Pregnancy

Before making any rush decisions, take time to seek advice and consider all of the options and their implications. Please remember, you're not alone, we're here to support you.

There are various on-campus services that can provide support. We encourage you to select the service(s) you feel most comfortable approaching. [email protected], Faith & Reflection, Student Wellbeing, SUBU Advice and the Student Medical Centre are the main places you can go to for help and advice. 

We recommend contacting your Programme Support Officer will have a greater understanding of the support available to you within your faculty and the process of interrupting during the academic year if there is a need. If you don't know who your PSO is, contact AskBU who will be able to help you.

You can also read the BU Student Maternity, Adoption and Parents Policy.

Be aware that if you need to interrupt your studies to have your baby, your student finance payments will also be paused. BU are also unable to support students with any additional funding while they are interrupted because they are not studying. 

The rules around welfare benefits do change frequently so we suggest you seek up-to-date advice from SUBU Advice or the Money Advice Service. We also recommend looking at the Sure Start Maternity Grant.

There are a number of external agencies that offer support if you get pregnant. These include: 

• Brook 
• Maternity Matters Dorset
• NHS 
• Pregnancy Choices Directory
• Pregnant At Uni
• Which? Birth Choice
• Your GP

There are additional services listed on the A-Z Resources page. 

In the meantime, try not to worry. Doing some of the following may help: 

• Visit your GP 
• Follow a healthy eating plan 
• Try to avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs
• Keep up your normal daily physical activity or exercise 
• Set yourself goals that are achievable
• Be positive.