If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may be trying to decide between abortion and adoption.
Maybe you feel like abortion would be the simpler option and would avoid the financial and physical stress of a pregnancy. However, before choosing to have an abortion, it is essential to recognize that abortion does not come without health risks.
While the adoption process may seem complex, there are a variety of improvements to modern-day adoption, like the freedom to choose your level of involvement with your child and financial assistance throughout pregnancy.
How Does Abortion Work?
There are two types of abortion: medical abortion and surgical abortion.
Medical abortion, commonly referred to as the “abortion pill,” uses two drugs to terminate the pregnancy. Mifepristone is administered first to thin the lining of the uterus and cause the pregnancy to detach. Then, misoprostol is taken to create uterine contractions and the expulsion of the pregnancy through the vagina.
Medical abortion is only recommended by the FDA through 10 weeks of pregnancy. If you do not qualify for a medical abortion, a surgical abortion is used to terminate your pregnancy. During this procedure, a doctor manually dilates the cervix with an instrument and scrapes or suctions the pregnancy and pregnancy tissue from inside the uterus.
Health Risks of Abortion
Risks of medical abortion include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may require a follow-up surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Fever
- Infection
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Digestive system discomfort
Risks of surgical abortion include:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall, which could lead to future infertility
- Damage to the cervix
- Infection
Modern Day Adoption
Choosing to place your child for adoption can be a difficult decision. Maybe you’re afraid of what others might think or feel overwhelmed by the adoption process. Remember, no matter why you choose adoption, it is an incredibly loving and selfless decision.
Modern-day adoption allows the birth mother to choose which type of adoption best fits her life circumstances.
The three types of adoption include:
- Open adoption: You can choose the family you want to adopt your baby and decide if you want to keep in contact with them. You can also choose how involved you want to be in the baby’s life.
- Semi-open adoption: You can still have contact with the family and baby, but a professional adoption agency will help manage communication and keep your identifying information confidential.
- Closed adoption: You won’t have contact with the baby, and the identities of all parties are kept confidential. The court keeps adoption records sealed.
For many women, open adoption gives them the peace of mind they need, knowing that their child is being cared for by a loving family. While others may feel an open adoption would be too hard emotionally and that closed adoption is the best option for them.
Another concern some women have about placing their child for adoption is the financial burden of the pregnancy. If this is keeping you from placing your child for adoption, know that adoption agencies or the adoptive family cover pregnancy-related medical bills and may even offer additional assistance for rent, groceries, and more.
Learn More Today
Whether you’ve decided about your pregnancy or are still sorting through your options, New Beginnings Pregnancy Center is here to offer support.
We provide free lab-quality pregnancy tests and limited ultrasound scans. After learning more about your pregnancy, our trusted staff can discuss your options and answer any questions you may have.
Contact us today for your confidential appointment.