The outcome of your pregnancy is a personal choice that no one can make for you. If you are facing an unexpected pregnancy, feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed during your decision-making process is normal. However, this decision will significantly affect your life, and you are the only person that can determine the best decision for your future.
If you choose not to parent for whatever reason, the options you have for your pregnancy are abortion and adoption. The support team at Life Center can offer you support and information about your options, so you feel confident in making your decision.
Abortion
There are two types of abortion, medical and surgical. The procedure chosen is determined by how far along the pregnancy is and other eligibility requirements.
A medical abortion uses the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol to terminate a pregnancy by causing the embryo or fetus to detach from the wall of the uterus and then forcing it out of the woman’s body with contractions.
A surgical abortion is an outpatient procedure in which a provider uses surgical tools to open a woman’s uterus before suctioning the embryo or fetus out of the uterus. In later pregnancies, additional surgical instruments may be used.
Before obtaining an abortion, a woman should:
- Consider the risks of the procedure.
- Obtain an ultrasound to determine the pregnancy’s viability, date, and location.
- Viability: Around 20% of pregnancies end in natural miscarriage making abortion in these instances an unnecessary medical procedure.
- Date: Medical and legal eligibility for abortion procedures depends on how far along the pregnancy is.
- Location: Abortion does not treat ectopic pregnancy, a life-threatening condition that occurs when an embryo implants somewhere other than the uterine wall. Diagnosis through ultrasound is crucial to the woman’s safety.
- Talk with a professional counselor to process your feelings.
Adoption
Many women who choose not to parent choose adoption because abortion doesn’t feel right for them. Adoption today varies significantly from adoption in the past and offers birthmothers many choices.
There are three adoption plans to choose from:
- Open: In an open adoption, a woman can choose the parents that she wants to raise her child and even meet with them ahead of time. The birth mother and adoptive parents will also agree to contact and communication. Some birth mothers want to be a part of the child’s life, while others may only want phone calls or text updates.
- Semi-open: For women that want updates on their child, but want their information to remain confidential, semi-open adoption might be the right choice. All communication in a semi-open adoption takes place through a third party, usually the adoption agency.
- Closed: In a closed adoption, the birth mother’s and the adoptive family’s information is sealed and remains confidential. There is no contact between the parties.
Here to Help
For more information about your options and available resources, contact Life Center. You are not alone!