Alternatives to abortion
What if someone doesn’t want to have an abortion – are there other options available?
The answer to this question is “Yes”, there are options available!
When a person is pregnant, they have three options/choices available – these are:
- Continue with the pregnancy and raise the child
- Continue with the pregnancy and consider the child being raised by adoptive or foster parents
- End the pregnancy with an abortion
Even though an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy can be scary, some women would not want to have an abortion – many people are strongly against abortion as they believe that every human being (including unborn embryos and babies) has the right to life and abortion destroys human life.
If a woman chooses to continue with the pregnancy and raise the child, there can be a great deal of financial support available – such as for housing, clothes, food, etc – in order to improve the mother’s situation and make it easier for her to have and keep the baby.
If a woman chooses to continue with the pregnancy and not raise the child herself, then the child may be raised by foster parents or adoptive parents instead.
Click on the buttons below to learn more about adoption and fostering.
Adoption
When a child is adopted, the child’s birth parents give up their rights and responsibilities towards the child and another person or couple become the child’s legal parent(s).
The adopted child lives with and usually takes on the surname of their new adoptive parent(s) – the adoptive parent(s) raise the child as their own.
Fostering
Fostering is similar to adoption, but it is a less permanent arrangement. This can be a good option if the mother doesn’t want to have an abortion, but also is unsure about adoption.
After the baby is born, the baby would be given to suitable foster parents for a period of up to six months. During this time, the foster parents are responsible for raising and caring for the baby. This period of foster care gives the mother a chance to adjust to the idea of being a parent and she can use this time to make any changes in her life to help prepare for parenthood – perhaps finding a different (more flexible) job, appropriate housing, financial support, etc.
While the baby is being cared for by the foster parents, the birth mother (and father, if appropriate) are welcome to visit the child and spend time with the child, so that they can bond as much as possible. It is hoped that, at the end of the period of foster care, that the baby will return to its birth parent(s).
If this can’t happen for any reason, then a longer-term adoption would become an option for the child.