Facing an unplanned pregnancy? Explore your options
When the pregnancy test is positive and this was not the plan, your first feeling might be shock. But quickly, the reality of your situation starts to set in. Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be challenging, but remember that you do have options, including parenting your child or choosing a loving future for them through adoption. We want you to know that you don’t have to go through this alone. We specialize in adoptions in Florida, and our experienced team is here to offer you the unbiased support you need as you make the important decisions that lie ahead.
What to do about an unplanned pregnancy?
Our counselors have walked hundreds of women through unexpected pregnancy, and their first piece of advice is to just take time to breathe. It’s normal to feel concerned or uncertain about your next steps. And it’s perfectly OK to take the time you need to get used to the idea and start educating yourself about all of your options for how to handle an unplanned pregnancy.
For most women, it comes down to two choices: preparing for parenting, or making an adoption plan. Here’s some basic information that can help you begin to explore your feelings about both.
Choosing to parent your baby
As soon as you know you are facing unplanned pregnancy, you may begin to feel a strong, instinctive pull to provide for your baby. The love for the child you are carrying starts early, and it drives you to want what’s best for your child. So, it’s natural to start thinking about whether you are ready to be a good mom to your child.
Some women have strong support from family or the baby’s father, as well as a safe home and the resources needed to give a child a happy and secure life. However, many women don’t – and that’s not something to feel guilty about. If you’re considering parenting, it’s important to be realistic about what it would be like for you.
Being a mother is a rewarding and beautiful experience like no other. It’s also one of the toughest jobs there is, placing immense demands on women’s time, attention and finances. Our counselors encourage women facing unexpected pregnancy to start by realistically thinking about their answers to several important questions.
- Is the father in the picture, and is he committed to helping you raise this child?
- Do you have the dedicated support of your family to help you through?
- Will you need to work to support this child?
- What will you do for childcare? Can you afford to pay for childcare if you need to?
- Do you have a safe home in which to raise a baby?
- Are you in a stable place in your life right now?
- Do you feel ready to make the sacrifices you will need to make to put your child’s needs first?
- What plans for your future will you need to put on hold for now, and how do you feel about doing that?
Choosing to place your baby for adoption
Some women discover they are pregnant and know right away that they aren’t ready to become mothers, while others need more time to think things through. Some are facing DCF involvement or loss of custody, and want to have the option to choose their baby’s parents and stay in contact with them. And some women wish they could parent their babies, but must face the reality that they are not equipped to do so right now.
Regardless of the circumstances, it’s natural for women facing unplanned pregnancy to feel sad, anxious or guilty, or even excited about considering adoption. But it’s also natural to want your child to have a beautiful, abundant life of love. In some cases, the best way to give that to your child is to make an adoption plan.
Modern adoption empowers pregnant mothers to choose the best family for their child, and to make important decisions about what that relationship will look like going forward. If you feel that it’s best to stay in contact with your child’s adoptive family, you can. Beautiful relationships can be built between adoptive families and mothers, with the child’s best interests at the center of it all. Today’s adoption process is designed to create a secure, loving future for the child, who will grow up surrounded by love and support on all sides.
As you consider placing your baby for adoption, it is likely you have questions.
- What is best for me and my baby?
- Do I want an open or closed adoption, or a mix of both?
- Will my child know how much I love them?
- What does the adoption process look like?
- Can I pick the family for my baby?
- Will I regret this decision, or will it be a blessing to me, my child, and the adoptive family?
Get unbiased information and help for unexpected pregnancy
It is not selfish to think about what’s best for both you and your child. But as mothers quickly learn, the child’s needs must come first. Bringing a child into an unstable environment can have lifelong negative repercussions for the child, so we encourage you to seek the help of our counselors to help you realistically assess whether parenting or adoption is your best choice. We will never pressure you to choose adoption, but instead will give you the objective facts and information you need to choose the best path for you and your baby.
Contact us today to speak with an experienced counselor and learn more about the realities of both parenting and adoption in Florida. We were here to support you and connect you with the information and resources you need when navigating an unplanned pregnancy.