What is Better: Adoption or Abortion? [Pros and Cons]

If you are trying to decide if adoption or abortion is best for you and your baby, educating yourself on these options is crucial to making a decision.

No one can tell you if adoption or abortion is better. This is a choice you must make for yourself and for your baby. Below, you will find information about both adoption and abortion.

An unplanned pregnancy can feel like a lot to handle. You never have to go through it alone. Anytime you have questions about either, you can contact a professional to learn more, get answers to any questions you may have, and get the support you need.

When Can I Choose Adoption?

When deciding on adoption or abortion, timing is an important factor to consider. Adoption is an option for you at any time and at any stage of your pregnancy.

• If you have recently found out about your unplanned pregnancy, and you know you want to choose adoption, you can contact an adoption agency at any time to learn your next steps.
• You can choose adoption in the hospital while you’re in labor.
• Even if you have been caring for your baby at home for weeks or months and you realize that parenting is not for you, you can contact an adoption agency to place your child with a waiting family.

It’s never too early or too late to choose adoption.

What is the Adoption Process?

When you choose to place your baby for adoption, there are five main steps in the adoption process. This quick guide can be your checklist for your adoption journey.

5 Steps of The Adoption Process

• Step 1:

  Choose adoption for you and your baby.

• Step 2:

  Contact an adoption agency that provides 24/7 support, a national scope, and includes staff with personal and professional adoption experience.

• Step 3:

  Create your adoption plan with your adoption specialist and find the perfect parents for your baby.

• Step 4:

  Create your hospital plan for labor and delivery.

• Step 5:

  Give birth and complete your adoption paperwork.

This was a brief example of what you can expect throughout the adoption process. Every adoption is unique, so it is important to speak with an adoption professional about your visions for your adoption plan.

Adoption Facts and Statistics

It may help you in your decision of adoption vs. abortion to know some of the facts behind adoptions in the United States.

• Today, 95% of adoptions are open or semi-open adoptions. This means you can get to know the prospective adoptive parents during the adoption process and see your child thriving as they grow up because of your decision.
  
• 100% of birth mothers have the right to choose the hopeful parents. This means that you can decide who your baby’s parents could be. Whatever type of life you’re envisioning for your baby, you get to pick the perfect family who will make those dreams come true.
  
• Adoption is always free for prospective birth parents in the United States — you never have to pay adoption agencies or hopeful parents when you choose to place your baby for adoption, and you can even get help with your pregnancy-related expenses during the process. (Abortion, on the other hand, can cost several hundred dollars.) This is important to know because the cost of abortion vs. adoption is a factor in many women’s decisions.
  
  
  

When Can I Choose Abortion?

If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, you can choose abortion in the first and second trimester, depending on your state’s abortion laws.

You may have to inform your parents or undergo counseling before having a procedure done, and there may also be a waiting period. If you are further along than 14 weeks in your pregnancy, the procedure can become more complicated, so it is generally recommended to make such a decision early in your pregnancy.

After 24 weeks of pregnancy, most states restrict abortion because the baby is considered “viable,” which means he or she can potentially survive outside of the womb. If you are later in your pregnancy, this may be a major factor leading you to choose adoption vs. abortion.

What is the Abortion Process?

There are two types of abortion: medical abortion, known as the abortion pill, and surgical abortion, typically the vacuum aspiration method. You can choose a medical abortion up to 10 weeks into your pregnancy. Surgical abortion can typically be performed between 11 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The first three basic steps of abortion are usually the same:

3 Steps of Abortion

• Step 1:

  Know that abortion is right for you

• Step 2:

  Contact a trustworthy and experienced abortion clinic.

• Step 3:

  Complete a physical exam, including an ultrasound, and complete abortion consent paperwork. Depending on your state’s laws and the clinic’s procedures, you may be required to attend multiple appointments at the clinic, receive counseling, and complete a state-mandated waiting period before the abortion can take place.

If you are considering abortion during your pregnancy, it is advised to speak with your medical professional sooner rather than later to avoid any potential complications.

Reasons Women Consider Choosing Adoption or Abortion

There are many reasons that women choose to place their baby for adoption, and there are equally as many reasons that women choose to terminate their pregnancy.

Here is a comparison list of the top five reasons that women choose adoption or abortion.

Why Women Choose Adoption or Abortion

Adoption

 

“I can’t financially provide for a child yet.” Parenting is expensive. If you’re not ready for those costs right now, adoption and abortion can both be options for you. Many adoptive families have been preparing for years to have a child, and they are ready to provide a lifetime of opportunities to your baby.

“My family is already complete.” Many people believe that adoption is for young, single women, but this is a common misconception. Married couples who already have children can and do choose adoption.  An unplanned pregnancy can happen to anyone, but you can always decide that adoption is best for you and your baby.

