Abortion is not your only option. If you have people pressuring you towards this choice, it may feel like it’s the best solution, but other options are available.
As you navigate your pregnancy options, you must be mindful that the decision is ultimately yours. People will have their opinions they may share with you, but it is your decision to make.
In pregnancy, there are three options: adoption, parenting, and abortion.
Here is more information about your options so you can consider them before making your choice.
Abortion
If you are evaluating abortion, you need to become familiar with the two main procedure types. How far along your pregnancy is (gestational age) determines whether you can have a surgical or Chemical abortion.
With lab-quality pregnancy testing and ultrasound, you can confirm if your pregnancy is viable (growing) and the gestational age.
Surgical and chemical abortions each come with their own set of risks. For chemical abortion, some risks include incomplete abortion, infection, heavy/prolonged bleeding, fever, or digestive discomfort. A recent study by Charlotte Lozier Institute found that the rate of abortion-related emergency room visits by women taking the abortion drug increased more than 500 percent between 2002 and 2015. .
Potential risks of surgical abortion include a damaged cervix, uterine perforation, excessive bleeding, infection, and more.
In addition to possible risk, there is the possibility that it may have an impact on your future mental health as well.
Making An Adoption Plan
While abortion carries a physical risk, adoption is a legal choice with advantages and disadvantages. Adoption plans come with various options you can customize for your situation.
If you are considering adoption, here are a few terms you should be familiar with:
- Open Adoption: Open adoption is where you and the adoptive family have in-person visits and possibly build a long-term relationship with each other.
- Closed Adoption: The birth parent’s identities remain confidential. The courts cannot disclose any information about you.
- Semi-Open: You can use the adoption agency to exchange non-identifying information and communication with the adoptive parents.
Depending on what is best for you, you can have as much or as little contact with the adoptive family as you like.
Most adoptions in the US are open, so many women enjoy a positive relationship with their child and adoptive family. That is something to consider as you’re weighing this option.
Parenting
There are a lot of questions to ask yourself as you weigh this option. You may be too young or not in a place to be a caregiver.
Or perhaps you think that this is something you would like to learn more about, but you’re just unsure of the right questions to ask.
Either way, we offer no-charge options consultations where you can learn more about each option, ask questions, and learn about local resources in a compassionate, confidential environment. We are here to support you so you don’t feel alone. Contact us today!