Pregnant Teenagers: The Option of Adoption
By Teresa Ambord
If you’re an unmarried teenage girl and you’re pregnant, you’re probably dealing with a lot of conflicting emotions. The main things you need to know is that you are not alone, and you do have choices. You already know you can raise the baby and be a single mom. And there is plenty of information out there about abortion. But there’s a third choice that doesn’t get enough attention.
One path that a lot of women choose is adoption. A surprising number of couples cannot conceive children on their own. That's why entire organizations have been formed to match the needs of these couples with girls like you who want to find good homes for their babies.
Here are some suggestions from the American Adoption agency that may help you decide what to do next:
How will your future be affected if you choose adoption?
As you may expect, being an unwed mother is a tough job, especially as a teenager. That’s why many pregnant young women choose adoption.
Statistics show that women who allow their babies to be adopted:
- Are more likely to finish school and less likely to live in poverty.
- Are less likely to have more out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
- Are more likely to have jobs within a year after the birth.
- Are more likely to eventually marry, and less likely to divorce.
- And, are no more likely to suffer psychologically, such as by being depressed, than women who keep their babies and raise them as single parents.
If you allow your baby to be adopted, how will the child be affected?
Statistics show that adopted children:
- Generally have access to better health care than most other children.
- Do better in school than children raised in single parent homes or children raised by their grandparents.
- Have a better home life environment than most other children.
How will you pay your medical bills?
No two cases are exactly alike, but often if a family has been chosen to adopt your baby while you are still pregnant, that family may cover your medical bills. Or, if you have insurance or Medicaid the family will cover what insurance does not. And there may be some help for living expenses, but this depends on the state where you live. Some adoption agencies will pay your medical costs and living expenses for you.
Whose decision is this anyway?
If someone is pressuring you about what to do next, step back and realize this is a life-changing decision. Maybe your mom wants you to keep the baby, while your boyfriend wants you to have an abortion, and your father hopes you’ll put the child up for adoption. That’s a lot of pressure and confusion. But the decision is yours. If you’d like to talk to other girls who have been in your situation, log onto the Birth-moms web site below. It was started by a young woman like you, named Sonia, who has been where you are and wants to help you find answers.
If you are considering adoption as an alternative, you probably have a lot of questions. The American Adoption Agency is just one of many places to get answers. At this web site you can also read the stories of other girls who have chosen adoption, and get the truth about some of the myths you may have heard about adoption, abortion, and parenting. Click here to see a list of frequently asked questions.
If you want more information about adoption, e-mail adoptions@americanadoptions.com. They’ll send you an information packet that should answer your questions, or you can anonymously talk to an adoption specialist at 1-800-ADOPTION.
