Can life get any more complicated? First, you have to face an unplanned pregnancy. Now you have to decide what to do. Choosing between abortion and adoption is difficult because they have very different outcomes. Only you know what is best.
Where Do I Begin?
It’s easier to make an important decision like this when you have as much information as possible. Schedule a free and confidential appointment at Pregnancy Help Center. Together, we can talk about your situation and your options.
What Do You Know About Abortion?
Earlier this year, we wrote about abortion procedures, their physical side effects, and potential risks. Read “What Are the Different Types of Abortion?”. It explains both medical and surgical abortion procedures and what you can expect.
However, it doesn’t discuss the possible mental health issues abortion can cause for some women. When discussing medical abortion (the abortion pill), the Mayo Clinic states, “Having a medical abortion is a major decision with emotional and psychological consequences.”
One study determined the following:
- Abortion is consistently associated with higher rates of mental illness compared to women without a history of abortion
- The abortion experience directly contributes to mental health problems for a least some women
- Women with a pre-existing mental illness are at greatest risk for mental health problems after an abortion
It’s crucial to speak with your healthcare provider before choosing abortion. Speak up about any mental health issues, such as sadness, anxiety, or depression. Your physical and mental health need to be taken into consideration.
What Do You Know About Adoption?
Many people are unfamiliar with the adoption process today. A woman does not “give up” her baby to strangers. Now, birth mothers (and birth fathers, if available) plan their child’s future. The birth mother chooses the potential adoptive family, the environment she wants for her child, and the right plan for her.
Adoption is the legal termination of the birth parent’s parental rights and responsibilities given to the adoptive parents. Like abortion, there is loss, but by choosing an open adoption plan, a birth mother can build a relationship with the couple she’s chosen even before her baby is born. Afterward, she can continue a relationship with them and her child.
Placing a child for adoption is complex. There are mental health issues to take into consideration. Working with a reputable adoption agency is essential to provide a solid support network and connections to other birth mothers.
At Pregnancy Help Center, we can provide you with referrals to adoption agencies so you can get information about the adoption process, Missouri adoption laws, and the pregnancy-related expenses covered for you.
How Do I Decide?
Choosing between abortion and adoption is a decision only you can make. We will gladly sit and talk with you about your options, but we won’t lecture or manipulate you.
Please contact us so we can help you during this time. This decision has life-altering consequences; you shouldn’t have to make it alone. We’re here for you.