A question such as this usually stems from fear. That’s okay. Having a baby can be really scary, especially when it’s your first.
Your girlfriend is equally scared though, if not more so. She is the one who will endure significant mental, emotional, and physical challenges in the coming months. She will need to rely heavily upon you as a crutch through all of these aspects. Keep in mind the strong relationship you had prior to this pregnancy.
Ask yourself why you would even consider leaving. Choosing to leave your girlfriend and opting to put your own personal interests above the situation you helped create will speak volumes about your character as a man.
Remember, leaving your girlfriend will not erase what has already happened. If you love her and you’re able to foresee a successful, loving relationship in addition to being parents, why would you leave?
If you fear that you are incapable of sustaining such a relationship beyond being parents, then certainly end the romantic aspect of your partnership sooner than later. She doesn’t deserve to be strung along if you don’t truly love her, and your child deserves a successful co-parenting relationship that may already be worked out by the time he/she comes along.
Take it from me, being born into a bitter separation is the last thing your child deserves.
However, she also doesn’t deserve to be left to face her pregnancy, appointments, morning sickness, delivery, and the raising of a child alone. You are equally responsible for bringing this child into the world and, make no mistake about it, you bare as much responsibility in ensuring the best for the child’s future as your girlfriend does.
Although a pregnancy can be unexpected, challenging, and scary, relationships face their truest tests in these moments. If everything was all candy and roses, all relationships would succeed and no one would be single!
Life will throw wrenches into the plans you foresaw, and that’s truly the only thing we can be certain of. It’s how you handle those moments that dictate the content of your character.