Your Options for an Unplanned Pregnancy
By Bruce Kong
An unplanned pregnancy is a frightening experience, and when it pops up, you’re left alone with your thoughts and emotions. Most of the time, many birth mothers who experience an unplanned pregnancy will not know what to do half of the time. That is why it’s important to sit down with people you are close with and discuss your options; others scope out agencies or a counselor for guidance.
However, you may want to consider your goals before selecting an option. Take time to reflect on the future and how you want to shape it because once you have made your decision, there’s no turning back. And whether it be a Colorado adoption or the decision to raise the child, you are still in charge of the outcome.
Below are the options for an unexpected pregnancy and a few resources available for you.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Parenting Your Baby
Raising your child is a beautiful thing, and there are countless stories of birth mothers who share their experiences about deciding to keep the child. It’s a journey that challenges them to grow out of their comfort zones and force their hand of maturity. Watching your child grow up is an unforgettable journey that every parent will never regret.
However, while raising your child may have its advantages, some obstacles will show up unexpectedly.
Finances are a sensitive topic for everyone when it’s combined with raising a child. Medical care and future expenses that come with raising a child can be expensive. Fortunately, there are local and national support groups that are available to assist you with money, insurance needs, and emotional support.
Choosing a Colorado Adoption
This option is highly recommended for anyone that cannot raise a child. But that does not mean you as an individual are not capable of raising one: it means that you are being responsible for yourself and the future care of your child.
Whether it be at a Denver Adoption Agency or another city in Colorado, we will make sure to walk with you each step of the way in the Adoption Process.
Steps Needed For an Adoption
When you partner with Adoption Choices of Colorado, we’ll take you through the necessary steps of adoption, which include the following:
Planning finance assistance, selecting the different types of adoptions, and reviewing family profiles.
- Choosing an adopting family will be the next step of the process, and it’s important that when you are reviewing the available families, you are looking at what options will be right for your baby.
- Once you have chosen your adoptive family and are near giving birth, the next step in the Adoption Process will be a hospital plan. Think about who you want to be present at the hospital. Do you want to take pictures with your child and the adoptive family? Do you want visitors? Do you want to name your baby after you’ve given birth? These questions will be important to consider during the hospital plan.
- The final step in the process will be to plan a support plan. After you have given birth and the baby goes home with their new family, you will need to rest and take a moment for yourself. The Adoption Process is a long and extensive journey. You will need a few days to recover and reflect on everything that happened. Once you’ve done that – and if you feel that it’s the appropriate time – finding post-placement support is an important part that has a positive effect on your emotional health.
If you are Pregnant and Considering Adoption, you may want to contact Adoption Choices of Colorado immediately to start a plan.
Termination of the Pregnancy
Terminating a pregnancy is a sensitive topic to cover, and people are scared to consider it an option during an unwanted pregnancy. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe on November 3, 2020, people were left with options that they did not see fit their needs.
However, in 2022, Colorado enacted statutory protections for abortion as a fundamental right, meaning that anyone who resides in Colorado has access to abortion without facing legal consequences from out-of-state investigations. You can find more information about abortion in Colorado here.
Still Uncertain on How to Move Forward with Your Unplanned Pregnancy?
Your options are not limited, and at Adoption Choices of Colorado, we strive to take care of you and your child. We will provide you with professional counselors that share empathy in an unintended pregnancy.
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to learn more about your adoption options, contact Adoption Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!