Whenever a woman becomes pregnant, she should assess her lifestyle and other living standards to provide the best care for herself and her growing child. Some elements of care come to mind immediately, while others might be looked over or left unconsidered.
The staff at Act of Love Adoptions are aware of each detail that goes into every individual adoption plan. We are knowledgeable about the common things women and their loved ones need to prepare for placement. We also care deeply about the women we work with, so we recognize and advocate for individual needs to be met.
Every situation is different. While women almost always need support while navigating the complicated world of prenatal care, some might also need help telling family and friends they plan to place a child for adoption. Some might also need help revealing their pregnancy to loved one’s whiles others might be concerned with the dynamics of open adoption.
Whatever the case may be, our staff is prepared to equip women with care. We strive to provide care for the most common of concerns as well as pay attention to the individual circumstances of each situation.
When you’re considering adoption, we believe the best place to start is education. Learning about and researching options allows for women to be confident in their final decision. As your life will continue after birth, you will continue to grow and change.
While many individual factors should be considered, there are three steps you should take to move you towards a healthy pregnancy and future.
First, we suggest you immediately contact an OB/GYN if you haven’t already. This will allow you to get the medical care you need to care for your body as well as your growing child. It’s important to know what risk factors you might be exposed to, dietary changes, and growth patterns—seeing a doctor as quickly as possible will give you information that is invaluable.
If you’re unsure how to navigate that process, we encourage you to reach out to someone you trust or contact us. If you’re further along in your pregnancy and haven’t visited a doctor, please know it’s not too late! It’s a very good idea to go as soon as you know you’re pregnant, but for some, that isn’t possible, and that’s okay! If you haven’t already seen a doctor, we encourage you to!
It’s also important to note that some lifestyle factors should be addressed quickly. If you smoke or are consistently exposed to secondhand smoke, we encourage you to remove that from your life. Whether that be by quitting or asking others not to smoke near you, removing that factor from your life alters your child’s growth and outlook.
If you use illicit drugs, alcohol, or marijuana, we also encourage you to quit. These not only put your child at risk, but they also endanger your life, and that is something we don’t want for you. While we might not know you yet, we do know you’re valuable, and we encourage you to understand that your life is not worth risking! If you are at risk for withdrawal, we hope you’ll find a detox center that will provide you with care and help manage your symptoms.
Next, we believe that your growth and change is vital, but we also know that with it comes emotions and circumstances that weren’t always present. We’ve found that women who are educated about all their options and are empowered with resources, feelings of doubt and regret are replaced with comfort. Because of that, we encourage you to become educated about local resources for adoption and parenting to help provide the best outcome now and in the future, for both you and your child.
Lastly, we recommend that you make a plan and work towards it. If you are considering placing for adoption and have found enough resources to navigate that experience we hope you’ll continue moving forward with that plan. It’s important to rely on your instincts and don’t be afraid of trusting yourself. You might also consider parenting, and to that we say, move forward. Surround yourself with the resources you need to make that happen to continue with that plan.
Regardless of your decision today, know that you can always change your mind. Even if you’ve made a plan for adoption, you can choose to parent at any point before you’ve relinquished your parental rights. If you consider parenting and find that your resources don’t allow you to do that, adoption is an option.
As always, we hope you’ll consider contacting us. We are here to provide help, education, and encouragement while you navigate an unplanned pregnancy. Reaching out to us does not obligate you to place your child for adoption. It’s also completely confidential, and we aim to leave you with hope at the end of each interaction.
So, if you’re unsure how to find local resources like a local OB/GYN, or you need help quitting smoking, or even announcing your pregnancy to family, reach out to us. We’re here to address your needs and feel grateful to be a part of that journey.
Click Here For A Free Pregnancy Information Packet
Sending our best wishes,
The A Act of Love Adoptions Staff