Radis Adoptions - Adoption Pregnancy Center: 2013

Friday, December 20, 2013

Teen Pregnancy: Where and Why?

Pregnant teenagers face many of the sameobstetrics issues as other women. There are, however, additional medical concerns for mothers aged under 15. For mothers aged 15–19, risks are associated more with socioeconomic factors than with the biological effects of age. However, research has shown risks of low birth weight,premature labor, anemia,
and preeclampsia are connected to the biological age itself, as it was observed in teen births even after controlling for other risk factors.In developed countries, teenage pregnancies are often associated with social issues, including lower educational levels, higher rates of poverty, and other poorer life outcomes in children of teenage mothers. Teenage pregnancy in developed countries is usually outside of marriage, and carries a social stigma in many communities and cultures.By contrast, teenage parents in developing countries are often married, and their
pregnancies welcomed by family and society. However, in these societies, early pregnancy may
combine with malnutrition and poor health care to cause medical problems. Worldwide, teenage pregnancy rates range from 143 per 1000 in some subSaharan
African

countries to 2.9 per 1000 in South Korea.In the United States, 82% of pregnancies in those
between 15 and 19 are unplanned. In Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States,
approximately 25% of 15 year olds and 50% of 17 year olds have had sex.

The latest data from the United States shows that the states with the highest teenage birthrate
are Mississippi, New Mexico and Arkansas while the states with the lowest teenage birthrate
are New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont.

Most teenage pregnancies in the developed world appear to be unplanned. In an attempt to
reverse the increasing numbers of teenage pregnancies, governments in many Western
countries have instituted sex education programs, the main objective of which is to reduce such
pregnancies and STDs. Countries with low levels of teenagers giving birth accept sexual
relationships among teenagers and provide comprehensive and balanced information about
sexuality.

For teens who choose to engage in sexual activity, the primary mode of preventing teen
pregnancy becomes correct use of contraceptives. In the U.S., one policy initiative that has been
used to increase rates of contraceptive use is Title X: Title X of the 1970 Public Health Service
act provides family planning services for those who do not qualify for Medicaid by distributing
"funding to a network of public, private, and nonprofit entities to provide services on a sliding
scale based on income."Studies indicate that, internationally, success in reducing teen
pregnancy rates is directly correlated with the kind of access that Title X provides: “What
appears crucial to success is that adolescents know where they can go to obtain information
and services, can get there easily and are assured of receiving confidential, nonjudgmental care,
and that these services and contraceptive supplies are free or cost very little.”
In addressing high rates of unplanned teen pregnancies, scholars agree that the problem must
be confronted from both the biological and cultural contexts.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

The Reality of Teen Pregnancy

Teen Mom (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How has something as culturally, socially, historically and scientifically profound as reproduction been reduced to a quirky plot line?

MTV and Teen Parenting on T.V.

It’s not just movies that have capitalized on the concept of human reproduction, however. In 2009 in an attempt to “focus less on silly hooks and more on young people proving themselves,” MTV broadcasted its first episode of 16 and Pregnant. Each episode of the show features a teenage girl, showcasing the tail end of her pregnancy, through birth, and into the beginnings of mother hood. With the success of 16 and Pregnant came the spin off Teen Mom, which included 4 reccurring teen mothers navigating their way through the trials and tribulations of parenting

But what’s the point? And most importantly, what are the real life implications of shows like 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom? Are these shows evoking educational conversations among their viewers, or are they, instead, simply fabricating entertainment by trivializing teen pregnancy?

Effects?

At first glance, and upon first airing, my hope would be that these shows could function as a locus of awareness and advocacy. Perhaps messages of safe sex, the utilization of contraception, and the reality of raising an infant at a time of self-discovery and uncertainty would be absorbed by MTV viewers’ collective consciousness. In fact, this hope seems to be realizing a form of reality as of late.
A study conducted by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy found that, after watching an episode of 16 and Pregnant, 92% of 162 young people from 18 different Boys and Girls Clubs of America agreed with the statement: “I learned that teen parenthood is harder than I imagined from these episodes.”

Along the same lines, Social Science Research Solutions conducted a national phone survey of 1,008 young people. Of these young people, 82% “think the show helps teens better understand the challenges of teen pregnancy and parenthood and how to avoid it,” and 76% say that in general, “that what they see in the media about sex, love, and relationships can be a good way to start conversations with adults.”

The Reality of “Celebrity” Teen Moms

Still, with the data clearly hashed out right in front of my nose, it’s hard to dispel the glorifying effect simply appearing on an MTV reality show can have. The four teen parents who appeared on Teen Mom are constantly gracing the covers of celebrity gossip magazines including US Weekly, OK!

Magazine, and People.

