Once, if a single woman found herself pregnant, she automatically married her baby's father. But these days, women have more choices. Marry, stay single, live with the baby's father. These are all viable options, but how can you know which is best for you?

The rules may be different, but deciding what's best for you and your child isn't always easy. Weighing the pros and cons of marriage carefully is important. Thankfully, in the 21st century, women have more options.

"The tide has turned in our society as to what is acceptable," says Brette McWhorter Sember, former attorney and author of Unmarried with Children: The Complete Guide for Unmarried Families (Adams Media, 2008) "It's easier now than ever to be an unmarried mother. Our society has made changes to accommodate this. The system is equipped to deal with the situation now, whereas before it was not."

Each choice carries with it pros and cons. Some considerations are legal. "The pros of marriage are that your legal rights are completely spelled out towards each other and your child," says Sember. "Should your relationship end, there is a clear mechanism for making plans for the future with regard to your child – divorce court."

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