Despite everyone’s best efforts, unplanned pregnancies will always occur. Evidence suggests that they are linked with poor outcomes, such as low birthweight, being born too early (preterm birth) and depression after birth. However, there are some problems with the data, and there is none from England.

To find women with unplanned pregnancies we have introduced some questions into antenatal care at University College London Hospital, Homerton University Hospital and Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital. To know how best to support women with an unplanned pregnancy we need to know how unplanned pregnancies are linked to poor outcomes. We will use the data from these questions, as well as other information about the woman, to explore if and how unplanned pregnancies are associated with things like the baby being born too early or being low birthweight. We will use these findings to design services to meet the needs of these women. The aim of these services will be to prevent poor outcomes such as low birthweight.