An unexpected pregnancy may come as a surprise, one that will cause huge changes in your life. If you have an unexpected pregnancy and feel that you are unprepared to become a parent because of your particular situation, one option you can turn to is adoption. The momentous decision to choose adoption may be an overwhelming one. And it is something that, ultimately, will be a decision that only the birthmother can make.
However, you don’t have to do it all on your own. There are plenty of people and organizations that stand ready to help you through your pregnancy and guide you in deciding on whether adoption is the right step for you to take.
Here are some people and organizations that can assist you during this trying time:
Public Health Centers. Your city or town will have a public health service or contraception clinic that guides women in exploring the options she has for her unplanned pregnancy. The center can also provide basic counseling and can refer you to other entities or organizations should you decide on a particular path with regards to your pregnancy (i.e. parenting, adoption or abortion).
Crisis Pregnancy Centers. These centers provide services such as pregnancy testing, medical exams and counseling on the choices available to you. However, it is important to note that some centers are tied with pro-life or pro-choice groups and this will reflect in the way they counsel you about your choices.
Adoption Agencies. Should you decide to make an adoption plan; agencies such as A Act of Love Adoption can provide you with guidance as well as pregnancy related financial assistance. Adoption agencies counsel you of your rights as a birthmother, give you advice on your birth plan and provide you with profiles of prospective adoptive families. Adoption agencies that specialize in domestic adoptions of infants also helps ensure that your rights and privacy as a birthmother are protected. Depending on the type of adoption you choose (i.e. confidential, open or semi-open adoptions), you have the option of choosing and getting to know the prospective family or maintaining contact with the family (such as getting regular updates and photos). Adoption agencies also provide you with the ability to choose the parents based on your own personal criteria. There are some agencies that also provide pregnancy related financial, medical and legal assistance, including living accommodations and transportation costs.
Birthmothers. If you decide to continue the pregnancy and place the baby for adoption, one important resource will be the birthmothers themselves. They have firsthand experience about how it is to choose adoption. Since they have gone through what you will be going through, they understand how you feel and what you should expect with regards to your pregnancy and the process of adoption.
About A Act of Love Adoptions
Are you pregnant but are undecided about what to do? You can contact A Act of Love Adoptions to explore the possibility of making an adoption plan. The agency specializes in facilitating infant adoptions and already has a listing of approved prospective parents you can choose from. A Act of Love also offers birthmothers with help to see them through the pregnancy and to have post-pregnancy plan after they deliver the baby. The assistance comes in the form of counseling, support towards pregnancy related financial, medical and legal needs, accommodations, transportation or relocation.