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Pregnancy as a lone parent

Every year thousands of women experience pregnancy alone. There are more than 200,000 one-parent families in Ireland today.

If you are pregnant as a single parent, ask for help and support when you need it. You may find that other single parents are a good source of support.

Sharing the news of your pregnancy

Sharing the news of your pregnancy can be difficult. It can be an overwhelming time if you are single or in your teens, or you are pregnant earlier than you had planned.

Tell a friend or two when you feel comfortable. You are in control of how you share your news and who you share it with.

Develop a support system

Ask your family and friends to support you.

They can help by:

  • bringing you nutritious meals that you can heat up
  • doing household chores
  • minding your other children for a few hours
  • encouraging you to leave the house
  • meeting up with you
  • giving you space to talk and share your feelings

Extra support for parents

Groups and classes

You may not have friends or family to support you. Your family and friends may live far from you. Ask your midwife if your local hospital offers support groups for lone parents.

Antenatal classes are a great way of meeting people.

One-parent family payments

You might be eligible for the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) from Social Welfare.

One-Parent family payments - on citizensinformation.ie

Page last reviewed: 16 June 2022
Next review due: 16 June 2025