1. Most Adoptions Are Open
A 2012 survey by the Evan B. Donald Adoption Institute, reported in the Washington Times, surveyed over 4,400 domestic adoptions from over 100 agencies, and found that 95 percent of US infant adoptions are now open. Fifty-five percent of these were “fully disclosed,” with regular, face-to-face contact, and 40 percent were “mediated,” where contact is maintained through e-mails, letters, and photos, and only 5 percent were “closed,” where adoptive parents were not provided with information about the birth parents beyond medical data. While an open adoption allows birth parents to feel secure in their child’s happiness and well-being, it also provides the adoptee with a sense of certainty about their past and support for the future. Most birth mothers feel comfort and delight when they receive regular news of achievements at school or new friends made or are able to observe their child’s progress in person.

2. Most Adopted Kids Are Happy
A report in 2007 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services surveyed over 2,000 families that adopted children domestically, internationally, or from foster care. “Adoption USA” found that over 85 percent of adopted children are in excellent or good health, and were more likely to have health insurance than most American kids. They were also found to be more likely to read each day and be more involved in extracurricular activities than children in the general population. Many adoptive parents have been eager to create a family for years, and are bursting to shower their new child with the gifts and affection he or she needs to grow up healthy and well-adjusted.

3. There is Low Financial Stress
While the details vary from state to state, most adoptive parents can pay a birth mother’s reasonable medical, legal, and counseling services associated with the adoption. Living expenses could include rent, food, maternity clothing, and transportation during the adoption plan, and the birth mother can be reimbursed in most cases.

4. There are Resources and Hope
As with any pregnancy that does not end in parenting, birth mothers can experience emotions such as confusion and loss. There are countless counselors, books, podcasts, and support groups that can help you make peace with your past and embrace the future. Focusing on the advantages your child has in their new home, as well as your own goals and dreams that are facilitated by the adoption plan, will create a healthy path for you to navigate toward your destiny.

Are you considering adoption and want to give your child the best life possible? Let us help you find an adoptive family that you love. Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98.

The post Four Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Be Scared of Adoption appeared first on Teen Pregnancy | Facts, Rates, Stories, Help, Articles, Effects.

Compassion
Along with not letting your emotions about your friend’s pregnancy get in the way of being a good friend, you will need to exude a lot of compassion during their pregnancy. Compassion will mean remaining understanding and expressing empathy for your friend throughout their more trying times. They will likely have many people coming against them for getting pregnant so young. They may even lose some friends and family. Being compassionate of their situation despite everyone else will mean the world to your friend.

Support
In teen pregnancy, the pregnant mother will need all of the support they can muster. This will be especially true if your friend does not have the support of their family or other friends. This does not necessarily mean that you are supporting the idea of teen pregnancy, just that you are supporting your friend. Being a good friend during your friend’s pregnancy and supporting them may look different depending on the level at which your friend has others to support them. Supporting your friend may be as little as being there for her emotionally. It may also mean helping her find support services or help her make a plan for her pregnancy.

Journey With Her
Supporting your friend may also mean being her right hand through the pregnancy. If she is lacking any other support, she may need someone who can be there for her in a more involved way. While it is understandable that your friend’s pregnancy can not interrupt your life, making yourself available to the best of your ability will likely help your friend substantially. Pregnancy will be a long and arduous process. Going through pregnancy alone is scary if nothing else. Knowing that they have a shoulder to lean on and someone who will be there throughout the whole pregnancy can provide peace of mind to your friend when they feel alone in their pregnancy.

The post How To Help Your Friend Through Her Teen Pregnancy appeared first on Teen Pregnancy | Facts, Rates, Stories, Help, Articles, Effects.

• 273,105 babies were born to women ages 15 to 19 in 2013

• There were 26.5 births for every 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19 in 2013

• 89 percent of teenage parents are unmarried

• Approximately 77 percent of teenage pregnancies are unplanned

• It is estimated that 15 percent of teen pregnancies end in miscarriage

• Roughly 30 percent of teenage pregnancies end in abortion

• Parenthood is the leading reason that teen girls drop out of school. More than 50 percent of teen mothers never graduate from high school. While there are increasingly more programs to mitigate this, it is important to note that a lack of education can lead to a lifetime of poverty in families without support.

