If you are pregnant and confident that parenting or keeping the baby is not what you would like to do, you are likely thinking about your other two options: abortion and adoption. While these are similar in that you would not be the mother of this baby, these are obviously very different in many ways. While you might be learning toward terminating the pregnancy and getting an abortion, there are several ways in which the two of them differ that you should consider before making your decision. Below are the top ten.
1. The Adoption Process Gives You Control
While abortion might look “easier” than adoption in a certain sense, there is actually a nice amount of control with adoption that you might not be aware of. For instance, you can choose the type of adoption you want: Open Adoption, Semi-Open Adoption, or Confidential Adoption. You can choose the adoptive family to adopt your baby if you want. Everything will go according to your wishes and your adoption plan.
2. A Counselor to Support You- Forever
Should you decide to work with an adoption agency such as Open Arms Adoption Network, you can feel good about the support you will receive. Your adoption counselor will help you work through your options, and be there to support you through the process, for as long as you would like.
3. Helping a Family Grow
There are many families out there who are eagerly waiting to adopt a child, whether they struggle with fertility, are LGBTQ, or just have always wanted to adopt. Although this might be an unplanned pregnancy for you, if you choose to make an adoption plan, you will be helping grow a family and helping someone parent the child of their dreams. Many Birth Parents enjoy the fact that they are helping adoptive parents who could not have the opportunity to parent otherwise.
4. You Can Choose Adoption Anytime
No matter what the circumstances of your pregnancy are, depending on how far along you are, you may be feeling rushed to make a decision. If you have any sort of doubt about terminating, rest assured that you can choose adoption anytime. You can even call Open Arms Adoption from the hospital after you have given birth and move forward with an adoption plan at that point. There is no need to feel rushed into a decision with adoption.
5. You May be Entitled to Pregnancy Related Expenses with Adoption
If you work with an ethical adoption agency, they may be able to help you with some pregnancy related expenses. This sort of expense could be help with groceries, lost wages, assistance with rent or other living expenses, or more.
6. Experienced Counselors
If you contact an adoption agency for assistance with your pregnancy and are wanting options counseling, you will be connected with a Social Worker or Adoption Counselor who is trained and experienced in this area and help you navigate the process. This might mean help getting medical care or prenatal care, how to discuss these important decisions with friends or family, or even the baby’s Birth Father. They can help you navigate single motherhood, should you choose to keep the pregnancy and parent. Your counselor can connect you with abortion clinics in your area, should you ultimately decide that you would like to get an abortion. They can support you through whatever process you choose, and they will offer you complete confidentiality.
7. Religious Beliefs or Not Comfortable with Abortion
If you feel that abortion is not a good fit for you, whether it is because you have religious beliefs around abortion, or you just don’t feel comfortable with the idea, then abortion might not be the best route for you to take. This is a decision that you need to be feel confident and secure in, and if you have hesitations around termination, adoption might be the better option for you.
8. Difficulty of Getting an Abortion
Some of the recent changes in state laws have made it difficult for women in certain states to get a safe, healthy abortion. While we have several partners that we are happy to connect you with, should you ultimately choose to move forward with abortion, it’s possible that this option will not work out for you logistically, depending on where you live, the waiting period, and other obstacles. If you are in your first trimester this can be somewhat easier, but many states have gotten incredibly strict regarding how far along a woman can be in her pregnancy when choosing abortion.
9. Having a Connection with Your Child Can be Incredibly Fulfilling
While this is a difficult time for you, and you are feeling pressure, stress and sadness around this decision, you will not always feel this way. If you choose adoption for your baby, you can have an open adoption if you wish. This would mean having contact with your child as they grow up and staying in touch with them and their family as the years go on. While this might seem to emotionally difficult in the beginning, many Birth Mothers choose to have an Open Adoption down the road and feel good about it. They cherish and value the relationship with their child and the adoptive family, and while there will always be a feeling of grief and loss, there is a new feeling of love and connection. These relationships can be so beautiful and something that you feel good about one day in the near future.
10. Adoption is a Pressure-free Option with Open Arms
You don’t need to be confident in a decision right now, you can call us at 1-888-OPENARMS, and we are available 24/7 to speak with you- however or wherever you would like. We will never pressure you to move forward with adoption, and we can educate you on all of your options, answer any questions that you have about abortion OR adoption, explain adoption law to you, or be helpful in any way we possibly can. You never need to worry about feeling pressured to move forward with us, we are here for YOU, no matter what you prefer.
To learn more about adoption as an unplanned pregnancy option, call us anytime at 1-888-OPENARMS, or email us at info@openarmsadoption.net. You can also check out some of our adoptive families who are currently prepared and excited to adopt a baby! Contact us anytime.
