Experiencing an unplanned pregnancy in Michigan — or anywhere — can be extremely stressful. If this is currently your situation, you probably have a lot of questions. What are my options if I’m pregnant in Michigan? How to decide to keep a baby or not? Am I ready to be a parent? What to do if I’m not ready to be a parent?

The first advice we can give you is to breathe. You aren’t the first to experience an unexpected pregnancy in Michigan, nor will you be the last. If you aren’t entirely sure what to do at this point, the first thing you should do is learn more about what your unplanned pregnancy options are. While American Adoptions is, obviously, an adoption agency, this article is not designed to push you toward any option in particular; only you know which choice is right for you. Our goal is simply to help you make the best educated decision for yourself and your baby.

1. Parenting

When facing an unplanned pregnancy in MI, the first question you have to ask yourself is, “Am I ready to be a parent?” If the answer to this question is yes, then you can stop reading this article right here. If you want to parent your child, never let anyone convince you otherwise. You are the only person who knows what the right decision is. However, if the answer to that question is a resounding no or you simply aren’t sure, there are some aspects of parenting you may want to consider:

• According to the Wall Street Journal, raising a child until the age of 18 costs approximately $245,340 — and that’s a figure from 2013. Raising a child can put extreme strain on a budget.

• Is the child’s father supportive? Will he help you to raise the child? Not every woman feels strongly about having a partner to raise a baby with, but being a single parent can certainly be difficult.

• Will raising a child right now interrupt your education or career goals? Of course, it is entirely possible to be both an amazing mother and an amazing student or employee, but doing both may be more difficult in the long run.

• Do you want to be a mom? Not all women want to be mothers, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this. Other women want to be mothers someday, but just don’t feel prepared yet — and that’s okay too.

If reading this list didn’t help you come to a decision, or if you’re just interested in learning more about your unplanned pregnancy options, there are still two more available to Michigan women.

2. Abortion

You might expect that an adoption agency would talk negatively about abortion or pretend that it isn’t an option to a woman experiencing an unwanted pregnancy, but this isn’t the case with American Adoptions. We will say, though, that since abortion is such a sensationalized topic, make sure to get your information from reliable sources, such as Planned Parenthood. Some things to know about abortion in Michigan are:

• In 2014, there were 29 facilities that provided abortions in Michigan. These facilities were only in 11 percent of Michigan counties. So, 89 percent of Michigan counties did not provide abortions, and women were required to travel for abortion services.

• Michigan requires that women receive state-directed counseling 24 hours before an abortion procedure can be provided.

• Private insurance policies as well as health plans under the Affordable Care Act only cover abortions in the case of life endangerment.

• If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must consent before an abortion can be provided.

• Abortions can be performed at or after viability only if your life is endangered.

3. Adoption

The third unplanned pregnancy option in Michigan, of course, is adoption. While we’re obviously very knowledgeable about this topic and happy to answer any questions you may have, it’s helpful here to explain some benefits to this unexpected pregnancy option that the other two don’t have:

• Adoption means you get to stay in your child’s life. You can watch them grow and have the life you imagined for them. If you choose an open adoption, you can remain in their life and have a relationship with both your child and your child’s adoptive family.

• If you aren’t ready to parent but have negative feelings about abortion, adoption provides an option for your child to have an amazing life that you may not be ready to provide.

• Adopted kids who are raised in a home that is both financially and emotionally prepared for them have every opportunity to succeed.

• Adopted kids grow up knowing they have two sets of parents who loved them enough to put their best interests first.

• Adopted children are more likely to have access to opportunities like secondary education or extracurricular activities, because they’re raised in a home that was financially prepared for them.

Reading this article may not necessarily have made it clear what avenue you should take with your unexpected pregnancy, but we hope it helped you to understand your unplanned pregnancy options in Michigan. To speak with a social worker about your options or to learn more about what adoption could look like for you, call 1-800-ADOPTION at any time. 

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.