In search of a pregnancy counseling hotline? Call 1-800-ADOPTION now for free information and support.

Seeing a positive sign appear on that little drugstore home pregnancy test can take your breath away — and not always in a good way. Becoming pregnant will change your entire life, regardless of whether you were planning it or what you choose to do as a result. In minutes, it can feel like your entire world has changed. And really, that’s because it has.

It’s a big event, and it can come hand in hand with some heavy emotions. For this reason, we highly recommend taking advantage of pregnancy counseling. You have a lot to process, and it can be invaluable to have someone help you work through everything you’re thinking and feeling.

What is Options Counseling for Pregnancy?

If you’ve been researching your unplanned pregnancy, you’ve likely come across the term “options counseling.” Pregnancy options counseling is just what it sounds like:  counseling that helps you explore all of your unplanned pregnancy options (adoption, abortion and parenting) and your feelings about each of them.

Ultimately, the goal of options counseling for pregnancy is to help women determine how they want to move forward with their unplanned pregnancy.  The best options counseling for pregnancy is unbiased and supportive; options counselors should not attempt to sway a woman’s decision, but help her come to her own decision that she feels good about.

Unplanned Pregnancy Counseling at American Adoptions

At American Adoptions, we’re passionate about making sure every woman has access to counseling during pregnancy — whether she ultimately chooses to pursue adoption or not. We also know these concerns don’t just magically stay contained to traditional business hours. You are pregnant round-the-clock, and that’s why we have a 24-hour unplanned pregnancy hotline. You can call our unplanned pregnancy options hotline at 1-800-ADOPTION at any time, for free and with no obligation to make an adoption plan.

If you want to talk about your pregnancy options, counseling can help you to work through your thoughts surrounding the following subjects and more.

• Your unplanned pregnancy options. Every woman ultimately has three: parenting, abortion or adoption. You and you alone are qualified to make the ultimate decision for your baby, but that doesn’t mean you’re completely alone in the process. There’s a lot to talk about, no matter which of the options you’re considering. For example, if you’re thinking about parenting, you may need help tackling the financial part of the equation. Raising a child isn’t cheap, but a pregnancy counselor can help connect you with information about financial resources to help should you choose to parent. And of course, we are always more than happy to talk with you about pursuing adoption for your baby while providing crisis pregnancy counseling and resources.

• Feelings about “giving up” on your baby. It’s not uncommon for women to worry that they’re “giving up” on their babies by choosing adoption, and that’s partially because of popular adoption language. While people may refer to it as “giving a baby up for adoption,” in no way, shape or form are you giving up on your child. A pregnancy counseling helpline can help you to understand just how much you are actually giving your child by choosing adoption.

• Communicating your decision to family and friends. If you’re thinking about adoption, you may be wondering how to tell your family members and friends. It’s normal to be concerned about their reactions, and through counseling for pregnancy and adoption, you can learn how to have healthy discussions with those closest to you — and how to clearly communicate that this is your decision, and anyone close to you should be supportive. Sometimes, it can even be helpful to begin counseling during pregnancy before you tell those closest to you about the pregnancy; a neutral professional may help you to work through your feelings before you have to address the opinions of those around you.

• How to choose an adoptive family. At American Adoptions, you get to choose your child’s adoptive parents. It’s extremely important, because this ensures that you can help to build the life you imagine for your child. However, it can also be stressful. Who are the perfect adoptive parents? What family best matches your goals for your child? How will you know when you’ve found the right couple? Pregnancy counseling can help you to determine not only what you are searching for in the ideal adoptive family, but how to work on developing a relationship with that family when you do find them.

• Whether or not adoption is really right for you. Some women do find that, after undergoing pregnancy options counseling, adoption isn’t necessarily the right path for them. And that is completely okay. At American Adoptions, we never want to persuade anyone to stick with a certain unplanned pregnancy option. If adoption is right for you and your baby, you’ll know. If it’s not, you’ll know that, too. It’s our job to help you come to a decision you feel comfortable with, whatever that may be.

Even if you know the answers to all of the above questions — or if you’ve already made your decision and formed an adoption plan — unplanned pregnancy counseling can still be helpful. Sometimes it’s enough just to have a friendly, understanding ear to listen when you’re working through uncomfortable thoughts and emotions in the middle of the night — and that’s what we’re here for.

American Adoptions offers counseling for pregnant women 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at absolutely no cost to you — whether you choose adoption for your baby or not. When you call our unplanned pregnancy helpline, you’ll never talk to an answering machine; instead, you’ll be connected to a licensed professional for the unbiased options counseling and support you need. This professional will be able to talk you through all of your options, not just adoption, and support you in doing whatever you think is best for your baby. Using our options counseling services never commits you to the adoption process.

If you do decide to move forward with adoption, you will be connected with your own dedicated adoption specialist, who will continue to provide 24-hour pregnancy support and guidance throughout the process.

It is always an option to call the American Adoptions pregnancy counseling hotline. To speak with an adoption specialist, all you have to do is dial our unplanned pregnancy options hotline at 1-800-ADOPTION.

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