The Information Pregnant Teenagers Can Use to Get Help Now
If you’re a teen experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, you likely feel many emotions.
You didn’t want to get pregnant, and now you have to figure out what to do.
Although you may feel alone, we’re here to tell you that there is help for pregnant teenagers you can access right now. There are multiple resources for pregnant teenagers that can help you make the best decision for your circumstances.
Here are five trusted resources for pregnant teenagers that you could consider to help you figure out how you want to handle your unplanned pregnancy:
- Counseling for pregnant teenagers
- Local health clinics
- Teenage adoption agencies
- Maternity homes for pregnant teenagers
- Trusted family members and friends
If you’ve already decided that adoption is right for your situation, you can reach out to us today to find out how to get the process started. But, if you still want to check out more resources for pregnant teens who are “giving up their baby” for adoption, continue reading.
1. Counseling for Pregnant Teenagers
Although you may not feel like talking to anyone about your situation, we want to stress how important it is to reach out to a professional to get unbiased information.
Licensed counselors will give helpful, nonjudgmental advice for a pregnant teenager like you.
Counselors typically can help you by:
- Witnessing the stress you are feeling
- Giving you unbiased information about your unplanned pregnancy options (adoption, parenting, and abortion)
- Giving you conversational tools to help you discuss your pregnancy with your family members and the birth father
- Providing support if you do not have a safe support system
The following are a few unplanned pregnancy counseling resources you can consider reaching out to:
- Hotlines: 1-800-ADOPTION is a trusted unplanned pregnancy hotline. Although it’s primarily an adoption hotline for teens to use, the adoption specialists who answer the helpline will provide unbiased information about all unplanned pregnancy options, including parenting and abortion.
- Abortion and pregnancy health clinics: Planned Parenthood is a nationwide health clinic that can provide unbiased information about pregnancy and abortion.
- Parenting organizations: If you think that parenting is right for you, you can contact the National Parent Helpline to find out how you can become the best parent possible.
If you start talking to a counselor and feel like they are trying to persuade you to make a specific decision about your pregnancy, hang up or walk out and contact another counselor. No one – including counselors, your parents, or the birth father – should ever tell you what to do with your body or how to handle your pregnancy.
2. Teenage Adoption Agencies
If you’re considering placing your baby for adoption, you may wonder if there are specific adoption agencies for teens. Thankfully, any adoption agency can help a teenager place a baby for adoption.
The following are the kinds of adoption agencies you can reach out to:
Regional or Local Adoption Agency
You typically can physically travel to these adoption agencies. This means you can meet your adoption specialist in person. Local agencies can be great because of this in-person connection. However, there are some drawbacks — the most important one being that local agencies work with fewer adoptive families at once.
Why does that matter? Well, when you choose adoption, you get to choose the parents you think will be best for your baby. With fewer choices, you may not find a family you really believe in. That’s why many women in your situation go with the second option.
National Adoption Agency
Although you may not meet your adoption specialist in person, national adoption agencies typically have access to more resources and work with more hopeful adoptive families. For example, American Adoptions, a national adoption agency, provides the prospective birth mothers they work with 24/7 support and they give women dozens (or even hundreds) of families to choose from.
In general, teens can expect the adoption process to have the following steps:
Step 1: Connect With an Adoption Specialist
An adoption specialist will help guide you through every step of the adoption process. You can even contact your adoption specialist after giving birth if you need assistance.
Step 2: Create an Adoption Plan
Your adoption specialist will help you create your adoption plan. Your adoption plan determines everything you want to happen during your adoption, including:
- The type of assistance you need: You never have to pay for the adoption. On top of that, your medical expenses, adoption legal fees, and adoption counseling, you also can get additional financial assistance. Some common expenses you can get covered are relocation fees (and rent and utilities) if you need to leave an unsafe home environment, food expenses, and more.
- What type of adoption you prefer: You can choose to have an open adoption, a semi-open adoption, or closed adoption. The adoption type you choose is based on how much contact you want to have with the hopeful adoptive family and your child.
- Your birth plan: This includes where you want to give birth, who you want present at your birth, and more.
- The ideal adoptive family: You always get to choose the hopeful adoptive family you think is best for your baby.
- And more
Step 3: Meet the Adoptive Family
If you choose to have an open or semi-open adoption, you may choose to meet with the hopeful adoptive family once or several times before the adoption. Your support system can come with you for these meetings if you prefer.
Step 4: Post-Placement Support and Counseling
After you give birth and your baby goes home with the adoptive family, you continue to get post-placement support and counseling. Your adoption specialist will ensure you have everything you need to continue on your life’s journey.
3. Local Health Clinics for Pregnant Teenagers
If you are asking yourself the question, “Where can a pregnant teenager go for help?” one answer is a local health clinic. Local health clinics typically can provide free or lower-cost healthcare to people in your community.
Local health clinics can help you:
- Confirm your pregnancy
- Explain your unplanned pregnancy options based on how far along you are in your pregnancy
- Connect you with local hospitals where you can deliver your child
You can find reputable local clinics by searching online and checking patient reviews. Although every clinic will get a bad review every so often, trustworthy clinics will typically have positive reviews that include personal stories.
4. Maternity Homes for Pregnant Teenagers
Not every teenager has a good relationship with their parents. If you’re in a situation where you fear you may be forced to leave your home if you tell your parents you’re pregnant, you may be able to relocate to a maternity home for pregnant teenagers.
While you don’t have to pay money to stay in a maternity home, you may have to meet specific requirements or be subject to pregnancy counseling and religious beliefs you may disagree with. But, some homes for pregnant teenage mothers can provide teens with a positive living environment.
If you find a maternity home that fits your needs, you may benefit from:
- Living with teens that are going through what you’re going through
- Having access to an on-site doctor as well as additional resources that can help you get back on your feet after your pregnancy
5. Trusted Family Members and Friends
Although you may feel nervous about telling your family or friends about your unplanned pregnancy, these people could prove to be your long-term support network. Most family members and friends want what’s best for you, and although they may be surprised when you share your news, they only want what’s best for you.
Where can a Pregnant Teen Go for Help?
If you’re a teen experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, you can reach out to any of the five resources for pregnant teenagers listed here. You can also contact us today to be connected with an adoption specialist.
Remember: You are not alone and should never feel ashamed about your unplanned pregnancy. You can always reach out to a professional – or a loved one – for help who can provide unbiased information to help you make the right decision for your situation.
