13 and Pregnant – Help! Adoption in Arizona

Finding yourself unexpectedly pregnant can be a difficult situation for pretty much anyone, but it’s certainly more difficult when you’re only 13 years of age. Being pregnant at this age can be really stressful and scary. You’re probably worried about what you’ll do, as well as what others will think of you. 

As a very young birth mother who probably isn’t mentally equipped to deal with this situation on her own, you should know that it isn’t something you have to do alone. Adoption Choices of Arizona is here to help you with everything you need to know about what to do when you’re 13 and pregnant.

If you are a teen, pregnant, and need adoption help now, please call or text us at 1-480-900-5520 or visit us at Adoption Choices of Arizona.

Getting Help When You’re 13 and Pregnant

If you find yourself 13 and pregnant, the first step in working through this situation is getting help, and that starts at home. Telling a parent might seem to be an extremely difficult and intimidating task, but it’s important to remember that your parents support you as their child. Letting an adult know is crucial to setting up a concrete plan of action heading forward, and handling an unplanned pregnancy is something that requires a lot of support and resources. It is entirely possible that your parents will be upset with you, and this is something many girls around your age will have to worry about. But while your parents may be upset, they also want what’s best for you, and will certainly want to help you through this difficult time.

If speaking to your parents about your pregnancy seems impossible or too intimidating for the moment, consider if you have any other trusted adults in your life that could potentially help you. Another family member you are close with might be able to help you figure out how to break the news to your parents. Above all else, remember that you are only a child. While your family is still caring for you, you should value their input, especially in a situation like this. They want to help you, and will help you decide what’s best for your and your child in the future.

How to Handle an Unplanned Pregnancy at 13

When you are deciding on what to do in an unplanned pregnancy, there are traditionally three options you’ll have on the table. Assuming that raising your child traditionally isn’t an option because of your specific situation, you will have to decide between terminating the pregnancy or putting the child up for adoption using an adoption agency, like Adoption Choices of Arizona to help. Both of these are valid options, but you may have some reservations about both of them. Terminating the pregnancy may put a lot of emotional strain on you, especially at only 13 years old. If you feel that you aren’t comfortable going through with that option, then adoption is the best choice you can make both for yourself and for your child.

With an adoption agency like ours willing to give you all the resources you need to have a successful adoption process, you can feel a little safer knowing that we’ll be there for you. A lot of the legal issues and paperwork can seem overwhelming, but an adoption counselor from our agency will be there to help you sort through all of that and make sure what needs to be taken care of gets taken care of. We’ll also be there to help you find whatever financial assistance you might need, depending on your situation. This can range from transportation to medical expenses, all of which can be intimidating to someone with little to no experience in this part of the “adult” world. We will help you out however we can.

How Your Life Can Change at 13 and Pregnant

You will likely experience some major changes in your life, as an unplanned pregnancy can interrupt and interfere with many other aspects of your life. School and social functions might become a little less accessible to you, and your relationship with your family might change over time. What Adoption Choices of Arizona wants to do is help restore some sense of normalcy to your life by making the adoption process a lot less stressful.

While a lot of these changes might seem negative, the adoption process also may change your life for the better. You may grow closer with your family as a result of it, and offering your child a loving, compassionate new home will give them the best opportunity at a good life you could possibly give them. You might learn a lot about yourself in the process of handling your pregnancy at age 13, and that’s okay. We are here to help you grow as a person and as a birth mother, no matter your age.

For adoption resources or to begin your adoption journey, birth parents can visit us at Adoption Choices of Arizona or call or text us at 1-480-900-5520. If you are an prospective adoptive family hoping to adopt a baby, please instead, visit us here!

Meet the Author: Josh Drogemuller is a Senior at Grand Valley State University and has interests in writing and digital studies. A relative newcomer to the field of professional writing, Josh has spent the last eight years of his educational career honing his skills on the page. Josh is currently working towards a Bachelor of Science in Writing. 

Living in the Midwest, Josh looks forward to long baseball games and longer sentences.