Support
You may find you need help and support when taking a pregnancy test, when you hear the results, when deciding what to do and in going through with your decision. You might find support in the people closest to you (friends, family), you might prefer to talk to people you don't know as well (independent counsellors, your GP, CUSU) or maybe you want to use other organisations (charities and statutory bodies). Below are some places to start looking.
General
• Cambridge University Students' Union
Contact Natalie, the CUSU Women's Officer or Andrea, Welfare & Graduates Officer to make an individual appointment, or pop into the office for a pregnancy test and a chat.
• The University Counselling Service
• College support
You can always contact your college tutor, DoS, college nurse or chaplain if you feel comfortable talking to them. You may find that if your decision is affecting your work you may have to tell someone in college, in order for them to help you through. Remember that you can go and see ANY tutor in college, not just the one you were assigned to.
• Your GP
• Linkline
Linkline is a student run nightline, where you can talk to someone in absolute confidence. You can talk to linkline for whatever reason: academic, social, wefare etc. You can phone linkline any night in full term between 7pm and 7am on either 01223 744444 or 01223367575. They are located at 17 St Edward's Passage (off Market Square) and also keep a stock of pregnancy tests and condoms, so feel free to drop in between 7pm and midnight.
Family Planning Clinic: The Laurels
20 Newmarket Road
Cambridge
CB5 8DT
The Laurels clinic can offer advice regarding contraception, sexual health, emergency contraception and will also be able to talk through options with you. Telephone 08456 50 51 52 for an appointment or general enquiries.
Making the choice
There are lots of excellent websites that you may find helpful when trying to decide what to do about an unplanned pregnancy. They have good questions that might prompt you to think about the decision you have to make.
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• BPAS (British Pregnancy Advice Service
Abortion
The following websites give unbiased information on abortion, or places you can have an abortion.
• BPAS (British Pregnancy Advice Service)
BPAS has information on unplanned pregnancies, abortion, aftercare and also has information for those supporting someone who is having or had an abortion. They also have a call centre who can give you information on clinics around the country that provide abortions : 08457 30 40 30.
Marie Stopes provides a similar service to BPAS. Its phoneline gives both information and allows you to book an appointment 24 hours a day: 0845 300 8090. They also have a 'live chat' option on their website, a sort of forum to talk on.
• FPA (Family Planning Association)
The Family Planning Association are more focussed on sexual health, but they can also give you support in finding the right clinic for you. Their Find a clinic page is useful especially if you are away from Cambridge. Their helpline can give similar information: 0845 122 8690 (9am to 6pm Monday to Friday)
Adoption and Fostering
• British Association for adoption and Fostering
This is one of the few organisations that give impartial information and advice about adoption and fostering.