Alma Causey
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Things don’t always go as planned in life. Most women want to have children at some point in life, but finding out that you’re pregnant when you’re not ready can be a tough situation. Millions of women face unplanned pregnancy each year. If you think that you’re pregnant, the first thing you must do is to confirm this by taking a pregnancy test at home or visiting your health care provider.

Once you know for sure, you might feel sad, confused, worried or even angry. But you are not alone in this; almost half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. At first, being frightened is totally normal, but you should try to remain calm and carefully think of all the options you have. You may find it helpful to talk to someone else about it, someone you trust, like your partner or your family.

You will have three options to choose from – Parenting, Adoption and Abortion. Learning about each option and comparing the benefits and risks of each one will help you make a well informed decision. It is important to remember that this is your personal choice, and only you can decide what’s best for you.

So don’t let external influence hinder your judgment. There is no need to rush but you also don’t want to wait too long. Meanwhile, you should take care of your health and that of the baby inside you. If you are thinking about continuing with the pregnancy, than its crucial to start prenatal care.

Parenting:

We all have to make some difficult decisions in life. For women that unexpectedly find out that they’re pregnant, they can decide to give birth and parent the child. When considering if parenting is the right option for you, it can be helpful to list all the advantages and disadvantages of raising a child in your specific case. You should also consider how it affects your life and future. Parenting a child is a huge responsibility and before you think of it any further, you should ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I ready to have a child right now or would I prefer another time?
• Do I have all the necessary physical and financial resources?
• Can I emotionally support the child for years to come?
• Can I make him/her feel loved and wanted?
• Do I have the support of my partner, family and friends?

If you already have children, then it’s important to evaluate if you can raise a newborn, whilst, tending to the needs of your existing children.

In order to be a responsible parent, you will have to make certain life-style changes. Being a parent means that your child is your number one priority. You may even have to put your educational or career goals on hold for a while. Children need constant attention, especially when their newly born. This means limiting your social life and the time you used to spend on yourself. Parenting is a full-time job that requires a lot of patience and energy as your child will depend on you for everything. You will need all the help you can get and having the support of your partner and family can be a huge advantage.

Even though, parenting is a tough endeavor, it is also a very joyful and rewarding experience. A family cannot be complete without a child. Being a parent helps you grow as a person and enhance your life. The bond between a parent and a child is unparalleled.

Adoption:

Adoption is where you give birth and choose someone else to parent your child. All parental rights and responsibilities are transferred to the adoptive parents with your consent. Adoption is a legal and binding agreement. The placement is permanent and you cannot take back your child once you have signed the consent papers. However, you can change your mind at any point during your pregnancy.

There are thousands of couples all around the United States that desire to adopt a child. If you think that you are not ready to become a parent, then it’s in the best interest of your child to place him/her into a loving family. If you decide to go with adoption, the first step is to choose an adoption agency. Having the right agency by your side can make a huge difference. You can also visit a child placement agency to start your adoption journey.

There are three types of adoptions to choose from:

Open Adoption: Most adoptions are open these days. You can share identifying information and build a relationship with the adoptive parents and your child as he grows. Open adoption allows you to be a part of your child’s life even as the years pass.

Closed Adoption: This type of adoption was most  common sometime back. Closed adoption allows birthmothers to keep the adoption private and continue with their life where they left off. There is no exchange of identifying information and no contact with the adoptive parents and the child.

Semi-Closed Adoptions: This is a mix of both open and closed adoptions. Birthmothers and adoptive families share non-identifying information and contact is facilitated through the adoption agency.

Women go through a lot of emotions when placing their child with another family. It can never be easy to let your child go but you will have the satisfaction of knowing that your child is in a family that loves and cares for him/her.

Counseling is available to women to recover from any grief or loss that they may experience during or after the process. Overall adoption is a great option that allows your child to come into this world and be part of a family.

Abortion:

If you decide not to continue with the pregnancy, the only option available is abortion. Abortion is achieved by removing the fetus or embryo, so it doesn’t result in the birth of the baby. The pregnancy is terminated by medication in early stages or removed surgically in the later stages. Almost 40% of all pregnancies end up in abortions.

People have strong opinions on abortions and can be very judgmental. Women usually feel isolated when considering this option. Abortion is a very difficult decision to make and you need all the information and support you can get.

An abortion is generally considered to be a safe procedure but the risk of complications increase the longer the pregnancy continues. There are also specific laws in place that govern how late in the pregnancy you can obtain an abortion.

Most women face long-term sorrow and regret after having abortion. So you must be absolutely sure and should consider both other options before you decide.

About Alma Causey

Alma is a mother, wife and a professional blogger by choice. She has completed her masters in English literature from the University of Groningen. As a blogger she wrote quite a few posts on health, technology as well as management. She loves to discover new places and share experiences in words. Oh, Alma is incomplete without cats.

Follow Alma on Twitter here.

View all posts by Alma Causey here.

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