A pregnant girl with a “cognitive impairment” was considered for a forced abortion while she was in government care.

Child services in the Northern Territory sought advice in December 2014 on whether to have the baby, who was conceived while its mother was in care, terminated.

The girl has expressed to her friends she is delighted to be pregnant and wants to keep the baby, the ABC reported.

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The Department of Children and Families gathered advice and mulled over the option of taking the matter to the NT Supreme Court, but the mother-to-be turned 18 in March and the rules about her care changed overnight.

She will be allowed the right to decide whether to give birth, but an acquaintance of the girl, David Cole, who is also a social worker had grave hopes.

“I’d imagine that the department will take her child away from her as soon as it’s born,” he said.

The department’s head Anne Bradford said in a statement it “will not have a role in the child’s life unless concerns are raised regarding the mother’s capacity to parent the child”.

A solicitor, Jane Sanders, said any concern about the mother’s ability to raise the child would be tested in court.

“They have to be satisfied the person doesn’t have the capacity to consent. They also have to look at what’s in their best interests.”

Ms Sanders said such situations did occur from time to time but more often related to applications for sterilisation of people with intellectual disabilities or transgender issues.

Mr Cole said care had to be taken with the pregnant woman.

“Her journey’s been tough and nothing’s been easy for her.

“This young girl needs a lot of support. She needs support not only for herself but for this child.”