It is a fact that a woman can get pregnant without being married. It happens everyday. Although it is more accepted and publicized today than in the past, it has happened for centuries.
I have known women who find out they are pregnant and get married right away. I have also known women who find out they are pregnant and never marry the baby’s father.
My husband and I waited three years after marriage before having a child. Adjusting to marriage alone was trying at times. Adjusting to having a baby in the house was even more difficult (especially ours, which had colic). I cannot imagine adjusting to both simultaneously.
I think many women feel that they must get married due to society’s view of them. Many believe that if they get married quickly enough, people will think that the pregnancy came after the marriage. Other couples want to share equal time with the baby. They are ready to commit to one another and begin a family. The marriage would have come even if the baby had not.
If you and your partner love one another and are truly ready to make a commitment, then marriage is probably best for you and your baby. However if you did not see marriage in your near future before you found out you were pregnant, then marriage may not be right for you now.
I currently have a cousin who will be fathering a baby soon. He and his girlfriend are both in college. They have jobs but nothing steady enough to support a home and a family. They had no plans of marriage in their near future. Both wish to continue and graduate from college. By remaining at home and getting support from their family, they can accomplish their goals. They realize that they are not in a position to go out on their own. They have both agreed to remain together as a couple but put marriage off until they are ready. For them, I feel that they are making a wise decision.
How Pregnancy Changes Your Marriage