5 Unexpected Advantages of Unplanned Pregnancy [Pros & Cons]

Becoming pregnant, especially if you weren’t planning to expand your family, can be a whirlwind of emotions. 

If you need help managing those emotions and would like to talk to someone who understands what you are going through, you can call 1-800-ADOPTION or click here to talk with Michelle, a birth mother and adoption professional with our agency. 

It can be easy to focus on the disadvantages of unplanned pregnancy, but there are also many positives that can come out of this situation.

• First, you have options. You are not "stuck." There are ways to move forward, and you will get through this. 

• You are in charge of your life and of your decisions. You get to make the choice that is best for your life. 

• You can turn your unplanned pregnancy into something beautiful, if you want to. You can learn and grow from this, and, depending on the option you choose, you can watch your child grow, too.

We know it can be hard to look on the brighter side during such an uncertain time, but we hope that this information can help.

As you come to terms with your unplanned pregnancy and consider your options moving forward, here are some of the potential benefits and challenges you might face. 

The Surprising Pros of Being Pregnant Unexpectedly

If you weren’t planning to become pregnant and you aren’t sure you want to parent your child, the benefits of being pregnant can seem hard to identify.

The truth is, there may not seem to be many pros of pregnancy when this isn’t something you planned for or wanted. However, even if you decide you’re not ready to parent this baby, you can still make the best of your situation and do something incredibly positive by choosing adoption.

For someone considering adoption, the pros of being pregnant are limitless:

• You get to provide a loving family with a long-awaited child. Many families who choose to adopt have struggled for years with infertility and grief as they tried to conceive a child on their own, but sadly, not everyone can physically become pregnant. You’ll get to choose a family you respect and admire to raise your child, and you’ll get to know how much you are helping them to achieve a dream. It can be an amazing feeling.

• You get to provide your child with a safe, loving and prepared home. If you don’t feel that you’re ready to become a parent, the best thing you can do for a child is to place them in a home that is well-equipped for them. By choosing adoption, you are ensuring that your child gets enough love, resources, and opportunities to have the happiest and healthiest life imaginable. 

• You get to maintain a relationship with your child without becoming a parent in the traditional sense. By choosing an open adoption, you can remain in your child’s life and develop a relationship with them as well as their adoptive family. You can exchange updates via text messages, emails, phone calls, in-person meetings and more — whatever methods of communication you and the adoptive parents are comfortable with. You’ll never have to wonder how your baby is doing, because you’ll be able to see for yourself. This also gives your child access to you, so he or she will never have to fear that they weren’t wanted or that you aren’t doing well. They’ll understand exactly how much love it took for you to choose adoption for them.

• You don’t have to choose abortion. Some women feel very strongly about not pursuing abortion but aren’t necessarily ready to parent a baby either. If that describes your situation, adoption can be a great way to provide a wonderful life for your baby without taking on the responsibilities of parenting before you feel completely ready to do so.

• You can learn and grow from your unplanned pregnancy experience. Regardless of which unplanned pregnancy option you ultimately decide to pursue, an unplanned pregnancy can bring a sense of clarity. You’ll ask yourself questions about your priorities, about what you want in life, and more. It can be illuminating — and if you choose adoption, you will inevitably achieve a greater sense of maturity and selflessness.

“Although adoption is not an easy choice; it is a wonderful choice. I could not have asked for a better experience and I wish I could personally thank everyone involved in, not just those involved in my adoption, but all adoptions. What a wonderful gift for everyone! No one loses in adoption as far as I can tell,” said Natasha, a birth mom who chose adoption for her baby.

It can be hard to look at the silver lining sometimes, but we believe that when you choose adoption, there really are more pros of being pregnant than problems associated with unwanted pregnancy. However, we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the disadvantages of an unplanned pregnancy as well.

The Disadvantages of an Unplanned Pregnancy

The problems associated with an unwanted pregnancy depend mostly on perspective, but many women find themselves feeling negative about facts like the following.

• Becoming unexpectedly pregnant means you’re faced with a big decision. When you become pregnant, you will ultimately have to choose between parenting, abortion or adoption. This can be a stressful choice for many women.

• Becoming unexpectedly pregnant may necessitate a change in lifestyle. If you are frequently going out and partaking in alcohol or drug usage, this is something that will have to stop if you become pregnant. This could mean separating yourself from places and people that influence you to do these things, which can mean a big change if you’re spending a lot of time in that environment.

• Being pregnant can be physically exhausting. While some women love the feeling of being pregnant and the changes it brings to their bodies, other women find the physical aspects of pregnancy a little less enjoyable. You may experience morning sickness and fatigue, in addition to other more serious conditions.

• Pregnancy can be an emotional journey. If you weren’t planning to become pregnant, it’s likely that you’ll experience many emotions in the wake of discovering your pregnancy. You may feel shock, anger, fear and depression, amongst other emotions. This is normal and, if properly acknowledged, can grow into a positive experience accompanied by growth and happiness, but it can be extremely jarring at first.

At American Adoptions, we hope to be able to work with you to help you through any disadvantages of unplanned pregnancy that are bothering you, in addition to helping you come to appreciate the pros of being pregnant and choosing adoption for your baby. To get more information about the pros of pregnancy, contact us at 1-800-ADOPTION today.

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