What to Do if You’re Not Ready to Parent – Adoption vs. Abortion

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may feel that you are not ready to be a parent. You may even have thoughts like, “I don’t want to be pregnant” or “I don’t want my baby.”

These thoughts are natural, and it is okay if you feel you are not ready to be pregnant or to parent your child. If you find yourself in this situation, you have two options: abortion or adoption.

While you are the only person who can decide how you feel about adoption vs. abortion, there are knowledgeable and compassionate professionals who can help you make an informed decision. With decades of experience working with expectant mothers like you, Rick Corley can provide the information and resources you need to learn more about your options.

The Facts About Abortion vs. Adoption

Every woman’s situation is different, and you are the only person who can decide what is right for yourself and your baby. Regardless of what your friends, parents, the baby’s father or anyone else thinks, no one else can tell you to choose adoption instead of abortion or vice versa.

If you are pregnant and don’t want to be, you deserve to have all the facts about your options. Here’s what you need to know about the differences between abortion and adoption:

• Pregnancy and childbirth experience: With adoption, expectant mothers carry their babies to term and experience labor and delivery. Women who don’t want to be pregnant or experience childbirth may choose abortion, which discontinues the pregnancy in its early weeks or months.
• Medical, legal and living expenses: Women considering adoption are entitled to free adoption services, as well as financial assistance to cover their legal, medical and living expenses, such as housing, utilities, groceries, transportation and more. Women who choose abortion are not entitled to the same financial assistance and may pay hundreds of dollars in medical expenses.
• Availability and timing: Adoption is always an option, regardless of the stage of the pregnancy or the age of the child. However, abortion is a time-sensitive procedure that must be completed early in the pregnancy, often during the first trimester. Women who discover they are pregnant after the first trimester may not be able to choose abortion, and those who learn of their pregnancy early may be rushed into an abortion decision they are not ready to make.
• Finality of the decision: Abortion and adoption are both permanent decisions. However, a prospective birth mother has the right to change her mind about her adoption plan at any time until she signs the legal paperwork after the baby is born.
• Emotional impact: Whether a woman chooses adoption or abortion, she will likely experience difficult feelings of grief and loss. In adoption, women have the option to maintain a relationship with their child, which may help provide a sense of closure.

Adoption and abortion are very different processes with very different effects. However, they do have a few things in common: both are emotionally challenging, but regardless of which you choose, they each allow you to continue pursuing your career and educational goals.

As you continue your research and consider your options, it may be helpful to speak with a professional for the emotional support and information you need. You can contact Rick Corley any time, for free and with no obligation, to learn more about your options. He can also refer you to a knowledgeable and compassionate counselor for additional emotional support.