Who’s to say that, while teens are clearly seeing the adverse effects of unwanted pregnancy through watching MTV’s pregnancy reality shows, they aren’t also seeing the publicity, fame, and monetary benefits these profiled young women receive while participating in Teen Mom or 16 and Pregnant.

And are young women, then, looking to emulate those “teen moms” they watch on TV?
With the teen birth rate in the US the lowest it’s been in 70 years, according to new data published by the Center for Disease Control, perhaps Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant aren’t having the adverse effect one might assume. I can only wonder: have MTV’s publicized realities of unplanned teen pregnancy had any effect on the CDC’s numbers or the ways in which teens approach the subject of pregnancy?

It’s hard to make this assumption without situating teen pregnancy among the various social structures and institutions shaping the actions of the the US population today, yet one can still hope.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Why Adopt?: A View From the Other Side of Adoption

Adoptive parents come to the adoption decision for many different reasons. Some adopt because of infertility, and adoption is their alternative way to grow their family; others adopt in order to add to their family, to help a specific child, or for social justice reasons.

Infertility Issues

Parents who adopt because of infertility have already experienced loss and disappointment because of the inability to have a biological child. In addition, they may have dealt with repeated miscarriages or intrusive fertility treatments. It is only natural for adults to respond with grief to these losses, and they may also experience feelings of inadequacy ("why me?") and lack of control.

Regardless of the exact circumstances, couples and individuals who turn to adoption because of infertility may have already weathered an emotional roller coaster. For those who need help working through the grief of infertility, there are support groups and counselors who specialize in helping infertile couples and individuals. It's important to remember that both partners in a couple may not resolve their grief at the same pace, and arriving at the decision to adopt may come at a different time for each person.

Making the Decision

Families, couples, and individuals who decide to adopt should always go through a rigorous screening process that encourages self-reflection and consideration about their reasons for wanting to adopt as well as their expectations for the child and the parenthood experience. In approaching adoption, prospective adopters may want to consider their feelings about the following:

How will a new child fit into the parents' lives and their relationship?
How will a new child affect family dynamics--especially if the family already has children?
What changes are the parents willing to make to ease the child's transition?
How do the parents feel about "open" adoption, that is, contact with the child's birth family?
How do the parents feel about welcoming a child from the foster care system or an orphanage who may have experienced abuse or neglect?
In cases of transracial or transcultural adoption--how do the parents feel about accommodating, helping, and promoting the child's positive cultural and racial identity?
How will the parents inform family members and friends, and how they will deal with questions from family, friends, and strangers about adoption?
How will the parents answer their child's questions about adoption, the child's background and history, birth family, and the parents' reasons for adoption?
How willing and able are they to seek help for themselves or their child when necessary?

Monday, December 16, 2013

The Final Word on Abortion

My last two posts covered the emotional and physical risks associated with abortion. I would like to reiterate that these risks can be life threatening and can result in years of dealing with the aftermath of such a decision.

The pro-abortion Alan Guttmacher Institute estimates that approximately 40 percent of teenage abortions take place without parental involvement. As a result, these teens’ parents have no advance warning about the physical or emotional complications their children may experience. When the abortion causes subsequent emotional reactions that are not understood–such as depression, anger, and substance abuse–parents may react with anger and confusion, exacerbating the problems of the teen and her family.

The cost of such concealment can be dreadfully high. Both 16-year-old Erica Richardson of Maryland and 13-year-old Dawn Ravanell of New York died from complications after they had abortions without telling their parents. Sandra Kaiser, a 14-year-old St. Louis girl with a history of psychiatric problems, committed suicide three weeks after her half-sister took her for an abortion without telling Sandra’s mother.

Sadly, abortion advocates have continued to fight laws that could help prevent tragedies like these. Most recently, the pro-abortion lobby has vigorously opposed attempts in Congress to pass legislation that would make it a federal offense for anyone to evade a state’s parental notice laws by taking a teen for an abortion in another state that does not have such laws. This legislation wouldn’t prevent all teen abortions, but at least it would protect the rights of parents and their daughters.

Numerous studies have found that, compared to older women, younger women–especially adolescents–are at significantly higher risk of physical and psychological complications following abortion. But this information is not generally known by the public, and certainly not by the parents who pressure their daughters into abortions.

In many of these cases, the parents truly believe they are helping to protect their daughter’s future. They have no idea that they are subjecting her to a physical and psychological trauma that will forever scar her life. Nor will the abortion clinics, who have a vested interest in keeping the dangers of abortion secret, explain the full range of risks to teenagers, their parents, or–in the case of judicial bypass–the judges who stand in the place of the parents.

