage our ds was born. I was breast feeding and so, unplanned, I was pregnant again! Our dd was born with only 15 months between them. Although they were quite easy babies, it was hard work for the first year but it all turned out tickety boo as they got on so well together. I have always felt truly blessed.

We have 2 both were wanted, but didn't plan on having them less than 13 months apart. Because I was breastfeeding the 1st G P said I couldn't have the pill, so fell again within short space of time. We were living in a rented flat with no family nearby, it was very tough, but 47 years on no regrets.

Our third was an accident, conceived at Christmas!! After the initial shock, it all turned out good! A girl, after 2 boys. No more though, vasectomy for hubby not long after.

Both of our wonderful children were unplanned

Me too!

We were told we wouldn't be able to have children in the 1970s. Through having chronic endometriosis, one fallopian tube and one ovary it was unlikely that I'd conceive. I miraculously had 4 pregnancies (sadly losing the first) and went on to have 3 babies over 6 years, absolute little miracles!

When my second child (planned, and only because I was trying for a daughter) was ten months old, my period didn’t come. I was on a mini pill, and the periods came like clockwork every fourth Sunday. My baby was the girl I’d dreamt of, and I absolutely did not want a third child. Longest night of my life. Woke with my period arriving. To this day, I don’t know what choice I would have made

I had no idea that contraceptives can fail so miserably. That should not happen. It is nice when the child is wanted regardless and will be able to be cared for properly, but so many are not. That then causes child neglect, and the prospect for those kids is not rosy. Worse is that due to neglect, they grow up to be parents who do not know how to properly parent themselves. A vicious cycle, hence so much misery in many people's lives.

Girl & boy,both planned,third pregnancy unplanned,twin girls,so 4 children in 4 years,worked out brilliantly,although tons of work,they always had someone to play with and are still really close———-more children means more grandchildren !

This thread has confirmed that many 'ordinary, hard working, sensible people who plan' have contraception failures or unwanted pregnancies. Most of us have been blessed and fallen in love with our babies, struggled through financially and 30 plus years later can't imagine life without that surprise baby.
I expect many of us have less positive experiences, may have had no choice but make the decision to end the pregnancy. I'm not expecting anyone to write about that.

FunOma, yes contraception can and does fail miserably at times. Plus, some of those much wanted babies face the fate you describe for some unwanted pregnancies. The level of neglect and abuse toward children all over the world, as well as here in the Uk is beyond measure or belief. It's great to see so many happy endings here. Also, confirmation that it can happen to anyone, not just "the feckless" because so many of us are spartaca.

Yes contraceptives do fail, I think most of us know or may have experience of that. My first pregnancy occurred when I had a coil. I was in my early twenties and was living with my first husband before we married, certainly not planning a family at that time, that pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage, possibly due to the coil expelling the foetus I had to have a d and c afterwards. My second pregnancy, my older child wasn't planned either, 2nd husband and I had just got together, I wanted to work a bit longer, but my husband said at the time, having two children already from first marriage, "if you want a family you'd better get on with it " My third pregnancy was the only planned one, although I think I had a very early miscarriage in between my children which wasn't planned, but would have been okay for me at that time if it had progressed.

I had a coil fitted for many years without any mishaps, but then I had pregnancy, afterwards I was sterilised even though I was going through the menopause.