Posted on 10/20/2024 9:35:25 AM PDT by Morgana
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this guest post are solely those of the guest author.
Statistics reveal that fewer than 2% of women facing unplanned pregnancies choose adoption, while around 61% opt for abortion, often with mixed emotions.
Many in the pro-life movement question why adoption remains a less common choice. The reasons are varied, typically rooted in myths, misconceptions, and how adoption is perceived. Abortion is sometimes seen as the “easier” option compared to placing a child for adoption. However, these views are often shaped by misunderstandings, which can be addressed through better education and awareness.
Let’s explore some common reasons women may shy away from adoption, according to research from the Opt Institute and the National Council for Adoption (NCFA).
1. Confusion Between Adoption and Foster Care
Many women confuse adoption with foster care, assuming they are similar. In reality, voluntary adoption is entirely different.
In an open adoption, the birth mother is in control; she decides to place the child and chooses the family. In contrast, the foster care system is where the government steps in because of safety concerns, putting the child into temporary care.
In adoption:
• The birth mother selects the adoptive family.
• She can meet the family, receive updates, and visit the child.
• The child is placed directly into a permanent family, often from the hospital.
In foster care:
• Child Protective Services (CPS) places the child, and the birth mother has no say in where the child goes.
• Children in foster care often move between homes, leading to increased trauma.
Most mothers and children in voluntary adoptions report positive experiences because the process is thoughtful and intentional, unlike the sometimes traumatic nature of foster care.
2. Concerns About the Child’s Well–Being
Many women are understandably concerned about placing their children with strangers, fearing their children may not be well cared for.
First, it’s important to acknowledge the mother’s focus on her child’s well–being and affirm her decision to choose life. Open adoption can help ease these concerns, as it allows the birth mother to stay informed about her child’s life through updates, photos, and visits.
Research from NCFA shows that most adoptees are satisfied with their adoption experience and believe it has positively impacted everyone involved. Providing accurate information about the adoption process, including the rigorous vetting of adoptive families and the benefits of openness, can help reassure women about their child’s future.
3. Influence from Family and Friends
A woman’s decision about her pregnancy can be heavily influenced by the opinions of her family, friends, or partner, even though they have no legal authority over her choice. Their influence can still be significant.
It’s crucial to remind women that the decision is theirs alone. If a woman feels pressured, it’s helpful to consider how supportive these individuals will be in the long run.
Ultimately, the choice must come down to what is best for her and her baby. While involving her support system is essential, connecting her with a trusted adoption agency can guide conversations and provide professional support.
The key is ensuring that women know they have more than one option to choose life and feel empowered to make the best decision for themselves, whether that’s adoption or another path.
For more information on adoption, contact Lifeline Children’s Services at pregnant@lifelinechild.org or visit planmyadoption.org.
Any woman who gives up their child for adoption instead of KILLING it has a special place in heaven!! TRUST IN GOD!
Nice speculation, but there is actually a Pro-Life Establishment that doesn’t go beyond certain boundaries, i.e., National Right to Life, which disaffiliated a state outlet, I think Ohio, for supporting California Proposition 8, Marriage between 1 man & 1 woman.
It has all been explained long ago in “Abortion: A Failure to Communicate” by Paul F. Swope, First Things, April 1998 https://tinyurl.com/4kn2swwt
But the permanent pro-life groups don’t have an incentive to take those research findings to heart.
“Pro-Life Establishment Still Preaching to the Choir After 25 Years”
Pro-life professional advertising psychology research, the bright side of otherwise nefarious “engineering of consent” industry, revealed by 1998 that the standard pro-life approach to women in crisis pregnancies has consistently continued to be largely self-defeating because it fails to account for crisis-pregnancy Mothers’ actual psychological state. Dr. Carl Landwehr, the man most single-handedly responsible for tipping the majority, if not the elites of America pro-life, speaks about “the dogma dump” — if I could just open a hatch in their heads and make them understand what I know, they would convert to my viewpoint and everything would become alright. We couldn’t afford that approach then, and as long as we are opposed by wealthy elites, we will continue to experience failure saving babies and Mothers, as the opposition continues its relentless innovations in convincing young people to the pro-abortion side.
https://www.sing-prayer.org/pro-life-establishment-still-preaching-to-the-choir-after-25-years
My friends why didn’t we get this out when Roe was overturned? Think about how the left reacted and then ask why Linda Graham blew a few house seats for us.
