Learning of an unplanned pregnancy is can be frightening experience — not because of the pregnancy itself but because of the looming decision it presents.
If you find yourself in this situation, and you don’t feel ready to parent your child at this time in your life, you’re probably stuck between two equally difficult choices: abortion and adoption. There is no “right” choice when it comes to this decision; there’s just what’s right for you moving forward.
When you’re trying to decide if adoption is better than abortion (or vice versa), it can help to talk to a professional. Fortunately, there are plenty of unplanned pregnancy counselors available to you. They can discuss your personal circumstances and options with you to help you find the best solution.
And, if you are considering adoption rather than abortion, you can always reach out to our adoption social workers at 864-680-8038. Here at Thompson Dove Law Group, we advocate for your right to choose the unplanned pregnancy option that is right for you — whatever that may be.
So, to aid you in this decision, let’s briefly and, most importantly, honestly compare the decision of adoption vs. abortion.
Comparing Your Options: Adoption vs. Abortion in South Carolina
Our firm’s goal is to empower women to consider all of their options when facing an unplanned pregnancy. We aren’t here to tell you which option is right or wrong – we are here to present you the facts about abortion and adoption to help you make this decision.
While abortion may continue to be a more common choice than adoption, we do often wonder: What if more women really understood what adoption is all about? Would more women begin choosing adoption rather than abortion?
Both abortion and adoption can be confusing for women, regardless of their situations. That’s why accurate, objective information is so important to your decision-making process. Only when you fully understand your unplanned pregnancy options can you choose the one that is best for you.
Let’s look at a few of the most common misconceptions of adoption and abortion, some of which might surprise you.
Misconceptions about Abortion and Adoption
- Costs: Depending on how far you are into your pregnancy, an abortion can range from $800 for an abortion pill to upwards of $1,500 for an in-clinic procedure. Conversely, women who choose adoption have their adoption services covered 100 percent by the adoptive family, and they are also often eligible to receive financial assistance in the form of living expenses.
- Parental Involvement: This is actually the opposite. Most states, including South Carolina, allow minors to legally consent to adoption without their parents’ permission. Conversely, abortion often requires the consent of at least one parent or a judge’s approval.
- Emotional Difficulty: There is no doubt that both options are extremely difficult. We’ve heard concerns from women we’ve worked with about how difficult it would be having a child living with another family in another part of South Carolina or another state altogether. While these feelings are completely valid, we have found that receiving pictures and letters or any additional contact from her child, while still difficult at times, can end up actually being a positive in her life. Therefore, it can be argued that both abortion and adoption provide the ability for women to resume normal, happy lives.
Adoption vs. Abortion: Which is Right For You?
Speaking with so many women facing unintended pregnancies, we’ve learned that abortion is often considered an immediate resolution to the issue. Indeed, it certainly is a quicker process than nine months of pregnancy and the adoption process, but we have seen firsthand unbelievable success stories with the women who opted for adoption instead of abortion.
Your personal circumstances will play a large role in whether abortion or adoption is the right path for you. Think about your support system, your financial situation, your health and more when deciding whether to terminate or carry a pregnancy to term.
Putting a child up for adoption instead of abortion is not right for everyone, and neither is choosing abortion instead of adoption. It’s all up to you. This information is not intended to sway your decision one way or another. Instead, it is intended to present the benefits of adoption in a few new ways. What you do with this information is entirely up to you.
If you’d like to speak more about this topic of whether abortion or adoption is right for your situation, our trained social workers are here to help. Please contact us today — privately and with absolutely no obligation to choose adoption rather than abortion unless you’re 100 percent sure it’s right for you.