You have already been pregnant and had an abortion. Now you’re pregnant again and are confident that you want to do something different with this one.
You are not alone! You have complete control over your pregnancy, and legally, no one can pressure you to have an abortion again. Keep reading this article if you want to learn more about the alternative option of adoption or parenting.
Parenting
If you never saw yourself as a mother or had not planned on adding to your family right now, you’re not the first woman to question parenting. But while many women do have unplanned pregnancies, they go on to find motherhood an enriching path.
If you’re open to learning more, remember that parenting comes with much joy and responsibility. Here are a few questions to help you gauge how feasible or appealing parenting is to you:
- Do I have a circle of people to support me emotionally and materially? Can I rely on family or friends to provide childcare or help?
- Am I able to take care of a child right now? Do I have a permanent and reliable place to live?
- How would being a parent affect my job, education, or career? Am I willing to do what it takes to make it work?
These are big questions, and you don’t have to have all the details right now, but these can help propel you in the right direction. If you are worried about material questions–like housing or how you’ll provide for a baby, many private and public programs exist to help women with infants.
Adoption
If parenting is not in the cards for you, adoption might be the next best option. As the birth parent, you get control over all the details of the adoption, ranging from whether the adoption agency can disclose details about you to whether or not you maintain a relationship with the adoptive family.
Here are the different options available:
- Open Adoption– You build a relationship with your child and your chosen adoptive family, whether that’s through visits or other means of communication. Open adoption makes up the majority of adoptions today.
- Closed Adoption– The courts seal any identifying information. You have no communication with the child or adoptive family.
- Semi-Open Adoption– The adoption agency of your choice acts as a third party to communicate and exchange non-identifying information with the adoptive parents.
You will also have the support of the adoption agency to help you design a plan that works best for you.
Next Steps
You may be feeling daunted by the choices or have questions. Crossroads Women’s Center offers free consultations where you can learn about your options in a safe, confidential environment.
Once you decide the path you’d like to pursue, we can help facilitate the next steps suited for your pregnancy goals (parenting classes, connections for trustworthy adoption agencies, and more).
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!