Unplanned pregnancies are not as uncommon as you might think. While not using birth control accounts for nearly 50% of unplanned pregnancies, the other half are women who were attempting to use some form of birth control. Either way, you are now facing some difficult decisions.
Know that you have options! You should learn more about each option to decide which might be the best for you. No option is the “easy way out”. Each choice will come with even more difficult decisions and tough emotions.
You may have family members and friends who are pressuring you to make a certain decision. It’s your decision to make. You need to think about what is best for you and your baby.
Two questions to ask yourself are:
- Do I want to be a parent?
- Am I ready to be a parent right now?
If you answer YES to both of the above questions, great. You can now begin collecting resources that you may need that can help as you parent such as Women, Infants & Children (WIC).
If you want to be a parent but are NOT ready right now…
If timing is the biggest factor and your situation will get better sooner than later, you may want to explore temporary options such as a family member or friend caring for your child during that time. If you don’t have anyone willing or able to care for your baby while to prepare yourself to parent, you can also explore voluntary foster care placement through your state or county. Keep in mind, you will need to comply with all the requirements they set so be sure you know what they are before making that decision.
If you answer NO to either of the above questions, you will want to explore your other options. Some options are time sensitive (abortion) while others can be decided at any point in your pregnancy and even after birth (adoption).
The National Abortion Federation has detailed information that can help you learn more about abortion. There is a lot of misinformation about abortion and it’s important to make a decision based on facts.
If you would like to explore adoption, it’s important to find an agency that does not pressure you in any way. This is your decision and your choice. Find an agency who can be there for you and advocate for your needs throughout the process as well as be supportive if you choose to parent.
By working with a local agency, you will have a counselor who will walk you through the process step-by-step. You can choose the parents for your baby, meet them, and have ongoing contact through open adoption. To contact a counselor to speak more in depth about the adoption process, call 855-711-1609 or text 610-595-4767. There is no pressure at all. They are there to help.
No matter what option you choose, it’s important to make a decision after exploring all your options and finding the best one for you and your baby.
