A woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy in North Carolina and considering a North Carolina adoption most likely has plenty of questions running through her mind.

• What if I’m pregnant but not ready for another baby?
• Am I ready to be a parent?
• What are my options if I’m pregnant in North Carolina?

It’s completely normal to feel stressed at this point. An unexpected pregnancy in North Carolina – or anywhere else — can be jarring, and it’s hard to know what the right path is. First, breathe. You aren’t alone. At this stage, the best thing you can do is to learn more about your North Carolina unplanned pregnancy options. Every woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy ultimately has three options: parenting, abortion or adoption.

Please know that, while we are passionate about what we do at American Adoptions, this article was not written to sway you toward any one decision. Adoption is not the right path for everyone. We hope only to help you made the best educated decision about your unexpected pregnancy. To speak more about your options with a social worker, you can call 1-800-ADOPTION or contact us online to speak with one of our experienced professionals today.

Option 1: Parenting

The first question you should ask yourself when facing an unplanned pregnancy is, “Am I ready to be a parent?” If the answer is yes, then that’s it. Congratulations! If you feel ready to be a parent, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your lifetime. If you aren’t sure if you’re ready for that step in your life, though, some things about parenting to consider are:

• Raising a child until the age of 18 took approximately $245,340 in 2013, according to the Wall Street Journal. For someone who wasn’t financially preparing to raise a child, that number can be daunting.

• Will the child’s father be involved in parenting? Do you have a good support system? They say that raising a child takes a village; will you have help?

• Are you pursuing certain education or career goals right now that would be interrupted by becoming a mother? This is not to suggest in any way that one can’t be an amazing student or employee and mother at the same time, but it may not be an easy feat.

• In addition to considering whether you’re ready to be a mother, think about whether or not want to. Not all women want to be parents, and that’s totally okay. It’s also okay to want to be a mother someday, but just not quite yet.

If you still aren’t sure about your readiness to parent and want to consider other unplanned pregnancy options in NC, there are two avenues left to women who don’t wish to parent their babies.

Option 2: Abortion

Obviously, abortion can be a very sensationalized topic. We aren’t here to sway your opinions about it, nor are we here to judge any woman experiencing an unwanted pregnancy. All that we ask as you consider abortion (if you choose to) is that you make sure to obtain your information from reliable sources. Because abortion is such a hot-button issue, be sure to stick to sites like Planned Parenthood that provide reliable information about how to safely and legally obtain an abortion in North Carolina.

• In 2014, North Carolina had 37 abortion-providing facilities. Roughly 90 percent of North Carolina counties had no facilities that provided abortions, and 53 percent of North Carolina’s women lived in those counties.

• In North Carolina, a woman must receive state-directed counseling that discourages her to have an abortion 72 hours before having the procedure.

• Health care plans under the Affordable Care Act only cover abortion if the woman’s life is endangered or in cases of rape or incest. Insurance policies for public employees have the same restrictions.

• The parent of a minor must consent to an abortion.

• A woman must have an ultrasound before having an abortion, and the abortion provider must offer to show her the ultrasound image.

• An abortion can be performed at 20 weeks or more after the woman’s last menstrual cycle only if her life or health is in danger.

Option 3: Adoption

Naturally, the final option for North Carolina women experiencing unexpected pregnancies is adoption. As you might guess, this is our area of expertise. And while we’re always happy to help with understanding adoption and answering questions, we do like to point out the benefits of adoption that other unplanned pregnancy options don’t have:

• By choosing adoption, you’re able to stay in your child’s life. You can ensure that they grow up happy, healthy, and well-provided for.

• Adopted children are raised in homes that are prepared for them both emotionally and financially, and therefore have a great chance of succeeding.

• Adopted kids are more likely to participate in extracurricular activities or pursue secondary education, thanks to their parents’ financial preparedness.

• If you know you aren’t ready to become a mother but feel negatively about choosing abortion, adoption is a way to provide your child with a wonderful life and a family who is prepared for them.

Of course, reading this article may not have magically illuminated the right path for your unplanned pregnancy, but we hope you learned a little more about what your options are. To learn more about your unplanned pregnancy options, starting with adoption in North Carolina, or just to talk with a trained professional who might be able to help you come to your decision, please call 1-800-ADOPTION or contact us online today! 

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