Nobody knows the best decision for your body better than you do, but that doesn’t mean you may not be overwhelmed when you first discover you’re pregnant.
If you aren’t planning on starting or adding to your family right now, you may be experiencing valid emotions of fear and anxiety.
Should you terminate the pregnancy? Is placing your child for adoption a better idea?
No one should expect you to have the answers overnight, so give yourself a break if you feel a sense of urgency. Yes, you do need a plan, but it’s also a good idea to take a few days to do some research, so you feel empowered with information rather than choosing out of fear.
Read this article for a better understanding of what your options entail.
What Do I Need to Know About Abortion?
There are medical and surgical abortions. The method you qualify for depends on your pregnancy’s gestational age. Understanding the possible risks of both is essential to help you make an informed decision.
Surgical Abortion Risks
The Mayo Clinic lists the following as potential risks of surgical abortion:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Infection
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
Medical Abortion Risks
The Mayo Clinic lists the following as a risk for medical abortion (aka the abortion pill):
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
Psychological Impacts of Abortion
While understanding the physical risks helps make a decision, ensure you consider your entire well-being, including the possible psychological and emotional repercussions of abortion.
Experts have established that “abortion is consistently associated with elevated rates of mental illness compared to women without a history of abortion.”
In one international study of both Russian and American women, many who had an abortion procedure went on to suffer PTSD symptoms.
While there is no way to guarantee or predict how an abortion may impact a woman’s mental health, it’s essential to consider this factor.
What Do I Need to Know About Adoption?
When choosing adoption, you need to know more about the available options. Some terms that are helpful to be aware of include:
- Open Adoption– You have an in-person relationship with the child and adoptive family. This plan makes up the majority of adoptions.
- Closed Adoption– You do not have a relationship with the child or adoptive family, and the courts cannot disclose details about you.
- Semi-Open Adoption– You communicate through the adoption agency with the adoptive parents.
Most US adoptions are open; however, you can choose the type of adoption that best suits your situation.
Psychological Impacts of Adoption
Choosing adoption is not an easy decision. You cannot predict how you will feel after selecting an adoption plan, and many women experience different things.
Each woman’s experience will be different. There is the possibility of developing feelings of loss or grief, and birth mothers may also experience postpartum depression.
Work with an adoption agency that provides counseling and emotional support before and after placement. Many women who choose an open adoption enjoy the emotional bond they build from a continued relationship with their child.
Adoption Expenses
It does not cost the birth mother any money to make an adoption plan. However, it is possible to work with an adoption agency that will help with living expenses and pregnancy-related healthcare costs until delivery.
Schedule an Appointment
At AscentCare, we want women to choose their pregnancy options confidently. Through no-cost pregnancy services that include pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and options consultations where you can discuss your thoughts and questions in a safe, confidential environment.
Contact us today! We are a pregnancy center near Ausable, NY.