Finding out you are pregnant can be wonderful…unless it isn’t. Maybe you feel like you’re too young, are right in the middle of your college career, or have kids already and just can’t handle the added stress of another mouth to feed and care for. Whatever is stressing you out about pregnancy or raising a child, there are several really good reasons to consider making an adoption plan.
Not familiar with the term adoption plan? Making an adoption plan is how most people refer to the process of putting a baby up for adoption these days. It isn’t a simple ‘giving away’ of a child, but rather a well thought out plan of action for making sure you and baby both have the best chance at a happy life. If any of these 6 problems are making it hard for you to imagine taking on the added responsibility of a child, you may want to consider an adoption plan.
1. Being Pregnant With No Place to Live
Not having a safe and steady place to live is definitely a problem for children. Safe, reliable shelter is one of life’s most basic needs, and if you aren’t in a place to provide that for your child, it may be worth considering adoption. Families who are living in great neighborhoods, with great schools for kids to go to, are actively looking to adopt children. If you aren’t able to provide the kind of environment for your baby that another family could, adoption is a responsible choice to consider.
2. You Aren’t Finished With School Yet
Education is incredibly important, especially these days when competition for jobs is more fierce than ever. An unplanned pregnancy smack dab in the middle of your college years could really throw off your career, and compromise your ability to finish school and get a great job. Open adoption can be a great solution for girls in college, or graduate school, who want to make sure their baby has a great childhood, while still fulfilling their dreams of an advanced degree.
3. Your Parents Aren’t Supportive
Family support might not seem like a big deal when you are pregnant, but as soon as that baby enters the world, keeps you up all night, costs a lot of money, and demands of your waking hours, a little help from mom and dad will seem like a blessing. Just talk with a few parents who have no family around to help, and you’ll soon discover that a grandma or grandpa willing to take the baby for a few hours can sometimes mean the difference between keeping a grip on sanity, and totally losing your mind. The old saying goes that it takes a village to raise a child, and this couldn’t be more true. The more loving relationships a baby has in their younger years, the more likely they will be to see the world as a good place that has unlimited potential for love and friendship.
4. You Are in an Abusive Relationship
An abusive environment is no place for a child. Physical, verbal, and emotional abuse should not be a part of any healthy upbringing, and if you find yourself in a situation that might present any of these dangers to your child, and you don’t feel like you can even escape yourself, the responsible choice is to consider adoption. Childhood abuse has lasting consequences that can cause problems the rest of a child’s life. Avoid raising children in an unsafe environment at all costs.
5. Legal Trouble Has You Facing a Prison Sentence
Legal trouble can sometimes leave us facing some pretty severe consequences. If prison time is something you are worried about, it might make sense to take a look at having a family adopt your child so that you have some control over the future of that child’s welfare before your rights and privileges have been temporarily taken away from you. Setting up a safe place for baby is a wonderful way to show you care.
6. The Pregnancy is a Result of Rape
The sad truth is that sometimes a tragic event, such as rape, can result in an unwanted pregnancy. If you feel that a child would be a constant reminder of a terrible event in your life, you have options. Finding an adoptive family to love and nurture that child can be a great solution to an ugly problem. You have the satisfaction of knowing you gave a family the beautiful child they always wanted, and you get the chance to heal and move on with your life.
Thinking through whether or not to make an adoption plan might feel overwhelming if you are in the beginning stages, but we have qualified and compassionate adoption counselors available to help guide you through every step. Call Lifetime Adoption at 800.923.6784 to talk with a counselor who can help you sort through some of these important issues, and make the decision that is best for you.
As Vice President of Lifetime Adoption, Heather Featherston holds an MBA and is passionate about working with those facing adoption, pregnancy, and parenting issues. Heather has conducted training for birth parent advocates, spoken to professional groups, and has appeared on television and radio to discuss the multiple aspects of adoption. She has provided one-on-one support to women and hopeful adoptive parents working through adoption decisions.
Since 2002, she has been helping pregnant women and others in crisis to learn more about adoption. Heather also trains and speaks nationwide to pregnancy clinics to effectively meet the needs of women who want to explore adoption for their child. Today, she continues to address the concerns women have about adoption and supports the needs of women who choose adoption for their child.
As a published author of the book Called to Adoption, Featherston loves to see God’s hand at work every day as she helps children and families come together through adoption.
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