• About 25 percent of teen moms have a 2nd child within 24 months of their first baby. This is largely due to misconceptions about the ability to get pregnant right after having a baby.

• When it comes to college education, less than 2 percent of teen moms can earn degree by age 30.

• One of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the western industrialized world is found in the United States, largely, it is thought, due to false beliefs about conception, and a general lack of knowledge about sex and pregnancy in teens.

• In 2011, the teen birth rate in the United States fell to the lowest level recorded in nearly 70 years of tracking teen childbearing.

• In 2008, the teen pregnancy rate among African American and Hispanic teen girls, ages 15 to 19, was over two and a half times higher than the teen pregnancy rate among Caucasian teen girls of the same age group.

• 8 out of 10 teen dads don’t marry the mother of their child leaving the mother and/or grandparents to rear the child.

• Roughly 4 in 10 teenage girls who had sex at 13 or 14 report sex was unwanted or involuntary meaning either they were pressured into it by peers, or they were raped outright.

• A sexually active teen who doesn’t use contraceptives has a 90 percent chance of becoming pregnant within a year. Teens are often at the height of fertility and “just once” can be all it takes to end up with an unexpected pregnancy.

Are you considering placing a child for adoption? Not sure what to do next? First, know that you are not alone. Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98 to speak to one of our Options Counselors to get compassionate, nonjudgmental support. We are here to assist you in any way we can.

The post Teen Pregnancy Statistics appeared first on Teen Pregnancy | Facts, Rates, Stories, Help, Articles, Effects.

1. You don’t have to go through this experience alone.

Some adoptive parents will never experience the beauty of pregnancy and birth. And if given the chance, would be happy to join you on this journey. Adoptive parents will want to know how their future child is doing and might be willing to participate in appointments with you.

2. The life you carry within you is precious.

While you might feel your child is a burden, to another woman who can’t give birth, your child is heaven sent. Parents who adopt do so because they are ready for a child to join their lives. Because of this, they can offer the stability and comforts you might be struggling with. It might be difficult, but think about your child’s future. Will you be able to financially support a newborn baby? Do you need to finish school? Do you have adequate support from family, the baby’s father, and friends to help you through this experience?

2. The gift you give is invaluable to your child and the adoptive parents.

When a birth mother allows a couple to adopt her child, she is giving a gift of love that cannot be quantified. Adoptive parents will forever be grateful to you for fulfilling their lifelong dreams.

3. With open adoption you don’t lose a child, you gain a family.

Keeping your adoption open has a lot of benefits. The most important being the connection to your child and his or her overall well-being. In addition, you become a part of a new family as well. Although adoption is a permanent decision in which you surrender your parental rights to another family, discuss how an open adoption can be arranged and how much contact you can have. You might be surprised.

4. All of my adopted children’s birth mothers are happy with their decision to have their children adopted.

My husband and I adopted four children through foster care and have three different birth mothers. While they did not have 100% control over their situation, they ultimately decided not to meet requirements for their children to return home. Several years after the adoptions, we reconnected with each birth mom. Each one told us they were glad they made the choice they did regarding their child. They were happy to see how well their kids had turned out and happier still to be reconnected after several years.

Please take time to consider your options thoroughly.  Speak to adoption professionals about the process and utilize the services provided. It’s not an easy choice, but it may a choice for you to consider for you and your child.

Written by Gelana McCloud

Are you considering placing a child for adoption? Do you want more choices with your adoption plan? Do you want to regain more control in your life? Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98. We can help you put together an adoption plan that best meets your needs.

The post As An Adoptive Mom, I Want You To Know These 4 Things appeared first on Teen Pregnancy | Facts, Rates, Stories, Help, Articles, Effects.

