If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may feel overwhelmed and have mixed emotions. If you already know parenting is not the best option, your two other choices are abortion or adoption.
Deciding on your pregnancy can be challenging with all the different information and opinions you may get online or in your support group. Still, it is essential to consider all available information before making a choice.
Read this article to distill some important facts about adoption and abortion so you can make an informed choice.
Confirm Your Pregnancy Details
The first step in making an informed decision is to confirm with a pregnancy test whether you are pregnant so you’re not left guessing. If the pregnancy test is positive, it is important to schedule an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy and determine what next steps are available to you.
Positive Options offers no-cost ultrasounds that can help determine the fetus's gestational age. It can also help you know if there are any complications, such as a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
What Should I Know About Adoption?
If you are considering adoption, it is important to understand the different types of adoption available to you, which are open, closed, and semi-closed:
An open adoption allows for contact between the birth parents and the adoptive parents, including letters, pictures, and sometimes visits.
A closed adoption means no contact between the birth and adoptive parents.
A semi-closed adoption allows for limited contacts, such as letters or pictures exchanged through an adoption agency.
Psychological Impacts of Adoption
Choosing adoption is not an easy decision. You cannot predict how you will feel after selecting an adoption plan, and many women experience different things.
Each woman’s experience will be different. There is the possibility of developing feelings of loss or grief, and birth mothers may also experience postpartum depression.
Work with an adoption agency that provides counseling and emotional support before and after placement. Many women who choose an open adoption enjoy the emotional bond they build from a continued relationship with their child.
Adoption Expense
Another factor to consider is whether pregnancy expenses will be covered if you choose adoption. The adoptive family may often cover medical bills, living expenses, and legal fees during the pregnancy. It is important to discuss this with an adoption agency or attorney to understand what expenses may be covered.
We offer no-cost options consultations at Positive Options where we can refer you to local adoption agencies.
What Do I Need to Know About Abortion?
There are medical and surgical abortions. The method you qualify for depends on your pregnancy’s gestational age. Understanding the possible risks of both is essential to help you make an informed decision.
Surgical Abortion Risks
The Mayo Clinic lists the following as potential risks of surgical abortion:
Perforation of the uterus
Damage to the cervix
Infection
Scar tissue on the uterine wall
Medical Abortion Risks
The Mayo Clinic lists the following as a risk for medical abortion (aka the abortion pill):
Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn't work
Heavy and prolonged bleeding
Infection
Fever
Psychological Impacts of Abortion
While understanding the physical risks helps make a decision, you should also consider the possible psychological and emotional repercussions of abortion.
Experts have established that “abortion is consistently associated with elevated rates of mental illness compared to women without a history of abortion.”
In one international study of both Russian and American women, many who had an abortion procedure went on to suffer PTSD symptoms.
While there is no way to guarantee or predict how an abortion may impact a woman’s mental health, it’s essential to consider this factor.
Making a Decision
Nobody knows the best decision for your body better than you do, but that doesn’t mean you may not be overwhelmed when you first discover you’re pregnant.
At our center, we offer no-cost pregnancy services such as pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and options consultations where you can learn about local options and resources and determine which choice is the best fit for you.
Our team is here to provide a safe and supportive environment to discuss your options and help you make the best decision for you and your future. Contact us today!
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