When an unexpected pregnancy occurs, it can alter the course of an adult’s life. Suddenly, options like “parenting” and “abortion” and “adoption” are on the table for their future.
Imagine, then, how big a deal it is for the child! Their life has already begun, while their parents are still weighing options for their future. If the child’s life is to continue, he or she will either be parented by birth parents or adopted by a new family.
For many women, choosing adoption seems like one of the hardest choices to make. Like parenting, it requires continuing a pregnancy. The big difference happens in the moment they yield their child to someone else to raise.
At the same time, many women find adoption to be the most loving choice to make, one that is worth any sacrifice involved. These women find several compelling reasons to choose adoption for their child. Let's look at some of those now.
Reasons Some Pregnant Women Choose Adoption
They don’t want to terminate their pregnancies.
Women who choose adoption don’t want to abort. Such a woman may have convictions about the value of human life. She may have seen her living baby on an ultrasound screen and felt she couldn’t bring herself to end that life. Or she may want to continue her pregnancy and create an adoption plan as a backup in case she ultimately decides not to parent the child.
They want a good life for their children.
Sometimes a woman’s life situation isn’t one that allows her to consider raising children. She may feel her child will lack necessities or a stable home or even face abuse if the child stays with her. She longs to give her child more than she can provide by herself, so she wants to find good, stable parents who can do for her child what she can’t.
They can put their child’s needs ahead of their own.
By choosing adoption, a woman is willing to place her child’s need to be well cared for above her own need for daily giving and receiving love with that child. This is one of the hardest sacrifices a parent can make. Birth parents set aside their desire to be with their child every day for the sake of knowing their child is receiving all the benefits of being loved by someone else.
They know they can shape their future relationship with their child.
Today’s adoptions can take a variety of forms. A birth mother (and father, if he is involved) can work with the adoptive family to decide between types of open or closed arrangements, which determine how much interaction birth parents and child will have in the years ahead. This allows birth parents to stay in touch with their child as much (or as little) as they want to. So missing out on big moments may not have to happen at all.
Adoption is a Life-Giving Option
If some of the reasons above resonate with you, then adoption may be the kind of life-giving option you want to consider.
At Choices Pregnancy Center, we do not provide adoption services, but we would be happy to be an unprejudiced listener/mentor for you as you consider this possibility for your unexpected pregnancy.
Please don’t hesitate to call or text us at 507-637-2534 or set up a free appointment with one of our advocates in either our Redwood Falls or Marshall, MN, office.
We know you have lots of options for your pregnancy. We also want you to know you have Choices—we’ll gladly stand with you in this decision-making time…and beyond.