Sorting through your feelings about pregnancy options like abortion and adoption can be challenging. You may have received input from loved ones or are collecting information alone.
Though this is your pregnancy decision, it is crucial to have all the facts. Cleburne Pregnancy Center will review your options in a free, confidential environment.
Will I Regret Having an Abortion?
It’s hard to say how you’ll feel after abortion–every woman has a different experience. It is not uncommon to feel an immediate sense of relief, regret, or a combination of both.*
We know that for some women, effects such as grief, depression, and PTSD can last for months or years following abortion and may emerge after a period of time. These effects can feel debilitating or make it hard to participate in daily life. It is important to seek the help of a mental health professional if these feelings persist.
Both medical abortion and surgical abortion cause physical side effects, including abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. Physical risks, though less common, can occur, including heavy bleeding and infection.
Abortion is a big decision that requires much thought. Before making any pregnancy decision, receive an ultrasound to determine your pregnancy’s viability (whether it is progressing with a detectable heartbeat), gestational age (how far along you are), and location (is the pregnancy developing normally, in the uterus, or in the fallopian tube, which can present a serious and immediate health risk). Pursuing abortion without this information can place you at unnecessary risk.
From an ultrasound, you’ll learn valuable information to help you make a decision and ensure you are receiving proper medical treatment (should you be experiencing a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy).
*It is possible to reverse the effects of the medical abortion pill, mifepristone, if medical treatment is initiated within 72 hours of taking the drug.
Is Adoption a Hard Decision?
Though adoption is a selfless choice that allows your child to grow up in a loving home, it isn’t easy. Many women struggle with this decision and benefit from emotional support throughout the process. Placing a baby for adoption includes gains and losses for each person in the adoption triad (birth mother, child, and adoptive parents). Adoption agencies provide counseling services to help women process the range of concerns and emotions associated with making an adoption decision.
As the birth mother, you deserve to be educated fully on this option and to understand your rights. Speaking with an adoption agency or attorney is an excellent first step. You can discuss the available plans, including open, semi-open, and closed adoption. These determine your level of communication with the adoptive family and your child.
Typically, you can change your mind about adoption at any time before you sign the adoption paperwork. You can even change your mind after the baby’s birth. Your comfort and well-being are the priority.
Free, Confidential Services
If you find yourself pregnant and unable or unwilling to parent, your next steps can feel overwhelming, lonely and confusing. You are not alone. Choosing to place your child with another family is a life-altering decision, as is abortion.
You are not alone. Cleburne Pregnancy Center is here for you. Our advocates and medical professionals provide free, confidential services like options counseling and ultrasounds. We want you to make an informed and confident decision with support from those who will not profit from your decision.
Contact us today to make an appointment.