When telling your parents you are pregnant, it is best to take the approach of ripping off the band aid. Find a time where each parent is in an even keeled mood and sit them down to tell them in a private place. If you need support, ask an adult whom you both trust, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. to be there as well for support. It may feel like it is the hardest thing you will ever do, but it is best to simply tell them, “I am pregnant.” You will have to deal with a lot of emotions. It is important to let them feel what they need to feel.

Written by Lita Jordan

Are you considering adoption and want to give your child the best life possible? Let us help you find an adoptive family that you love. Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98.

The post How To Tell Your Parents You’re Pregnant appeared first on Teen Pregnancy | Facts, Rates, Stories, Help, Articles, Effects.

Just what you feared: A “positive” result on your pregnancy test. But you think to yourself, “That’s not very positive.” You also think, “What am I going to tell my parents?” and “What I am going to tell my boyfriend?” The next thought may be, “What am I going to do now?” The negative feelings may be overwhelming. You feel like there is no hope. You can’t see past tomorrow. Abortion may cross your mind. But there are other options. There are other places to get help if you are a pregnant teen.

1)     Pregnancy Resource Centers

A Pregnancy Resource Center, also known as a Crisis Pregnancy Center, focuses on the pregnant teen as well as their unborn child. Some of their services may include: free pregnancy tests, parenting classes, pre-natal development classes, counseling, life coaching, and free supplies such as diapers, baby wipes, etc. These centers give you full information on what to expect in labor and delivery and beyond. These centers respect you as a person and will be there for you regardless of wheat you decide to do. They may even provide post-abortion counselling, if needed. Some centers have programs for dads as well. These centers perform these services free of charge. Click here for more information.

2)     Maternity Homes

A maternity home is a place a pregnant teen can go if they are at risk for homelessness or if they need a place to stay far away from their community where they will be loved, supported, cared for, and not judged. Maternity Homes, also known as Maternity Housing, may provide such things as: housing, support, pregnancy resources, addiction counseling, and spiritual counseling. Click here for more information.

3)     Mentoring and support services:

There are many resources for teen moms including:

Young Lives

T.O.P.S (Teen Outreach Pregnancy Services)

According to the TOPS website,

“TOPS is an Arizona non-profit organization that provides healthy pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting education and support to families of all ages …”

4)     Extended family

Have you ever thought about reaching out to a distant relative for help? A grandma, a grandpa, an aunt, uncle, cousin or even older sibling may offer help, guidance, and advice that you never dreamt of. Perhaps they went through a similar circumstance when they were your age. Perhaps they have experience on how to navigate these troubled waters. They may be able to take you in for a few months till you deliver. They may even be willing to adopt your child, should you choose to go down that road.

Lastly and perhaps, most controversial, have you considered… the father’s family? I know, I know, I know: there are many cases where you cannot or would not ever think of reaching out to that side of the family. But if you do have a good relationship with your boyfriend and if his family are good, upstanding citizens, what do you have to lose? After all, they may be able to provide a place for you to stay during tough times and may even care for your child on a short-term or long-term basis. This may also ensure that the father stays actively involved in his child’s life; the child is also his responsibility. His family is also extended family.

In any event, there are places to go when a teen has a crisis pregnancy. Think outside of the box! There is hope. There is not only one choice… there are a myriad of choices. Choose one that is right for you AND your baby.

Are you considering placing a child for adoption? Not sure what to do next? First, know that you are not alone. Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98 to speak to one of our Options Counselors to get compassionate, nonjudgmental support. We are here to assist you in any way we can.

The post 4 Places to Get Help When You’re A Pregnant Teen appeared first on Teen Pregnancy | Facts, Rates, Stories, Help, Articles, Effects.

I chose adoption because I was still a child

At 17, I didn’t have the coping skills to handle my own life, much less take care of another human being. I had so much to learn about how the world worked. I had just barely moved out on my own. I was moody and rebellious and immature. I didn’t know who I was yet. Admitting that maybe I didn’t know everything about the world was hard. But it wouldn’t have been fair to either of us had I tried to raise a child when I was still a child myself.