Abortion is fraught with dangers and risks, especially for younger women who are at greater risk of suffering both physical and psychological complications. The deceptive business practices of abortion clinics–which conceal these risks from these teenaged girls, their parents, and even judges–are nothing less than criminal.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Let's Get Physical: Effects of Abortion on Your Body

This is am image of a fetus about to be vacuum...

Along with the emotional and psychological risks to a teen who has an abortion, are the physical risks of abortion that should be considered before proceeding with the decision to terminate an unplanned pregnancy. It is common for young people to think that they are invincible; that because they are young, they are healthy enough to overcome any trauma to the body. That is not the case and, with abortion, there are possible complications that can arise. In serious instances, the ability to have any future children is taken away. These statistics should help answer questions you may have about the physical effects of abortion on young women.

Teenage abortion patients are up to twice as likely to experience cervical lacerations during abortion compared to older women. This increased risk is thought to be due to the fact that teens have smaller cervixes which are more difficult to dilate or grasp with instruments.

Teens are also at higher risk for post-abortion infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and endometritis (inflammation of the uterus), which may be caused either by the spread of an unrecognized sexually transmitted disease into the uterus during the abortion, or by micro-organisms on the surgical instruments which are inserted into the uterus. Researchers believe that teens may be more susceptible to infections because their bodies are not yet fully developed and do not produce pathogens that are found in the cervical mucus of older women and which can protect them from infection.

Other studies have shown that young women who have had PID previously or who have not had a previous full-term birth are more vulnerable to post-abortion infections. In addition, because teens are less likely than adults to take prescribed antibiotics or follow other regimens for the treatment of medical problems such as infection, they are at greater risk for infertility, hysterectomy, ectopic pregnancy and other serious complications.

Because teens are more likely to abort their first pregnancy, they face other risks as well.For instance, research has shown that an early full term birth can reduce a woman’s risk of breast cancer, but that induced abortion of a first pregnancy carries a 30 to 50 percent increased risk of breast cancer. In addition, aborting teens lose the protective effect of having a full-term pregnancy at a younger age, which reduces breast cancer risk.

Complications of Late-Term Abortions

The Centers for Disease Control has reported that 30 percent of teenage abortions occur at or after 13 weeks gestation, compared to only 12 percent of abortions overall.The high rate of late-term abortions among teens is a symptom of how they feel trapped into abortions that they cannot evade.

Women who undergo late-term abortions often delay having the abortion precisely because they have mixed feelings about the decision or feel less satisfied with it, they have religious or moral objections to abortion, or they have a more favorable attitude toward the unborn baby than women who have abortions in the first trimester. Greater ambivalence about abortion increases the likelihood that women will resist advice and pressure from others to abort for a longer period of time, hoping with each passing week that more support for keeping the baby will materialize.

In this regard, polls have consistently found that more teens have pro-life or anti-abortion attitudes than do older women, which may help to explain the much higher late-term abortion rate among teens. No doubt another factor is that teens are more likely to conceal their pregnancies, either out of shame or in an effort to avoid being pressured into an unwanted abortion. After all, many teens know well in advance that their parents or boyfriends will support only one choice: abortion. But teens who conceal their pregnancies are never truly safe from the pressure to abort. Since abortion is legal during all nine months of pregnancy, it’s never too late for parents or others to begin pressuring a girl into an abortion once her pregnancy is discovered or revealed.

Late-term abortions, and all of the factors related to ambivalence–such as delay, concealment of the pregnancy, and feeling pressured to abort–are significantly associated with more severe emotional and psychological problems after abortion. Teens who abort in the second and third trimester also face a greater risk of physical complications, including higher rates of endometritis, intrauterine adhesions, PID, cervical incompetence, subsequent miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies, rupture of the uterus and death. In addition, dilation and extraction abortions, frequently used in the second trimester, are associated with low birth weight in later pregnancies, which can cause various health and developmental problems for the baby, including cerebral palsy.

As you can see, there are numerous risks to abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Careful research and thought should be given to these facts before making a final decision about your unplanned pregnancy. You may not feel that these complications are very serious but, the questions remains: Can you live with it?

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Psychology of Abortion

About 20 percent of all abortions taking place in the U.S. today are performed on teens. Teenage abortion has been linked to a number of physical and psychological problems, including drug and alcohol abuse, suicide attempts and suicidal idealization,and other self-destructive behaviors.

Compared to women who abort at an older age, women who abort as teens are significantly more likely to report more severe emotional injuries related to their abortions.This finding is supported by the fact that women who aborted as teens participate in disproportionately large numbers in post-abortion counseling programs. In the WEBA study of post-abortive women, for example, more than 40 percent of the women had been teenagers at the time of their abortions.

