Sometimes, a couple in-love has such a strong desire to bond as one that they cannot help but act on their sexual urges even though they are not quite or even really prepared to take on the responsibility that such an act potentially could force them into. In other words, they are not ready to become parents. In such cases, the couple, or more specifically, the woman is forced to face the reality of her situation and make a decision that will definitely affect the rest of her life. Does she abort the pregnancy or put the baby up for adoption once born?
Luckily, a pregnant woman no longer has to feel pressured into making that decision. These days, pregnant women are encouraged to think about all possible options for the benefit of the biological mother and the child. Usually, that means allowing them to make an informed decision between abortion or adoption by showing them to similarities and differences between the two. Websites such as AbortionFacts.com offer a comparison chart that shows the 4 factors that abortion and adoption share. The factors that their online article “Adoption Or Abortion: Decision Of A Lifetime” (1998) asks the mother to consider that whether they choose adoption or abortion the mother will be given the chance to have:
- The freedom to pursue your goals and dreams that you had before you were pregnant,
- not having to care for a baby before you are ready,
- not having the financial burden of caring for a child,
- not having to worry about finding a sitter, missing out on the fun with your friends and being tied down. (AbortionFacts.com, 1998)
So if there are actually similarities between abortion and adoption, why does a woman sometimes opt for abortion instead? Well sometimes, a mother is so traumatized by the unexpected pregnancy, most especially if the relationship with her partner goes south, that she wants no reminder of that painful chapter of her life. The existence of the child turns out to be exactly that. The decision to have an abortion is not one that is arrived at lightly. Especially since aborting a child for non-medical reasons is considered a crime in the majority of the states. A mother that opts for abortion makes an irreversible decision that could leave her emotionally and psychologically scarred for life. However, opting for adoption gives the mother proper closure regarding the future of her child and leaves her with the knowledge that her child is being loved and cared for by people who can give the child what she felt she could not.
So, when making the decision of a lifetime, it is most advisable that a woman get proper counseling from a professional who can help her make the most important decision she will ever make in her whole life. When deciding between abortion and adoption, a woman should consider the following according to the article “How To Decide Between Adoption and Abortion” (n.d) at the website eHow.com:
- Explore your moral beliefs,
- know your state regulations regarding abortion,
- Consider the long-term effect of abortion, and
- ponder the long-term effect of adoption. (eHow.com, n.d.)
A woman should never rush into making a decision when it comes to ending or continuing the life of an unborn child. Neither should be pressured into making a decision before she is actually ready to finalize one. Does she want to be a life-giver or a life-taker? Either way, she must make sure that her decision is what she is absolutely sure will be the best, first and foremost, for her child, and then herself. Only when she is truly comfortable with the decision that she has made can she say that she properly compared and contrasted the benefits and drawbacks of abortion versus an adoption.
References
“Adoption Or Abortion: Decision Of A Lifetime” . (2008). AbortionFacts.com. Web.
“Adoption Versus Abortion: Similarities And Differences”. (2005). EadsHome Ministries. Web.
“How To Decide Between Abortion And Adoption”. (n.d.). eHow.com. Web.