When you are considering your options for an unplanned pregnancy, its impact on your mental health should be top of mind. There are multiple options to consider, so it is in your best interest to see the potential impact each one could have on your psychological and physical well-being.
If you know that parenting is not an option, then abortion and adoption are two options you’ll want to research. Read the rest of the article about how each option could possibly affect your mental health.
Does Abortion Affect Mental Health?
Not every woman feels the same negative emotions after an abortion; however, anyone considering an abortion deserves to be informed about the possibility of hard emotions, especially if they already struggle with mental health.
There are also multiple studies which show that women who chose to have an abortion suffered from some of the following psychological and mental health:
Are There Mental Health Risks to Adoption?
Unfortunately, there are very few studies that show the mental health impact of birth parents who chose adoption.
It is also possible that some women may suffer emotionally after adoption, which can look like loss, the 5 stages of grief, or postpartum depression. If you choose to have an open adoption, you will have a relationship with the adoptive family and your adoption plan can include discussing this before your delivery.
However, parents who do go through the adoption process are often referred to or provided with support groups and resources to assist them on their adoption journey.
The Adoption Plan Option
If adoption is an option on the table, the good news is that you can customize the exact plan to suit your individual needs, lifestyle, and what you are wanting in your future. A few options to familiarize yourself with include:
Open Adoption - Open adoption is when you can have a relationship with the child and adoptive family.
Closed Adoption - In a closed adoption, no details about you, the biological parent, are ever disclosed.
Semi-Open Adoption - Birth Parents and Adoptive Parents communicate through their adoption agency.
If you are interested in learning more about adoption, we offer no-cost consultations at our center where we can share more about what the adoption process looks like.
Know Your Options
Everyone deserves to be both physically and emotionally healthy. If you’re still unsure whether adoption or abortion is the best option for you, you can schedule a consultation or a no-cost ultrasound with Positive Options so we can monitor the health and status of your pregnancy.
You’re not alone and we are here to support you!