Almost half of pregnancies reported in the United States are unplanned. Unplanned pregnancy is something that will change a woman’s life forever, no matter which choice she makes and which road she chooses to take.  Women find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy for many different reasons. Even using protection or using various birth control methods are not 100% guarantees against pregnancy. Abstinence is the only way to completely prevent pregnancy and even then, some women have found themselves victims of rape. The reasons behind a woman’s unplanned pregnancy are not as relevant to her decision as is ensuring she has support and guidance through the aftermath. Once a woman discovers she is pregnant she is then faced with a choice to make. Her choices are abortion, adoption or she can choose to parent.

  Abortion is the method used to terminate a pregnancy. Different states have different laws as to what stage in pregnancy a woman must make her choice. Some states have a “Heartbeat Bill” in place that does not allow a woman to receive an abortion unless medically necessary if a heartbeat is found in her baby. The method of abortion that is performed will vary state to state and will vary based on the woman’s week of pregnancy. Some places use an abortion pill, also known as a “medical abortion” that is administered up to 70 days after the first day of the mother’s missed period (or roughly 10 weeks pregnant) and is meant to cause a miscarriage. This is different then what is known as the “morning after pill.” This method is administered via pill form in two doses containing mifepristone and misoprostol. The expectant mother will consume the first pill, wait the allotted time frame, and will begin cramping and bleeding. She is usually sent home to pass the fetus on her own and is given a second pill a few days later to ensure the fetus has been disposed of completely. This can be a very traumatizing experience for women and they often report feeling alone during the process. Many women report feelings of sadness and regret while waiting for the fetus to pass, however, once the initial dose is administered it is then too late to alter their decision.

  Surgical methods are other forms of abortion that are more invasive for both the expectant mother as well as baby. However, depending on where she is in her pregnancy, it may be the only abortion choice she has as some surgical methods can be performed as late as the third trimester. Surgical methods involve dilating a woman’s cervix and suctioning out the baby. Sometimes a saline solution is used to poison the fetus prior to removal. Surgical abortion with Manual Vacuum Aspiration, also called Suction Curettage can be performed up until 16 weeks gestation (or 4 months pregnant.) Electric Vacuum Aspiration and labor induction, also known as Dilation and Evacuation (D&E), are procedures typically done in the second trimester.

  While many women find themselves in a position to have to choose, some feel abortion is the only way to resolve an unplanned pregnancy. Abortion may be viewed as a quick fix that no one has to know about. But it isn’t as easy as that. Women from all ages, stages, and walks of life have reported feelings of anguish and despair following their abortions. Regret consumes them and some report debilitating depression. Aside from the mental and emotional havoc abortion tends to wreak for women, all methods of abortion have physical side-effects and risks which vary greatly depending on the woman’s gestation and health. Side effects of medical abortion include severe pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, infertility, and even death. Abortion has been known to cause Clostridium Sordellii Sepsis which has led to multiple deaths of women in the US who had recently undergone medical abortion. Prostaglandins abortion has led to cardiac arrest due to the severe pain. Women have been poisoned themselves from the saline solution used in their uterus to poison the fetus prior to evacuation.

  Abortions, like birth control and condoms, are not 100% guarantees to resolve pregnancy. In unsuccessful abortions, the fetus could still be alive despite using the solution which then can potentially cause disfigurement and burns. The woman will then need to make another choice to keep the viable pregnancy/failed abortion and parent or place for adoption; or pay to have another abortion performed. Abortions can cost from $400-$2,500 depending on the type of abortion performed and the woman’s stage of pregnancy. Insurance does not cover this cost and most clinics require cash to be paid before the abortion is performed. In later abortions the woman will still undergo the entire birthing process only to give birth to a stillborn infant or an infant who will soon pass. In severe cases, women have lost their ability to conceive ever again. Some women report feeling unworthy to become a mother later in life for their overwhelming feelings of sadness for the life they took. For the majority of women, they admit to thinking about the abortion every day even decades later and wonder “What If?” For women who choose abortion, emotional support is vital.

  We here at Adoption For My Child believe that every woman should have the opportunity to parent if that is what she chooses. We believe in the well being of the expectant mother mentally, physically and emotionally. If you are considering abortion, please educate yourself on the long term affects you may deal with in the future. We understand you are standing at a crossroad and unsure which road to take. Please educate yourself on all the options available and the difficulties as well as the positive outcomes that can come from each road’s ending.