All Archives
NOTE: Opinions and advice provided on this website are based on the personal experience of the author, Stacy Quarty. Ms. Quarty in no way claims to be a professional source of medical, psychological or statistical information.

• Alcohol Consumption

• Am I Pregnant?

• Back Pain

• Belly Issues

• Birth Control

• Bleeding

• Body Odors

• Breast Changes

• Breast Feeding

• Calculating Conception / Due Dates

• Cancer

• Cervical Cerclage

• Cesarean Sections

• Chronic Health Problems

• Cigarette Smoking

• Constipation, Diarrhea & Gas

• Contractions

• Cotton Mouth

• Diet & Exercise

• Drug Use

• Ectopic Pregnancy

• Edema / Swelling

• Epidurals

• Fatigue

• Fertility Drugs

• Fetal Movement

• Genetics

• Gestational Diabetes

• Getting Pregnant

• Hair

• Harmful to the Fetus?

• Heartburn

• Heightened Thermostat

• Hemorrhoids

• Horror-monal Hysteria

• Hysterical Husbands & Partners

• Incompetent Cervix

• IVF (Invitro Fertilization)

• Labor
• Leg Issues

• Maternity Leave

• Medications

• Miscarriage

• Miscellaneous

• Morning Sickness

• Nesting

• Paternity

• Placenta Previa

• Placental Abruption

• Postpartum Depression

• Post-Pregnancy Issues

• Premature Labor

• Pre-Menopause

• Prenatal Testing

• Pregnancy Symptoms?

• Rh Factor

• Sex, Orgasms & Masturbation

• Single Parenting

• Skin Changes

• Sleep Deprivation

• STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease)

• Teen Pregnancy

• Tilted Cervix

• Unknown Pregnancy

• Unwanted Advice, Comments & Touching

• Uterine Cramps & Pains

• UTI (Urinary Tract Infections)

• Vaginal Discharge

• Vaginal Pain

• Vaginal Swelling

• Vaginal Tears

• Varicose Veins

• VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)

• Weight Gain

• Worries During Delivery

• Yeast & Bacterial Infections

Q. I believe I am pregnant. I was on Ortho Evra (the patch) for about four months, but it wasn't used correctly. I have seen the doctor for about three weeks straight because I have leukocytes or traces of blood in my urine. The doctor asked if there was a chance of pregnancy and then ruled it out because of my birth control use. I've had periods for the past two months, but they have been very abnormal with light bleeding that doesn't last long. What can I do to find out if I am really pregnant without my parents finding out?
-Anonymous, Ohio

A. You can use an over-the-counter home pregnancy test to check for pregnancy. You are probably not pregnant, but if the urine test shows that you are, you must tell your doctor immediately. She needs to know if you are pregnant because certain medications and treatments could be harmful to a developing fetus - if you plan on keeping the pregnancy. Most medical professionals will honor doctor-patient confidentiality and she may give you advice and/or counseling on what your next steps may be.

Q. I am going to be a single mother and I am pretty young as well. Will I be able to find someone who will love me even though I have a baby?
-Anonymous, California

A. Deciding to be a single parent is a HUGE commitment. Although I have a husband to help with childcare, a decent income and waited until I was 32 to become pregnant, I still found caring for a newborn to be all-consuming, completely life-altering, and extremely tiring. I can only imagine how hard it must be for single young mothers.

Of course you will find someone to love you when you have a baby– the baby. Having a baby puts a whole new perspective on the meaning of "unconditional love." It's difficult, but it can also be wonderful. As far as acquiring a "significant other," it’s likely you won't have the time or energy to meet anyone or date for a few years. But, when the time is right, it could happen.

Please do consider ALL of your options before signing up for the life-altering lifestyle of single motherhood. If you're having a hard time sorting out your future, do seek counseling. There are many no-cost or low-cost organizations such as women’s centers, medical clinics and religious institutions that can offer some guidance and support. It might help to have an objective perspective on your situation.

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Q. I had sex for my first time on March 18th. I didn't plan on it and I knew I wasn't ready. We lay there and then started messing around. Then he had it in me. It hurt a little at first. But then, just as soon as the pain started going away, he pulled out because he started to cum. It got a little on my inner thigh and I'm not sure where else. He may have leaked pre-cum inside me.

I'm really scared and I've been trying to search for help for days. My last period was in February. But I'm not sure what days. I'm 15 and I'm not really regulated yet. I need to know if I'm pregnant. How long can I wait until I know for sure? I can't tell my parents because they would freak out and never let me see him again. I'm not going to have sex again until I'm for sure ready. I regret it so much. Please, please help me.
-Anonymous, New Jersey

A. Try not to panic. There is a small chance that you may be pregnant, but only if all of the conditions were right. For example: if you were ovulating, if any sperm reached the egg and if any of the sperm were strong enough.

