I’m Pregnant and in A Bad Relationship, Can I Still Choose Adoption?
By Megan Kostraba
Facing an unplanned pregnancy while in a bad relationship can be a challenging and stressful situation. Many women struggle with knowing what to do in situations like these and look for guidance. The online world is full of information with recommendations and suggestions for pregnant women, but can easily become overwhelming!
Adoption is an option for every woman facing an unplanned pregnancy. Sometimes, for women currently in bad relationships, adoption is the best and only option. These birth mothers want to prevent their child from growing up in their current environment.
Adoption always stems from the unconditional love you have for your child. At Adoption Choices of Arizona, we understand. We’ve worked with women who come from all walks of life, including an abusive or harmful relationships. You might be looking for unplanned pregnancy help, and that is what we’re here for. Let’s discuss the concerns you may have when placing your baby for adoption and doing so in a bad relationship.
The Arizona Adoption Process
The adoption process is a very personal subject. The way you want your adoption to proceed is entirely up to you. When you work with an agency, you are our priority! Working with an agency means working with a community of people who understand your concerns and reasons. A lot of birth mothers begin the adoption process scared, unprepared, and unsure. That’s okay! Part of our job is to help you feel confident and comfortable with your adoption.
The first step of the adoption process begins with reaching out to an adoption agency in Arizona and meeting your adoption specialist. An adoption specialist is there to help you understand the steps you need to take during your adoption. They will lay out all your options, helping you decide if adoption is the right choice for you.
In your discussions with your specialist, you will choose what type of adoption is your preference. You can also choose who you want there for the childbirth, your hospital plan—the list goes on. You might find that during these meetings, there are a lot of decisions to make. This is all part of the self-reflection process, as you need to decide specifics when it comes to your adoption. With your specialist, you can also express your adoption concerns, wants, and wishes.
If you are someone in an abusive or bad relationship, you might wonder if you can even begin considering adoption for your child. There is a field of legalities you might be wondering about, but we can help clear this up.
Does Adoption Require the Birth Father’s Consent?
To begin, if you are in a harmful or life-threatening situation because of your partner, call the authorities immediately. Getting yourself out of a situation is the biggest priority. You need to put yourself and your child first and seek professional help if needed.
A birth father is the biological father of a child who has been or who will be adopted. When it comes to adoption permission and consent from the birth father, we can help you discover your options. Depending on the situation, we can determine the best course of action to proceed with your adoption plan. An unsupportive or uninvolved birth father will not stop your adoption from taking place and moving forward. We can discuss placing your baby up for adoption without consent from the birth father. Do not lose hope!
Adoption Agency Support for Birth Mothers
Our adoption agencies in Arizona can offer you a variety of services that can help you before, during, and even after your adoption. When you speak to your adoption specialists, you both can discuss potential services that you might want! For our birth mothers and birth families, we offer:
- Financial stability services
- Medical care for adoption
- Housing—a safe place to stay
- Legal services
- Supportive counseling
- Transportation
Something we recommend for all of our birth mothers is counseling, especially postpartum support. Your adoption might cause you to experience feelings of loss, grief, guilt, relief, and much more. It can be hard to navigate these feelings on your own! Especially when you’re facing or experiencing a bad relationship, extra support, and care might be something you need. This is why we offer counseling for all of our birth mothers. We want to help you move on after your adoption is over and prepare you for your next adventure in life. Expressing your feelings and understanding why you have those feelings is all a part of the adoption journey.
Choosing Adoption in Arizona
Adoption can be hard to face on your own. We want you to know that when you work with an agency, you don’t have to feel alone! We are here to offer you support and care as you face this challenging journey. Adoption is a wonderful option to choose for yourself and for a potential adoptive family. We can help you get there.
If you are considering adoption, or looking for guidance on your journey, reach out to one of our agencies in Arizona. We’ll take it one step at a time together.
