For many women, choosing between abortion, adoption, and parenting following an unexpected pregnancy may be one of the hardest decisions they’ll ever have to make. Maybe you’re struggling to cope with a positive pregnancy result, and this isn’t the first time. Perhaps you’ve had a challenging experience with adoption in your past. Even if you feel confident that adoption was your most positive outcome, you’ve experienced firsthand the complexities that come with creating an adoption plan. Your pregnancy options may seem even more confusing and overwhelming now than they did previously. However, every pregnancy decision includes unique obstacles and rewards. Avenue Women’s Center exists to help you navigate this new pregnancy with courage and confidence.
Every woman responds differently to her pregnancy options and the path she eventually chooses. It’s important to process your feelings and values related to each possible avenue before moving forward with your pregnancy decision. That’s where Avenue Women’s Center comes in. Our knowledgeable pregnancy consultants are available to provide accurate information on all your options. We offer a safe and welcoming space in which to share your story and consider your next steps.
Call, text, chat, or email to learn more about our free and confidential first-step pregnancy services!
Reflecting on Your Adoption Experience
No matter how challenging your adoption experience may have been, know that you made a courageous choice! You responded to very difficult circumstances and made a choice that you felt benefitted your child and another family. Still, you realized through this process that adoption involves personal sacrifice and probably some conflicting emotions. As you explore your options for this new pregnancy, it may be helpful to examine what’s making you feel cautious about the prospect of choosing adoption again. Consider how you’ve grown and how your circumstances have changed since your last unexpected pregnancy. Perhaps the difficult experiences of your past have actually shaped you into a stronger, more resilient person, preparing you to face another pregnancy decision.
Your Adoption Options
Thankfully, modern-day adoption planning is a very customizable process. Here’s a brief overview of available options within the sphere of adoption. Women have autonomy to create an adoption plan that works for them and to select the adoptive parents.
- Open Adoption- The birth mom and adoptive family have the freedom to meet one another and exchange contact information. This means that everyone involved can maintain contact after the birth.
- Semi-Open Adoption- Some information can be exchanged between the birth mom and adoptive parents through the adoption agency. The birth mom and baby do not maintain direct contact. Identities are typically kept confidential.
- Closed Adoption- The birth mom and adoptive parents don’t meet, communicate, or know one another’s identities. Some limited and non-identifying information about the birth parents may be made available to the adoptive parents, like medical history.
A Pregnancy Consultation Tailored to Your Needs
Whether you’re interested in exploring a new approach to adoption, or a different option altogether (like abortion or parenting), it can be very helpful to process with someone who’s caring, trustworthy, and well-informed. That’s why Avenue Women’s Center offers pressure-free pregnancy consultations at no cost. A pregnancy consultant will address your unique concerns, present reliable information, and offer compassionate support all at once. She can also connect you with helpful resources according to your present needs. Do you need some extra support in order to heal from your adoption experience? We’ve got your back. Avenue can help you get established with a mental health professional and/or other sources of encouragement. Do you need practical assistance to make a positive, empowering pregnancy decision? There may be tons of resources available in your community!
Our expert staff at Avenue offers you the knowledge and support you need to make a truly informed pregnancy decision. If you’re interested in creating an adoption plan or have questions about adoption that we aren’t able to address, we can connect you with someone who can help (like an adoption agency representative).
Schedule a phone consultation or a visit to one of our six Chicagoland, Illinois locations today!
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Reference:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (2021, September). Pregnancy Choices: Raising the Baby, Adoption, and Abortion (FAQs). Retrieved from: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/pregnancy-choices-raising-the-baby-adoption-and-abortion
The information provided here is general in nature. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a medical professional. Before any medical procedure, it is imperative that you discuss your personal medical history, risks, and concerns with your doctor. If you have questions during or after a procedure, your doctor should be immediately contacted. Avenue Women’s Center is not an emergency center. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, such as bleeding and/or pain, seek immediate medical attention. Contact your physician, go to an emergency room, or call 911.