I chose adoption because I couldn’t provide the family I wanted her to have

My birth daughter’s biological father is quite a bit older than me. The relationship I had with him was not healthy, and marriage would not have been a safe idea. I wanted my little girl to have a mommy and daddy who loved each other. Had I parented, she would have been torn between her parents in a never-ending custody battle. She deserved more than that.

I chose adoption because I had goals

It’s hard to admit that placing my baby for adoption benefited me in some ways. I wanted to go to college and have a good job. I wanted to get married. I wanted to travel. Could I have reached these goals as a single parent? Probably. But it would have been a whole lot harder. The goals I want to accomplish will make me a good mom–someday. But as a teen, it wasn’t the right timing.

I chose adoption because I needed to take responsibility

One of my options was to move back in with my parents and have them help me raise the baby. That might have been okay. But I was the mom, and I felt that my parents raising my child would not have been the right thing to do in my case. My parents and I are very different in our viewpoints on parenting, and having them help me parent my child would have put a lot of strain on my relationship with them. That strain would have caused even more instability for my baby. Since I could not provide the emotional and financial stability that my child deserved, I needed to find someone who could.

Being a teen does not automatically make adoption the right choice. However, most teens need some more time to grow up before taking on the responsibility of parenting. Placing a baby for adoption does not mean you have failed. It does not mean you are irresponsible. It is your responsibility as a parent to take an objective look at your life, and decide whether you are in a place to raise a child at this time. You are the only one who can truly decide what is right for you and your baby.

Are you considering placing a child for adoption? Do you want more choices with your adoption plan? Do you want to regain more control in your life? Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98. We can help you put together an adoption plan that best meets your needs.

The post Why I Chose Adoption In My Teen Pregnancy appeared first on Teen Pregnancy | Facts, Rates, Stories, Help, Articles, Effects.

It Wasn’t Just A Teen Pregnancy

Yes, I was a teenager when I got pregnant. But what about her father? “Around two-thirds of the male partners of teenage females are older than age 20.” My baby’s father was 24 (that’s a seven year difference). My pregnancy wasn’t just a result of two dumb kids. It was the result of a relationship between a man and a young girl. I take full responsibility for my actions, I chose to enter the relationship, but I was still so young, and in some ways I feel taken advantage of.

2. I Am Not A Dropout

I had my baby in the middle of my first semester of college. I stayed in school, and am now getting close to my degree. I chose adoption, but even if I had parented, I could finish college. There would have been enough government resources to help me do that. Having a baby does not have to put a halt to your life. I am continuing my education to make her proud.

3. I’m Not Stupid or Irresponsible

Lots of teenagers have sex, and many of them have sex without birth control. Most of those kids don’t happen to get pregnant, but some of them do. Obviously, I should have been smarter. I should have insisted on using birth control, even if the man I was with was against it. But one irresponsible decision does not make me an entirely irresponsible individual. Other teens I know did use protection and still ended up pregnant. Contraception is not infallible, and failed contraception does not make them irresponsible.

4. I Am Not A Slut

I deal with the stereotype that girls who get knocked up must sleep around. This simply isn’t true. I had only been with this one guy, and I thought I was in love with him. I thought he was going to marry me, and we would live happily ever after. My child was not a result of a one night stand. She was a result of what I thought was a meaningful relationship.

5. I Can Still Be Successful

Being a teenager and pregnant makes things harder, but it does not make things impossible. I’m 20-years-old and a junior in college. I have good grades. I work three jobs. I’m making it. My little girl didn’t ruin my progress, she motivated me to make more. I got through my teen pregnancy, and I’ll get through everything else life throws my way.

Teen pregnancy is not something I recommend. It is difficult, but not impossible to get through. I had to grow up too fast. But now that I’m here, I wouldn’t change it. The love I have for my little girl and the strength I had to gain has given me the tools to have a happy, healthy adulthood.

Are you considering adoption and want to give your child the best life possible? Let us help you find an adoptive family that you love. Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98.

The post 5 Things I Want You To Know About My Teen Pregnancy appeared first on Teen Pregnancy | Facts, Rates, Stories, Help, Articles, Effects.