Weighing the options for the outcome of your pregnancy can be confusing. It is such a big decision that it can feel intimidating. While it might be tempting to let someone else make this decision for you, this is your choice to make. No one should pressure you into a decision.
You are the best person to make this choice.
Adoption
Adoption is a very different experience for birth mothers today than even 30 years ago. Today, birth mothers can choose the family they think would be best to raise their child and decide how much contact they want with the family after the adoption is finalized.
There are three types of adoption:
- Open adoption- the birth mother can choose parents for her child and have the opportunity to meet them before the baby is born. Together with the adoptive parents, the birth mother can decide how she would like to communicate with the family. Some women choose to schedule regular visits with the child, while others may only want phone calls for updates. Women choose this option for various reasons, including:
- They want to know their child is safe and loved.
- They want their child to know why they placed them for adoption.
- They want their child to know their family/cultural history.
- Semi-open adoption- in this type of adoption, a birth mother can communicate with the adoptive family. However, all communications will go through a third party, like an adoption agency or an adoption attorney. All information, like names and contact information, will remain confidential.
- Closed adoption- closed adoptions are chosen when a birth mother doesn’t want contact with the child or the adoptive family. No communication will take place between the parties, and all information will remain confidential. Birth mothers may provide information regarding their health history, so the child will be aware of conditions they might have genetically inherited.
Abortion
Abortion is the process of terminating a growing pregnancy. The reasons a woman chooses to abort her pregnancy are personal and vary between women.
There are two types of abortion:
- Medical abortion- the woman is prescribed two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, that work together to end the pregnancy and expel it from her body. Medical abortion, also called the abortion pill, is only approved for pregnancies under 10 weeks.
- Surgical abortion- a provider accesses the pregnancy through a woman’s vagina by inserting rods into the cervix to dilate it. They will then use surgical tools varying from suction to forceps to remove the pregnancy, depending on how far along the pregnancy is.
We Offer Support
Your choice will impact you for the rest of your life, so make sure to take your time with a decision. If you have questions about your options or need to talk through your situation in a safe and non-judgmental space, contact us for a free appointment.