It might be hard to believe that you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy for a second time. If you are in this situation and want to make a different choice, rest assured you have two more options to consider.
Parenting and adoption are the two other pregnancy choices you can make if you do not want to go forward with an abortion. Keep reading to learn more about each one.
Also, visit Sumter Pregnancy Center for a no-cost pregnancy test and to discuss your options in person. We can share helpful resources and information.
Parenting: What to Know
Parenting involves raising your child from birth through age eighteen. You would choose to provide for all the child’s basic needs and develop a relationship with them. Here are some of the pros and cons to consider:
Parenting Pros
- You can build a lifelong bond with your child.
- You may experience unmatched love and joy.
- You may celebrate milestones like graduations, weddings, and grandchildren.
- You may think it’s fun to relive your childhood by raising your child.
- You may find raising the next generation extremely rewarding and purposeful.
Parenting Cons
- Parenting requires great responsibility and sacrifices.
- You will need a larger budget to buy food, clothes, toys, school supplies, and activities.
- The infant and toddler years can test your patience with around-the-clock care.
- You must navigate discipline and teaching your children, which can be hard.
- You may need childcare to be able to continue your career or schooling.
- You carry your pregnancy to term, and pregnancy can come with medical and emotional challenges.
Parenting isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. Adoption is another choice you can consider if you do not want the responsibility of parenting but would prefer to carry your pregnancy to term.
Adoption: What to Know
Adoption involves transferring the responsibility of raising your child to another family. You can pick the adoptive family and the adoption plan (which includes how much contact you’d like to have) and set the terms. Here are some of the pros and cons to consider:
Adoption Pros
- You may feel joy or purpose by giving a hopeful family a chance to grow their family.
- You can receive financial support for adoption and medical expenses not covered by insurance, making adoption more affordable.
- You may like the idea of carrying your pregnancy to term versus terminating it based on past experiences with abortion.
- You get to choose the adoptive family and set the terms.
- The adoptive family you choose can provide a bright future for your child in a safe home.
Adoption Cons
- It can be emotionally challenging to place your child for adoption and lead to grief, especially if you have a desire to parent.
- You are unable to co-parent with the adoptive parents. They become the legal parents.
- Many open adoption agreements aren’t legally enforceable, so you may not have the contact you were hoping for, depending on your relationship with the adoptive family.
- You carry your pregnancy to term, and pregnancy can come with medical and emotional challenges.
The Choice Is Yours.
Both parenting and adoption come with pros and cons to consider. Choose based on your desires for your life and future instead of your current situation, which can change.
Sumter Pregnancy Center is here to help you through the ups and downs of pregnancy, weigh your options, and find support. Many organizations are ready to help you with parenting or adoption. We can connect you to free resources or with a reputable adoption agency.
Schedule a free and confidential appointment today. We’re here to assist you.