podcast episode what to do if pregmant

Abikeola discusses options for dealing with pregnancy resulting from rape. The options include keeping the baby, seeking government and NGO assistance, and giving the baby up for adoption. Abortion is not legal or advisable in Nigeria. Abikeola emphasizes that there is support available and encourages seeking help from trusted individuals and professional counselors. Yes, welcome once again to another wonderful session on Abike's Thoughts on Social Issues. I am your one and only host, Abikeola the Authentic. Today, I'm taking a step further on the issue of rape, and that is a death raping if it gets through. If it leads to pregnancy, what do you do? I tell you, number one, that you are not alone. You are not the first person that will go through this kind of challenge. So don't see yourself as being alone. So if you get to find out that you are pregnant as a result of the rape, that death rape or any kind of rape, they are all criminal offenses. So there are a number of options available to you. Number one is you may choose to carry the pregnancy to term and keep the baby, which is very, very challenging in the beginning but very rewarding in later years because the idea or the experience of being a mother is a wonderful one. It could be very overwhelming at the beginning, but there are resources available that will help you cope. There are government agencies, ministries, and departments that help single mom or violated girls or women. And then there are individuals and philanthropic organizations that can also assist in helping to lift the body off your shoulders. So don't keep it to yourself. There are lots of help available for you. Another option is that you may choose to carry the baby in the pregnancy to term and then give the baby up for adoption. The legal state government has designated units and departments for child protection and child adoption where such cases can be taken care of, but it must be legally done to avoid stories that touch. And it is impossible for you to go back and say that you want to take the child back if you are giving the child out for adoption. So you have to think about it very well. And then the last option there, which is not accepted in Nigeria, and that is abortion. Abortion is a criminal offense. It may be legalized in Nigeria. It may be legalized in other countries. Morally, it is not advisable. And legally in Nigeria, it is a criminal offense. Anybody that presents to the hospital having complications as a result of terminating the pregnancy is really referred to as criminal abortion. So you have to think deep. And know that these options before you, you decide on what to do because the decision of what to do is really, really a personal one. So there is no right or wrong answer. But in Nigeria, abortion is not the way. So if you choose to keep the baby, there are a number of resources available to you. Like I said, you may be eligible for government assistance and programs. And there are also many NGOs, non-governmental organizations, that provide support to mothers and children. Another area, like I said before, is giving the child their agency, taking care of adoption. And then no matter the decision you make, it's important to remember that you are not alone. I'm repeating it for emphasis' sake. There are people who care about you and they want to help you. Seek help and you will find help. Don't be ashamed. Pregnancy is not a plague. Pregnancy is not a disease. If you need any support, please reach out to a trusted friend, trusted family member, and you can contact professional counselors for professional counseling services. Because like me, Abikeola, I am your one and only Abikeola the authentic. Let's just make it real. So feel free to book a session with me. It is free for the period of time because I am rooting for you. And I want you to have that mindset that you still matter. No matter what happens to you, God is involved. And anytime life presents lemon to you, make a lemonade out of it. And if life presents to you pepper, like somebody will always say, prepare pepper soup out of it. Stay blessed. Till we meet in the next episode. Cheers.