Dealing with an unplanned pregnancy in Florida can disrupt your life and create concerns about your future. Thankfully, you aren’t alone, and you have options for dealing with unplanned pregnancy in Florida.
If you’re facing unplanned pregnancies in Florida, you probably need answers to key questions before moving forward, such as:
- What unplanned pregnancy options in Florida are available?
- Where do you get unplanned pregnancy help in Florida?
- How do I access counseling for unplanned pregnancy in Florida?
- How do I move on with life following an unplanned pregnancy in Florida?
- And others
Please know you can depend on your adoption professional for resources, counseling, and advice if you’re dealing with an unplanned pregnancy in Florida. To speak to a professional, please complete this online form whenever you’re ready. For now, read below to learn about your options when dealing with unplanned pregnancy in Florida, and how to handle unplanned pregnancy in FL.
What Are My Unplanned Pregnancy Options in Florida?
You have three unplanned pregnancy options in Florida as an expectant birth mother who is facing a surprise pregnancy. Those unplanned pregnancy options in Florida include parenting, abortion, and adoption. Each birth mother’s experience is different, but you’ll always be in control of choosing the option that’s right for you.
Again, it’s wise to consult with a professional who can help you navigate your unplanned pregnancy in Florida. The choice is still yours to make, but talking your options through with someone may be helpful in understanding your potential paths forward. Below, we’ll cover the pros and cons of each option.
Parenting in Florida
If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy in Florida, one of your three options is parenting. For expectant birth mothers with existing families, parenting after unplanned pregnancy in Florida could simply represent the addition of a family member to the household.
Parenting isn’t realistic for every expectant mother facing an unplanned pregnancy in Florida, though. Many factors can make parenting less viable. Take time to consider the parenting option thoroughly before making your decision.
Taking responsibility for another person’s life can be a challenge under the best circumstances, but it’s even more difficult if you aren’t emotionally and financially prepared to parent. Even parents who planned their pregnancy sometimes struggle to adjust to their new role. If you’re dealing with an unplanned pregnancy in Florida, that stress may be compounded, so be sure to consider that when making your choice.
If parenting is your destiny, however, please know that even the best parents have doubts initially. That’s okay, so long as you explore your feelings before choosing to parent from the list of unplanned pregnancy options in Florida.
Parenting a child can be life-changing, but only you alone get to decide what’s best for you when dealing with an unplanned pregnancy in Florida. Below are a few agencies and programs offering support on your journey.
- Florida Department of Health and Family Services
- WIC
- Department of Health and Human Services Local Parenting Resources
- Postpartum Support International
- Singlemom.com
Abortion in Florida
Maybe parenting would be impossible or undesirable when dealing with an unplanned pregnancy in Florida. Your choice could be shaped by professional complications, emotional concerns, financial obstacles, medical risks, or other factors.
Fortunately, you have more options to consider when dealing with unwanted pregnancy in Florida.
One of those options is abortion. It’s a medical procedure intended to terminate unwanted pregnancy in a clinical setting. It’s an option for women who’ve become unexpectedly pregnant, but the rate of abortions in Florida and across the U.S. is declining.
The two types of abortion are elective and therapeutic. Elective abortions end an unplanned pregnancy in Florida for personal reasons. But if the expectant woman’s health is jeopardized by pregnancy and delivery, a therapeutic abortion can end the pregnancy to protect her.
Some states like Florida make choosing abortion to end an unplanned pregnancy in Florida more difficult through restrictive laws and regulations. Florida has several laws on the books intended to restrict the practice. In Florida, the following restrictions on abortion were in effect as of June 28, 2022:
- A patient must receive state-directed counseling that includes information designed to discourage the patient from having an abortion and then wait 24 hours before the procedure is provided. Counseling must be provided in person and must take place before the waiting period begins, which requires two trips to the facility.
- Health plans offered in the state’s health exchange under the Affordable Care Act can only cover abortion in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest unless individuals purchase an optional rider at an additional cost.
- The parent of a minor must be notified, and consent before an abortion is provided.
- Public funding is available for abortion only in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest.
- A patient must undergo an ultrasound before obtaining an abortion; the provider must offer the patient the option to view the image.
- An abortion may be performed at 24 or more weeks after the last menstrual period only in cases of life or health endangerment.
If abortion seems like the best way of dealing with an unplanned pregnancy in Florida, you can find a clinic or medical center that performs abortions near you. Finding a center isn’t usually hard, as there were 85 abortion providers in Florida in 2017, so you’re bound to find one near you.
All three options for dealing with an unwanted pregnancy in Florida have their emotional consequences, and abortion is no different. You get to select the option that will give you peace when processing your unplanned pregnancy in Florida but try to consider the emotional impact.
Adoption in Florida
Adoption is the third option if you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy in Florida. Maybe you don’t want a bigger family, or maybe you can’t pause your career to raise a child. It could be that you aren’t interested in parenting at all. Adoption gives you a path forward.
Through adoption, you can place your child in an adoptive home soon after their birth. When facing an unplanned pregnancy in Florida, you get to choose the perfect family for your child, and your adoption professional will be there throughout to help with your adoption plan and provide the support you need.
Placing a child for adoption is selfless and kind because it provides your child with a stable home and the support of a loving family. That’s why many women choose adoption from among their unplanned pregnancy options in Florida.
When you choose adoption, you get to remain in control of your experience from beginning to end. Every detail is up to you, including who will raise your child. Placing your child lets you enjoy the peace of knowing your child will be loved as you move forward from your unplanned pregnancy in Florida.
Deciding to partner with a national agency instead of a local agency means you’re more likely to find the perfect family in less time. With a national agency, you’ll be choosing from a pool of hundreds of parent profiles across the U.S. instead of just a few local ones.
Here are a few adoption agencies serving birth mothers in Florida:
- American Adoptions
- Beacon House Adoption Services
- Gift of Life Adoption
- Adoption By Shepherd Care
- Heart of Adoption
- Adoption Star of Florida
Open or semi-open adoption is also available to you, and you get to decide what kind of contact arrangement you prefer. Through open adoption, you get a chance to retain your bond with your child through continuing contact. Open adoption benefits the adoptee as well as mothers facing unplanned pregnancy in Florida.
You should also know that if you’re coping with an unplanned pregnancy in Florida, you may be eligible to get adoption financial assistance to help pay the costs of pregnancy and delivery. Florida law allows some expenses to be paid by hopeful adoptive parents, and your adoption professional can help get you the assistance you need.
You alone get to decide whether adoption is right for you when facing an unplanned pregnancy in Florida. Of course, there are challenges associated with adoption, but many expectant birth mothers decide it’s their best option.
Next Steps in Moving on from Your Unplanned Pregnancy in Florida
It’s understandable if you’ve learned you’re unexpectedly pregnant and you’re feeling overwhelmed. That’s a natural response. But please resist the urge to panic. Do your best to stay calm and consider your unplanned pregnancy options in Florida thoroughly.
You are in charge of your choice no matter what. Each expectant mother’s journey is unique, and you get to decide what’s right for you. Think about the pros and cons of the various unplanned pregnancy options in Florida and how they may impact your situation.
Also, please take the time to discuss your situation with an adoption professional. You can connect with one by completing our free online form.