Normally, you can use a home pregnancy test (HPT) on the first day of your missed period to see if you are pregnant. Since you don't know when to expect your period, I suggest buying an over-the-counter HPT at your local drug store if you don't get it by April 1st.

If you are pregnant, you might want to contact a local Planned Parenthood clinic or the like to discuss your options.

In either case, you do need to be much more careful in the future. Unprotected sex puts you at risk not only for pregnancy, but also sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS, herpes, crabs, pelvic inflammatory disease, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and genital warts. You should make an appointment with an OB/GYN or a Planned Parenthood clinic to go over your birth control options. A clinic may be your best bet, as most will give out birth control to teens for free and will not contact your parents.

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Q. I'm 16 and my best friend is pregnant. She won’t tell her Mom and Dad, and her boyfriend is telling her to drink, punch her belly and do anything to kill the baby. They are both awesome at sports and good in school, but they messed up big time. She wants to tell her Mom, but her boyfriend won’t let her. She is always getting sick in third bell (around 10:00) and she hasn't had a period in two months. She doesn't look up anything online and is just lost. I'm the one making sure she is eating right and trying to keep her in a good mood. What do I do being a best friend? Do I tell her Mom? Do I wait for her to tell her Mom? I'm just scared that she is going to get sick or something because she isn't taking the right steps. Please give me an answer. I'm open for anything! Thanks.
-Anonymous, Ohio

A. The best advice I can give you is to get your friend to a family planning or Planned Parenthood clinic ASAP. The majority of these organizations will give free advice and counseling to young women and will not inform her parents unless she chooses to do so. This kind of professional advice will help your friend put her situation in perspective and make the proper decisions to accomplish her future goals, whatever they may be.

If she wants to terminate the pregnancy, punching her stomach and drinking is not going to do it. That will only make her bruised and ill. It's not too late for your friend to consider abortion if that's what she wants. If she wants to keep the baby, she should tell her parents, because she probably will need a lot of support emotionally, physically and financially from them. Regardless of what her ultimate decision is going to be, having a professional counselor to guide her through the process and help evaluate all of her options would be the best way for her to get through this.

You probably should not tell her mother. Again, a professional counselor could give her proper advice on how to approach her parents if necessary. If you cannot find a Planned Parenthood clinic in your area, you can also try asking about teen pregnancy counseling in your local hospital, religious institution or school.

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Q. I'm now about 5 1/2 months pregnant. I've tried everything I can think of to end my pregnancy, from drugs, to starvation, to drinking poisonous chemicals. Having this baby is NOT an option for me, for my parents will disown me and it's against every personal belief that I hold dear. Also, I'm just not a person who should be reproducing. What else can I do to ensure that this pregnancy won't continue? I'M DESPERATE, and I'm at the point where I'd rather end my life than create another.
-Anonymous, Kansas

A. I recommend that you see a counselor, preferably at a family planning clinic such as Planned Parenthood, ASAP. Planned Parenthood and similar clinics will give young women free birth control and advice on how to deal with unwanted pregnancies without telling your parents, unless you choose to do so.

See: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ZIP.HTM for information about a Planned Parenthood clinic in your area.

Please stop ingesting drugs and other harmful chemicals. This will not terminate the pregnancy, but will only succeed in making you ill and possibly cause birth defects in the fetus.

It's not too late for you to turn things around and shape your life to be what you really want. You may even try seeking help from your school nurse, guidance counselor or local hospital.

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Q. I had a one night stand with a 26-year-old about two weeks ago and now I'm pregnant. I'm only 15. Should I tell him that he's the father or not? He is getting married in a week and I don't want to ruin anything between him and his girlfriend.
-Anonymous, Nebraska

A. At this point, I think your priority should be your well-being and future. I wouldn't worry about ruining this guy's relationship with his fiancée. He's already ruined it himself by cheating on her and having sex with a minor, which is illegal. He's the one who is at fault here, not you. Who knows, maybe having his fiancée find out about his indiscretion now would do her a favor. As the saying goes, "Once a cheater, always a cheater."

I think you first need to figure out what you are going to do in your present state. Are you going to keep the baby and raise it yourself? Will your parents help you raise a child? Are you going to give up the baby for adoption? Are you going to have an abortion? Talking it through with a pregnancy counselor may be best. A professional counselor has accurate information about all of your pregnancy options. You do not need your parents' permission to talk with a counselor. Family planning clinics such as Planned Parenthood give free and confidential advice. Planned Parenthood's number is: 1-800-230-PLAN or visit the web site at: www.plannedparenthood.org for more information. Also see: http://www.coolnurse.com/pregnancy.htm for more information about teen pregnancy and options.