How do I tell my religious parents that I’m pregnant from a one night stand?

DEAR DEIDRE: MY parents are going to go mad when I tell them I am pregnant.

I’ve only just started my degree course. I’m 19 and I’ve been so stupid.

I was single when I went to university and couldn’t wait to get out of my boring village and make new friends.

I went out every night for the first week and met the brother of a fellow uni starter. He’s older at 24 and gorgeous.

He doesn’t live far away, so came out to join the party atmosphere.

We chatted then had sex back at his. It was two months ago and I’m late for my period.

If I can trace the guy I had sex with, much as I really like him, I imagine when I tell him the news he’ll run a mile.

My parents are very quiet, church-going people and they do a lot in our community. They are against abortion and if I tell them I am expecting, they won’t be happy.

DEIDRE SAYS: But this is your decision, not your parents’ – although you’d like their support, no doubt.

You could defer your studies, but if you are going to be a single parent that can be tough.

If you go ahead with the pregnancy, the father should support the child at least financially, and preferably emotionally too.

Check out msichoices.org.uk (0345 300 8090), which has a free counselling line to talk through your options and that can help you reach the correct decision for you.