According to Medical News Today, U.S. depression rates more than tripled during COVID-19. Of the people surveyed, almost 44% of 18 to 39-year-olds said they were more depressed than before. Other issues which caused depression included isolation, joblessness, and lack of childcare.
Now, add on top of a worldwide pandemic an unexpected pregnancy and you have more stress, fear, and desperation. Knowing what to do about it is a big decision. How do you determine whether it’s better to abort or make an adoption plan?
A Difficult Choice
None of your options for your unexpected pregnancy are easy. Only you know your life’s situation and the best direction for your future. No one else can make this decision for you and no one can force you to choose either.
Surprisingly, abortion and adoption can have similar effects on a woman depending on her personality, lifestyle, family dynamics, etc. Whichever choice you make will affect you for the rest of your life. Look at them carefully and make sure you understand the outcome of each one.
Choosing Abortion
Abortion clinics say aborting a pregnancy is quick, easy, and safe. What they don’t tell you are the side effects and potential risks both physically and mentally.
Some women who’ve had abortions say it was easy and they never thought about it again. But many women, particularly those with a previous tendency toward anxiety and depression, do remember it. Seeing a baby, attending family functions, and changes in relationships can trigger painful memories of their abortion choice.
The American Psychological Association’s Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion concluded that “it is clear that some women do experience sadness, grief, and feelings of loss following termination of a pregnancy, and some experience clinically significant disorders, including depression and anxiety.”
Choosing Adoption
Adoption agencies or services never suggest making an adoption plan is quick or easy. They recognize it is a hard decision. No woman choosing adoption walks away, and never thinks about her child again. That’s why they chose adoption in the first place. They were thinking about their child and his or her needs first.
Some women know from the minute they find out they’re pregnant they are going to make an adoption plan. Other expectant moms or birth moms struggle with the decision throughout the process. Like a woman who aborts, some women who choose adoption struggle with sadness, grief, and feelings of loss.
The difficulty can be eased when a birth mom arranges an open adoption. By choosing the family to adopt her child, getting to know them, and seeing their love for her and her baby, the transition is easier. Because she has the opportunity to build a relationship with her child, she doesn’t have to live with complete loss.
What’s Best For You
To determine your best option, you need to get the facts about both abortion and adoption. You need to talk with someone you trust. Reach out to First Care Clinic and set up an appointment for a free options consultation.
All of our pregnancy services are free of charge. We can verify your pregnancy with confidential pregnancy testing and ultrasound. Then, we can sit down and talk about your future. We want you to be able to make a confident decision. Protect your health both mentally and physically by getting the facts first.