We’ll need a national movement to push this issue and it will start with a billionaire putting down one as seed money. Build it and they will come. Churches are out there to help. Helping out is what they’re there for. I’ll leave it to Trump to call for it as none of our leaders will. Instead we get Linda.
If the pregnant girl gets to choose the family it may best be in another town as small towns produce a lot of gossip. A confused new mom may want the child back. A welcome can of worms-better than the alternative.
Too many women out there cannot bear the though of someone else raising their child, even a more stable family. They would not bear to face the guilt they’ll experience every night for the rest of their lives. Abortion sweeps the mess under the rug thereby making the guilt just another inconvenience.
Because where’s the joy in protecting an innocent life? The ghouls’ only joy is murdering babies.
Interesting discussion. I’d think that young women might consider an early abortion easier on their own bodies than going thru all the months of public pregnancy and then the pain of childbirth.
If the child is early on thought of as just a mass of cells, why go through all the humiliation and pain?
If the mother is considering a much later abortion/adoption decision, then I would think the humiliation is still there (if any unwanted pregnancy is considering humiliating anymore; that might be my old fashioned thinking) and the pain might be similar. But the impatient need to get it over NOW and not go thru more pain might also push toward abortion.
Also consider that the mother might be angry about being pregnant. If she can’t express that anger toward the father, it might be directed toward the fetus.
when I was in high school ( mid 70’s) every girl I knew that had an abortion did it b/c her mom wanted her to, either to spare herself embarrassment or spare her husband the agonizing idea that babygirl had sex.
so it’s not always the pregnant girls will being done.
At a pro-life rally, I talked to a woman who aborted her baby. Her feeling of guilt didn’t disappear when the baby’s remains did.
Adoption is not the best choice. A child being raised by bio family is. Perhaps helping women see this would be best
A friend of mine and his wife just adopted a newborn. Had the little baby girl in their arms at the hospital right after birth.
I think that was an incredibly awesome thing to do.
that link was a very interesting article. thanks for posting
Pregnancy is a temporary problem. It does not require a permanent solution like killing.
Ask a young woman what she would rather do. She likely will tell you the truth. Pregnancy is 9 months of morning sickness, mood swings, drastic weight gain, it alters the body permanently. Then there is the cost and physical pain of childbirth. Then weeks of recovery and then the long term weight loss after usually with permanent stretch marks. For a young fit attractive woman the other choice if early on is a double set if pills and a heavy to heavier than normal uterine shedding cycle. Anything under 10-12 weeks is almost always going to be pills before a procedure. These are the same pills identical in dosage and use given to women who miscarriage at the same week range first before the D&C. Ask a young woman point blank the nonreligious which are the majority of young women now will close the second choice over the first. Only with significant financial incentives which could be offered by the perspective adoptive parents would sway a good number to go through all the cost, body changes and ultimately pain to bring a child they don’t want to term. I teach at the college level from time to time and interact with hundreds of GenZ on a regular basis inside and outside university. Seriously ask a Gene aged woman why she would choose a chemical abortion over 9 months of morning sickness,and pain. Sit back and be ready for the honest answer you will get if you are sincere in hearing her point of view. Preaching at her will get venom spewed back like an angry cobra I would advise against that as a older male especially. Probably best to get a woman to start the conversation at that.
Adoption rules are different for different states. Our relatives adopted kin. They wanted the baby almost before it was born. Going through all the hoops to be approved took almost 2 1/2 years. And most of that time was in foster care.
Hmmmn.
This is such a good point, and still often the case.
Pregnant women of all ages are vulnerable to all kinds of manipulation. Parents, boyfriend or husband, bosses all have vested an often selfish reasons for influencing a woman’s decision.
Pregnancy is temporary, motherhood is forever. The pro life movement will save more babies when it tries to see things from the perspective of the pregnant woman.
If you don’t want to be pregnant, wait a few months. You won’t be. If you don’t want to be a mother, sign the adoption papers.
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