An unexpected pregnancy can be one of the most disruptive experiences possible, and because of this, many women are left wondering what their first step should be.

That’s why we’ve created this guide to explain your unplanned pregnancy options in Florida — and help you make the best decision for you, whatever that may be.

As life-altering as it may feel right now, you have options moving forward that can create a bright future. Researching and understanding them is the first step. Remember: You are not alone.

To learn more about the benefits of adoption, or about your other unplanned pregnancy options in Florida, please call 1-800-ADOPTION to learn more.

We can also offer the support and guidance adoptive couples need, too. To learn more about adoption in Florida, click here.

Your Unplanned Pregnancy Options in Florida

If you’re dealing with an unexpected pregnancy in Florida, you have three options:

• Parenting

• Abortion

• Adoption

While American Adoptions assists pregnant women in Florida who choose adoption, we believe that no woman should be judged for her choice. We understand that adoption is simply not the right unplanned pregnancy option for everyone, but we are here to support every woman — no matter what her final decision ends up being.

That’s why we’re here to give you the objective unplanned pregnancy information you need, no matter which option you’re considering. You can always call our trained specialists at 1-800-ADOPTION 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There, you can request information about all your unplanned pregnancy options in Florida — not just adoption. If we can connect you to local resources you need, we’re happy to help in any way we can.

Our unplanned pregnancy counselors can always provide free, no-judgement educational information about all of your unplanned pregnancy options in Florida and help you understand the benefits of adoption.

In the meantime, the following information can help you start researching your three unexpected pregnancy options:

Choosing Adoption in Florida [Is it Right for You?]

Are you asking yourself, “Is adoption in Florida right for me?”

American Adoptions is here to provide the information you need to answer that.

Adoption is a wonderful unplanned pregnancy option for many women, and depending on your situation, it might be right for you. To help you make your decision, we’ve provided these basic facts about choosing adoption in Florida with our agency:

• Adoption is free for you, and you may receive adoption financial assistance, including living expenses and post-adoption birth parent benefits.

• Today, 90 percent of prospective birth parents choose to have an open adoption to maintain a relationship with their child and adoptive family.

• Prospective birth parents choose the adoptive parents and maintain whatever amount of post-adoption communication with the family that they feel comfortable with.

• Medical care, legal representation and counseling services are available for free for prospective birth parents.

Because of these reasons, and countless other benefits, many women consider adoption to be the best unplanned pregnancy option. That’s not to say that it was an ever an easy decision to make, but it was the one they felt the most secure and confident in. Erika had similar thoughts about her adoption experience:

“I was for adoption from the very get-go and, after a lot of talking, we decided that adoption was best,” she says.

You can always call 1-800-ADOPTION now for more information about all of your options — not just adoption. Feel free to ask questions and get objective information about adoption from our trained specialists anytime.

Choosing to Become a Parent in Florida [Everything You Should Know]

When they first find out that they’re unexpectedly pregnant, most women ask themselves, “Am I ready to be a parent?”

Only you can know the answer.

Parenting a child, of course, requires readiness to be parent on a mental and emotional level. Discussing this with a local counselor may help you assess whether or not you are there yet.

Of course, financial readiness to be a parent is a factor that you may have already considered. The average cost of prenatal medical care and delivery alone is $8,800. In addition, the average cost for a middle-income married couple to raise a child is estimated to be at least $245,000. Because of these high costs, many women start to consider other unplanned pregnancy options:

“I didn’t have family support… everything was on my own,” she says. “I was just contemplating, ‘What can I possibly do now that would make a difference for our future and provide my sons with the life that I would like to give them?’ said Casey about her adoption decision.

If you feel mentally and emotionally ready to raise a child, but not quite financially prepared, there are financial resources that can help. For example, ACCESS Florida helps eligible families with food assistance, Medicaid and more. The Florida Office of Early Learning can help provide eligible children with school-readiness programs. There are also state-funded benefit programs to help provide your child with proper nutrition and health care.

If you intend to parent and you’re medically uninsured, these tips can help with the cost of pregnancy and childbirth.

Remember, if you’re considering parenting vs. adoption, you can choose either path at any point in your pregnancy. You can even choose to place your child for adoption after they’re born!

If you are even slightly considering adoption instead of keeping the baby in Florida, don’t hesitate to reach out to our adoption specialists for free guidance. Call 1-800-ADOPTION to speak to an adoption specialist now. And while you will receive plenty of information about adoption, we can also help you understand if parenting is the right unplanned pregnancy option in Florida for you.

Choosing Abortion in Florida [Getting the Help You Need]

You may be in a situation where abortion in Florida feels like the best option. And if that’s the case, please contact your doctor right away. You will need to discuss any potential health concerns and which abortion options are available in your situation.

Your doctor will need to determine how far along you are in your unintended pregnancy, because this will affect the type of abortion procedure you may be able to access. Only women who are in the early stages of pregnancy (fewer than 24 weeks along) are able to choose abortion as an unplanned pregnancy option in Florida.

If you’re early in your pregnancy and you want to pursue abortion as your unplanned pregnancy option, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with Florida abortion laws and how they may affect you. Here’s what you should know:

• Only pregnancies that endanger a woman’s life or are the product of rape or incest will receive public funding.

• Parents of minors must be notified to give their consent to the abortion beforehand.

• A woman must undergo an ultrasound and must be offered to view the image prior to receiving the abortion.

• An abortion may only be performed after 24 weeks post-fertilization if the woman’s life is in danger.

Even if you are considering abortion in Florida, please don’t hesitate to call us if you need someone to talk to. We would be more than happy to answer any of your questions at 1-800-ADOPTION. 

Parenting vs. Adoption vs. Abortion in Florida: Comparing Your Pregnancy Options [And Making the Best Decision]

Your choice for an unwanted pregnancy deserves support, no matter what you decide. This is likely the biggest decision you’ve ever had to face, and we understand that it’s not one that you’ll make lightly or impulsively.

You are the only person who knows what’s best for you. Never let anyone else pressure you into a decision that you don’t feel is right for you. And when you come to the right decision, you’ll know. As Lindsey said about her adoption decision:

“I said to myself, ‘You know what? Adoption is going to be the best thing for Trinity, because she needs my full attention — and it’s going to be the best thing for Charlotte, too.”

Take time to research your unplanned pregnancy options carefully, and learn all you can about abortion, parenting, and adoption in Florida. You can always call our counselors anytime with questions about your unexpected pregnancy options in Florida at 1-800-ADOPTION or get free information about adoption online.

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.