I’m Pregnant and Not Ready to Become a Parent

You just found out you’re pregnant, but being a parent at this stage of your life is not in your plans.

It’s important to remember even though you might not feel ready to be a mom, you are capable of more than you could ever imagine.  With the endless support, education, and resources available to you through your local pregnancy center, you will gain confidence and be empowered to be a loving parent.  Waterleaf Women’s Center is here to help you learn more.

If you decide that being a parent is not an option for you right now, you have two additional options for your pregnancy.  These include adoption and abortion.  Let’s discuss what these two options might look like for you.

Adoption

The option of adoption is an amazing option for women who are experiencing unplanned pregnancies and don’t feel ready to parent. Like all your options, adoption is a difficult decision. As you explore if adoption is the right choice for you, you’ll want to take time to understand the various plans, how to best prepare, and how an adoption agency will work with you to create a plan that’s right for you and your future.

Types of Adoptions

Women who choose to place their child for adoption, called “birth moms,” are in complete control of the adoption plan — from deciding what type of adoption they want to picking the adoptive family. If finances are a concern for you, often times the adoptive family covers the cost of medical and hospital bills.

Adoptions can either be “open” or “closed.” Open adoptions refer to a plan where the birth mother, child and adoptive family are connected and maintain some sort of relationship beyond placement. This relationship can be through photos and letters, texts, calls, or even regular in-person visits. It’s estimated that 95% of adoptions today are open adoptions.

In contrast, closed adoptions are adoptions where the birth mother chooses to remain anonymous to the child and the adoptive family after placement.

How to Prepare for an Adoption

Are you curious about adoption? We recommend scheduling an appointment with your local pregnancy center, like Waterleaf Women’s Center, to learn more about your options and get connected with an adoption agency.

Adoption agencies will help you explore what type of adoption is best for you, help you create a plan that works for you, and help you pick a family for your child.

Abortion

Abortion is an option for women who wish to terminate their pregnancy. It’s important to take time to gather information about the various procedures, costs, risks, and side effects you may face before proceeding with this option.

Types of Abortions

There are various methods of abortion. Your eligibility for each will depend on the age and developmental stage of your pregnancy.

The abortion pill, available to women in the first ten weeks of pregnancy, is a chemical process used to end a pregnancy. You take one drug to stop the body’s production of progesterone and another drug to cause contractions, cramping, and bleeding to expel the pregnancy from the body. The abortion pill, on average, costs around $500.

There are various forms of surgical abortions. Each method involves dilating the cervix and removing the pregnancy through suctioning or scraping. Surgical abortions can be performed throughout the pregnancy, depending on your state’s legislation surrounding abortion. A surgical abortion can cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000 or more.

Side Effects and Risks of Abortion

When considering abortion, it’s important to be aware of the potential side effects and risks you could encounter during and after the procedure. Typical side effects of abortion procedures include bleeding, cramping, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, exhaustion, and weakness.

Some women report experiencing long-term health complications after their abortion pill procedure, including hemorrhaging, infections, and sepsis. Similarly, surgical abortions can result in infection, tears in the cervix, uterine perforation, hemorrhaging, and incomplete abortions later requiring surgery for tissue removal. In addition, some women will experience what is referred to as Post Abortion Syndrome. This is the residual emotional pain of abortion which can include grief, anger, shame, guilt or other mental or physical turmoil.

How to Prepare for an Abortion

Before you schedule an abortion procedure, it’s recommended you schedule an appointment at your local pregnancy center for a free, confidential pre-abortion screening. The recommended pre-abortion screening includes lab-quality pregnancy testing, an ultrasound scan, STI testing, and a medical consultation.

An ultrasound scan will confirm the age of your pregnancy to determine what abortion procedures are available to you and confirm your pregnancy is viable. STI testing and treatment is recommended to prevent the spread of infection and potentially harmful health consequences related to your abortion.

Schedule your free appointment for lab-quality pregnancy testing, ultrasound screening, and a medical consultation with Waterleaf Women’s Center today!

If you’re not ready to become a parent and are unsure which pregnancy option is best for you, Waterleaf Women’s Center is here to provide you with free medical help, options counseling, and adoption agency referrals so you can make a choice with confidence!

Schedule your free appointment today!