Having your life turned upside down because of an unplanned pregnancy can be jarring.

Being pregnant is a huge life change that can be stressful even when planned, so it’s natural that many mixed emotions may come along with an unexpected pregnancy in Missouri. An unintended pregnancy also brings with it a question we hear frequently: What are my options if I’m pregnant in Missouri?

If you’re an expectant birth mother faced with an unplanned pregnancy, you have 3 primary options available to you:

• Adoption

• Abortion

• Parenting

This guide is meant to provide some answers, or at least helpful information, to any woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy in Missouri. You have several unplanned pregnancy options to consider, and there are resources that can make your situation better.

Remember, you are not alone. If you have any questions as you’re reading, or if you just need some support as you consider your Missouri pregnancy options, you can reach an adoption specialist 24/7 at 1-800-ADOPTION or get free information here. An adoption specialist can talk to you about all your options — not just adoption — and contacting us never commits you to the adoption process in any way.

Whether it’s an unwanted pregnancy or not, every pregnant woman ultimately has three options. This article isn’t designed to push you toward any of those choices. Only you can decide what to do about your unplanned pregnancy in Missouri. Never, under any circumstances, should anyone try to make up your mind for you.

This article serves to simply provide you with some information about the three pregnancy options you now have:

1. Adoption

One of your unplanned pregnancy options in Missouri is, of course, adoption. This option is frequently overlooked by women facing an unintended pregnancy in Missouri, and that may be because of misconceptions about what present-day adoption really is, or just not knowing how the process works.

When you work with a reputable adoption agency like American Adoptions, you will have access to many beneficial resources and services such as:

• Financial assistance. Adoption is completely free for prospective birth mothers, and you may even qualify for financial assistance to help cover your pregnancy-related living expenses, like rent, groceries and utilities, during the adoption process.

• 24/7 counseling and guidance. It cannot be stressed enough that you are not alone. At American Adoptions, looking out for your wellbeing is a priority. We, as well as many other adoption agencies, have adoption counselors available 24/7 to help you work through the difficult emotions that can accompany placing your baby for adoption.

• You’re in charge of your adoption plan. With American Adoptions, you control every detail of the adoption process in Missouri. During a time where you might feel like you’re caught in a whirlwind, being able to have control over your adoption plan can bring you some much needed assurance. You get to create your own adoption plan, choose the adoptive parents, and decide how open you want the adoption to be.

• Open adoption. With open adoption, you can have a lifelong relationship with your baby as well as his or her adoptive family. It can be comforting to know how your child is doing and that they are happy and well adjusted, and your child will never have to wonder where they came from or why you chose adoption for them.

These are only a few of the benefits we see when prospective birth mothers chooses adoption for her unplanned pregnancy in Missouri. You aren’t “giving up” on your baby. This is a frequently used term in discussions involving adoption, but you aren’t “giving up” on anything. You’re putting your child first, and that takes a lot of strength. Adoption provides the hope of a bright future to the baby, the adoptive parents and, of course, to you.

2. Parenting

The first question you ask yourself after learning about an unplanned pregnancy may have a simple answer: Am I ready to be a parent? For some women, the answer to that question is an immediate yes or no. If you’re on the fence, though, there are some things you may want to think about before making a decision one way or the other.

• Are you financially stable enough to raise a child? In 2013, the average cost to raise a child until the age of 18 was $245,340, and that’s a number that’s only going to rise as time passes. Of course, this cost is spread out over many years. Still, it takes a lot to support a child. Many women who ultimately decide not to parent do so because they’re not ready to financially provide for their child in the way that they wish.

• Do you want to be a parent? If the answer to this question is no, it’s okay. Not all women want to be parents, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

• Do you want to be a parent right now? It’s not uncommon for women to feel that it’s not the right time to become a mother when experiencing an unintended pregnancy in Missouri. Even if you don’t feel that this child is an “unwanted” kid, you may not be ready to pause your education or your career while you have a baby. Not becoming a parent now in no way means that you can’t do so later.

If you do decide that parenting is the right option, that’s amazing. However, you may already know this won’t be the case. If any of these factors cause you to question your readiness or your desire to become a parent, there’s no shame in that. Missouri women still have two additional unplanned pregnancy options.

3. Abortion

You might assume that, as an adoption agency, we would try to talk you out of pursuing an abortion. That’s not the case. Again, no one can tell you what to do about your unplanned pregnancy. Only you know what’s best for you. If abortion is something you’re considering, we want you to be as educated about the process as possible.

Abortion as a response to an unplanned pregnancy in Missouri is different than in other states, since abortion laws are created at the state level. Here are some things you need to know:

• There are three kinds of abortion. The first, which is known as the “abortion pill,” or “medication abortion,” costs around $800. The other two in-clinic options — aspiration or dilation and evacuation — can cost up to $1,500.

• In the first 10 weeks of your pregnancy, you can take pills that end your pregnancy. This allows you to have the abortion at home. Beyond 10 weeks, you will have to have an in-clinic abortion.

• Missouri requires that women wait 72 hours after receiving state-directed counseling before having an abortion. This means you would talk with your doctor and then be required to wait three days before actually having the abortion.

• There is currently only one abortion-providing facility in the state.

If you are searching for more information about abortion in Missouri, it’s important to remember there’s a lot of information on the Internet with ulterior motives. This is a hot issue, and misinformation is abundant. Using resources like Planned Parenthood or other medical professionals to ensure accuracy will give you an unbiased portrayal of what abortion could mean for you.

Again, remember that you’re the only person who can make this decision. Your friends and family may have nothing but good intentions, but this choice is ultimately yours. If you are interested in adoption instead of keeping the baby or choosing abortion in MO, we will of course be happy to help you make an adoption plan.

Our social workers are available to you 24/7 to help you talk about your Missouri unplanned pregnancy options, no matter which one you ultimately choose. To speak with a social worker, call 1-800-ADOPTION at any time, or get free information here.

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.