“I am dealing with personal struggles that may prevent me from parenting.” Raising a child requires resources and time that some prospective birth parents don’t have. But, there are hundreds of families who have the resources, time and desire to raise a child.

“I want to create a positive out of my unplanned pregnancy by helping hopeful parents start or grow their family.” Adoption is a selfless gift that a birth mother gives to her child and to her child’s adoptive parents. She may not be at the right time in her life to give her child the love that he or she deserves, but she knows that there are families who have immense love to share with their children.

“I want my child to have opportunities and experiences that I know I cannot give to him or her.” Women experiencing unplanned pregnancies still want what they believe is best for their children, and all children deserve to live their best possible lives. A prospective birth mother can give her child the opportunities and experiences that she envisions by choosing the perfect family that is ready and willing to provide those things for a child.

Abortion

 

“I can’t afford maternity services or the cost of raising a child.” This is a common reason why women choose abortion, but did you know that adoption can also help you avoid the costs of pregnancy? In fact, when you work with an agency to create an adoption plan, they can help cover many of your pregnancy-related living expenses, including rent, groceries, maternity clothes, and more. While you may need to pay to cover the costs of an abortion procedure, adoption is always 100% free to you.

“I am having relationship problems with my baby’s father.” Relationships can be complex and difficult at times, and couples may decide that abortion is the best choice for their situation. Some women who are in unhealthy relationships choose to terminate their pregnancy for their safety as they navigate their uncertain environments.

“Being pregnant would drastically change my life, and I’m not ready for that change.” Pregnancy causes physical changes and can be limiting in certain daily routines. Some women choose not to carry a pregnancy to term because this physical change would significantly interfere with their daily lives.

“I am not ready to be pregnant and give birth.” Childbirth can be a scary process for some women. Whether a woman has been pregnant before or not, she can choose to terminate her pregnancy if she is not comfortable with experiencing the process of labor and delivery or the surgical intervention of a C-section.

“I am the victim of sexual assault, and I want to terminate the resulting pregnancy.” Rape and incest are traumatic experiences that can take a lifetime to overcome, and a woman has the right to terminate her pregnancy if she believes that it will help her heal from that trauma.

Choosing adoption or abortion for your unplanned pregnancy is a decision only you can make. If at any point you have questions or concerns during your decision-making process, you can always speak with a professional for help.

Adoption vs. Abortion [Pros and Cons]

The good news is that there can be many positive benefits of adoption. The bad news, there can also be negative impacts of adoption and abortion, depending on how you view your unplanned pregnancy and how you feel about the possible outcomes of adoption or abortion.

We’ll start with the pros and cons of adoption.

Pros and Cons of Adoption

Pros of Adoption	Cons of Adoption
Peace of mind in knowing you chose the best family for your baby	Loss and grief — while you will have access to free adoption counseling, it takes time to heal and move forward from the adoption grief process
Open adoption allows you to see your child grow up	Legal rights to your child are terminated after adoption consent
Knowing that your child is in a safe and loving home	If you choose a closed adoption, you may not get to see your child grow or get to know their adoptive family
Financial freedom to focus on yourself and your future	Potential conflict with the father, family and friends if they don’t support your adoption decision

Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list of pros and cons for adoption. Every adoption experience is different and unique.

A good adoption agency will help you through every challenge of the adoption process so you can focus on the amazing benefits you are giving yourself and your baby — a life of love and opportunity.

Here, you’ll find some pros and cons of choosing an abortion.

Pros and Cons of Abortion

Pros of Abortion	Cons of Abortion
Gain control over your body	May be difficult to access due to state restrictions
Low medical risk compared to childbirth	Contrary to some religious beliefs
Alternative to carrying a pregnancy to term	Decision must be made early, within the first 20 weeks
Most women feel positive about their decision	Can be costly, not usually covered by health insurance

The decision between adoption and abortion is one of the most important choices you will ever make. Fully educating yourself on each option can help guide you in the right direction.

Anytime you have questions, contact a specialist to get the answers you need as you move forward with your decision.

Steps for Choosing Adoption vs. Abortion

Now, you may know which option, adoption or abortion, is right for you. If not, you can take the information you have learned and consider what your future and your child’s future may look like after an adoption.

In the same way, you can take what you have learned and consider what your life may look like after an abortion.

Here are the three steps for choosing adoption or abortion:

• Step 1: Know the facts about adoption and abortion
• Step 2: Create and maintain a support system while you decide on adoption or abortion.
• Step 3: Make your decision for adoption or abortion — don’t allow anyone to choose for you.

This is a decision only you can make — but you never have to make it alone. To get free information and support that can help in your decision-making process, contact us today.