Abortion Alternatives
Today’s Women Medical Centers
When faced with an unplanned pregnancy, it may feel overwhelming when it comes to deciding what your next steps might be. Many women feel pressured to make a decision about having an abortion, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are other options that may be worth considering, depending on your circumstances and what you might want to do. Did you know that for every 149 abortions, there is only one woman who chooses adoption instead?
In order to understand your other options when it comes to an unplanned pregnancy, let’s first discuss the facts about abortions.
The Truth About Abortions and Abortion Alternatives
As always, it is up to every woman to decide whether an abortion is or is not right for her. However, many women choose abortion because it seems to be a quick fix, but that isn’t always the case. Firstly, abortions can cost a lot of money. In fact, abortions can range anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on where a woman is in her pregnancy and other circumstances including the clinic she chooses, or the type of insurance she has.
Another thing women struggle with is post-abortion stress syndrome, which is common for women to experience after an abortion. This can cause severe, long-term symptoms like anxiety and depression, and can last for months or years after a woman has an abortion.
It is also important to remember that abortions are an intense, medical procedure that may cause health problems. Abortions also must be completed within a certain amount of time in order for it to be successful. Because of this, many women are forced to make a decision quickly, and one that cannot be undone.
Now that we’ve discussed the facts about abortions, let’s take a look at other options a woman has during this time.
Alternative Options To Abortions
In general, there really are only two options if a woman has decided to rule out having an abortion: adoption or parenting. However, there are many different options within each of these that may make a woman consider one of them over having an abortion. If you’re one of those women, you can first decide to become a single parent.
Many women who are not in a relationship with the child’s father choose abortion because they do not feel ready to raise a baby on their own. But while it may seem really hard, single parenting is becoming a popular option and more accepted into society. Single parents succeed by having a solid network of support through friends and family. If you have people who are willing to help you throughout this time, you might want to consider taking them up on their offers and becoming a single parent.
Another option you have is co-parenting with the baby’s father. In these cases, the baby’s father typically wants to be apart of the baby’s life and is willing to provide and care for the baby just as much as the mother. This can be true for people who are married, or in a relationship, but it can also work if the mother and father are on good terms. However, it is important to remember that if you choose this option, you will be forever connected to this other person, and you should never feel obligated to be in a relationship with them because of that.
If the first two options don’t feel right for you, you can always decide to place the baby with a temporary guardian. If you’re in a tough situation, and do not feel you could raise a baby at the moment, but may be able to in the near future, you could place your baby with a temporary guardian, friend, or family member. This would be a legal arrangement that would ensure the baby’s care and safety while you take care of yourself.
Lastly, you can decide to place the baby for adoption. In truth, adoption can be a viable option that addresses many of the challenges a woman can experience when choosing abortion or one of her other options. While many of these options involve the reality of grief and loss, a woman can maintain a relationship with her adopted baby should she choose to have an open adoption. Additionally, adoption services are offered at no cost to the mother, and they can also choose which family the baby is placed in, and what kind of contact she would like as the baby grows. Many women also receive help medically and financially during a pregnancy.
It is never too late to consider other options if you aren’t sure an adoption is right for you. If you’re in need of some help or advice when considering these options, please know that Today’s Women Medical Centers is just a phone call away. As the leading providers of unplanned pregnancy options for women in Florida, Today’s Women Medical Centers is your first step when finding out if an abortion or an adoption is right for you. Give us a call (305) 441-0304, or simply schedule an appointment with us online.