5 Things You Need to Know About Unplanned Pregnancy and Adoption for Pregnant Women

Life can be extra tricky sometimes, often in ways we least expect. Everyone goes through at least one event in their life that turns their entire world upside down. Most women will have at least one pink-stripe-scare in their lifetime. So if you’re experiencing the panic of an unplanned pregnancy, it’s time to take a deep breath and let the room stop spinning. Facing an unintended pregnancy can feel like the end of the world, especially if you’re too young, unprepared, or just really don’t want a baby. Adoption Choices of Texas is here for you. We work with women of all ages and all walks of life experiencing unplanned pregnancies. The first thing to remember is you are not alone. We are here for a shoulder to lean on, to provide support, and advocate for you. You’re not the first person to have an unplanned pregnancy and have no idea what to do, and you certainly won’t be the last. It’s unexplainable how scary it is to be pregnant when you’re not expecting it, especially if you’re at a low point in your life. But, rest assured, there will be no earth-shattering, and you will make it out of this alive and no worse for the wear. If you’re here, you’re probably experiencing your first unplanned pregnancy. So while you regain your barrings, here are five things you need to know about unplanned pregnancy and adoption for pregnant women. 

If you need help with adoption now, you can call us at 945-444-0333, text us at 945-444-0333, or email us here.

1. Time is of the Essence

Not to induce more intense anxiety, but you may want to make some decisions as soon as possible. First, confirm the pregnancy—no use in getting worked up for a false-positive from a drugstore pregnancy test. Once you’re sure you’re pregnant, you have a few options. You can parent the baby, terminate the pregnancy, or choose adoption. Unfortunately, there is no rewind button on the uterus. Be aware that laws in several states highly regulate termination and may vary in your particular area. If you’ve decided to choose adoption, you have some more leeway, but don’t kick your feet up just yet. The sooner you talk with an adoption agency like Adoption Choices of Texas, the better the adoption experience. Then, you have more time to talk with counselors, ask questions, and not rush through the adoption process. 

2. Women Choose Adoption for a lot of Different Reasons

There are a lot of situations women find themselves in were having a baby just isn’t an option, and they don’t want to choose to terminate the pregnancy. 

• Teenagers who can’t raise a child.
• Women in financially difficult situations can’t afford a child right now.
• Women who are in unsafe or unstable living situations currently. 
• Women who are incarcerated. 
• Women who want to focus on their career or education. 
• Women who have already completed their family and don’t want another child. 

The list goes on, and no one reason is better than any of the others. Therefore, your decision to choose adoption is valid, whatever it is.

3. Adoption isn’t Giving Up

Choosing adoption isn’t giving up or the easy way out. There’s nothing easy about choosing adoption, and you certainly aren’t giving up. Going through the adoption process is hard and requires a lot of selfless decision-making. Choosing adoption may be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do, but it will also be the most fulfilling and rewarding. You’re not putting your child up for adoption by leaving them on a church doorstep. Adoption is a process, and you have more control than you might think. 

4. There’s Not Just One Type of Adoption

It’s the 21st century and as humans evolve, so does adoption—no wearing a cloak in the dead of night and disappearing into the darkness. Every birth mother is different, so there are three types of adoption to suit every need.

• Open Adoption – Open Contact with the adoptive parents and child
• Semi-Open Adoption – Mediated contact via letters, etc. 
• Closed Adoption – no direct contact, but updates can be shared on the adoption agency’s portal for adoptive parents and birth mothers. 

Depending on your needs and wants, you don’t have to completely disappear from the baby’s life after you give birth. Open adoption, where you have available and agreed-upon communication with the child and the adoptive parents, is the most common type of adoption and benefits everyone. Adoptive parents like to have the birth mother around for several reasons, and adoptees greatly benefit from the relationship with their biological mother.

5. An Unplanned Pregnancy isn’t the End of the World

Your unplanned pregnancy is the start of someone else’s world. It can feel like everything is falling apart, and now there’s this wrench in your plans but trust us, it’s not like that. Rather than an unintended pregnancy being the end, it’s the start. It’s the start of a journey that will change you as a person. It’s the start of a life that will change the lives of a hopeful family. It’s easy to see the glass as half-empty, but you can always just refill it. 

Is Adoption for You?

Deciding to carry your baby and place them with a hopeful family is selfless and beautiful. It’s not an easy decision, and the journey through adoption isn’t all sunshine and rainbows—but it’s also not storming clouds and depression. Nothing worth having in this life comes easy. Birth mothers who complete the Texas adoption process walk away knowing they changed a family’s life. They can look back on what they accomplished with pride, knowing how strong they are. Adoption isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. It may not be for you, but it’s worth at least a peek into what could be. Talk to one of our compassionate and expert counselors and see if adoption might be an option for you.  

As an expectant woman or birth parent, to learn more about adoption, contact Adoption Choices of Texas. You can call us at 945-444-0333, text us at 945-444-0333, or email us here. If you are hoping to adopt, please visit us here. We look forward to helping you through your adoption journey!

Adoption Choices of Texas es la única agencia de adopción con servicios completamente en esapñol en el estado de Texas. Si está embarazada y necesita ayuda, llámenos o envíenos un mensaje de texto y uno de nuestros especialistas en adopción podrá ayudarlo. Para obtener más información sobre el proceso de adopción como una mujer embarazada o una madre biológica, comuníquese con Adoption Choices of Texas. Para español llamar: 888-510-5029

Meet the Author: Michelle Brugioni is a practiced, well-versed college-educated writer and avid coffee drinker. She has ten years of experience as a freelance writer and has written for an alarmingly wide range of clients and publications. She has written on topics like: life science, biopharmaceutical company acquisitions, dealing with anxiety, and creative drinking games.  As a fearless writer and masterful researcher, each time Michelle is approached with the question, “Can you write this?” she responds confidently with, “When do you need it?”