The Psychological Risks

Compared to women who have abortions in adulthood, teens who abort:
Are two to four times more likely to commit suicide.
Are more likely to develop psychological problems.
Are more likely to have troubled relationships.
Are generally in need of more counseling and guidance regarding abortion.
Are nearly three times more likely to be admitted to mental health hospitals than women in general.

These statistics are something to consider when deciding on how to handle your unplanned pregnancy. Certainly, understanding that having an abortion could potentially impact you for years to come, if not for the rest of your life. In addition to the psychological effects you could suffer after having an abortion, many teens find themselves trying to fill that loss with additional pregnancies that often result in additional abortions. Take a look at these statistics.

Another study found that less than one fourth of teens were able to achieve a healthy psychological adaptive process after their abortions, and many continued to reenact their trauma through a cycle of repeat pregnancies and abortions.One study found that on average, 59 percent of teens who had experienced a pregnancy loss–generally due to induced abortion–become pregnant again within 15 months. In another study, 18 percent of teenage abortion patients had become pregnant again within two years.

Repeat pregnancies are often a symptom of young women “acting out” unresolved abortion issues and the desire to “replace” the lost pregnancy with another child. Unfortunately, “replacement babies” are often aborted because the woman faces the same pressures as she did the first time, and sometimes even more. For example, a New York City study found that teens who had one previous abortion were four times more likely to abort their current pregnancy than girls experiencing their first pregnancy.Another study of teen abortion in Los Angeles found that 38 percent of the teens had undergone an earlier abortion and 18 percent had undergone two abortions in the same year.

Sometimes a teen who has been especially traumatized will choose abortion as a form of self-punishment or as an unconscious attempt to resolve her trauma by continually repeating it. In other cases, she may be hoping to continue her pregnancy but will feel pressured by her parents or partner to submit to an abortion as “what is best for everyone.” In one heart-wrenching example, a teenage girl reported that she was forced by her mother to abort four times before she was finally able to insist on keeping her fifth baby.

I think it is obvious that abortion has quite the psychological effect on most pregnant teens who decide to terminate a pregnancy. The question is: Can you live with that?

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Teen Pregnancy Statistics

pregnancy test (Photo credit: Konstantin Lazorkin)

How many teen girls in the U.S. get pregnant each year?

Nearly one million teen girls get pregnant each year. Nearly four out of 10 young women
get pregnant at least once before they turn 20. Each year the federal government alone
spends about $40 billion to help families that began with a teenage birth.

But aren't the teen pregnancy and birth rates declining?

Yes, but they are still too high. The overall U.S. teenage pregnancy rate declined 19
percent in 1997 from its all time high in 1991 (the most recent year available), from 117
pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15-19 to 94.3 per 1,000. The national teen birth rate
declined 5 percent between 1998 and 2000, reaching a rate of 48.5 births per 1,000
women ages 15-19 - the lowest rate ever recorded. Since 1991, the teen birth rate has
declined 22 percent.

Does the U.S. have a higher teen pregnancy rate than other countries?

Yes, by a long shot. Although rates here are declining, the U.S. has the highest rates of
teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion in the industrialized world. In fact, the U.S. teen
pregnancy and birth rates are nearly double Canada's, at least four times those of France
and Germany, and more than eight times that of Japan.

Isn't everyone having sex?

No. Fewer than one-half of high-school students have had sex.

So, does that mean more kids think it's "cool" to be a virgin?

Teens are showing signs of being more conservative sexually. Close to six in ten teens
(58 percent) surveyed recently said sexual activity for high school-age teens is not
acceptable, even if precautions are taken against pregnancy and sexually transmitted
diseases. In fact, the vast majority of teens (87 percent) surveyed said they do not think
it is embarrassing for teens to admit they are virgins.

Do teens have a general opinion about whether their peers should be sexually
active?

In a recent poll, nearly eight of ten teens surveyed (78 percent) agreed that teens should
not be sexually active. However, the majority of teens (54 percent) said teens who are
sexually active should have access to birth control.

Are younger teen girls more sexually active than they used to be?

While teen sexual activity is down among most teens, it has risen among girls younger
than 15.10 In 1995 (the most recent year for which data is available) almost one-fifth (19
percent) of teen girls reported they had sex before age 15. And, the younger teen girls
are when they first have sex, the more likely they are to report that sex was unwanted or
non-voluntary.

Are teen guys more sexually active than they were in the past?

The percentage of unmarried teen guys aged 17-19 that reported having sex dropped from
75.5 percent in 1988 to 68.2 percent in 1995.

Do teens who have had sex wish they had waited?

Most do. In a recent poll, 63 percent of teens who have had sexual intercourse said they
wish they had waited. More than one-half of teen boys (55 percent) and nearly three of
four teen girls (72 percent) surveyed said they wish they had waited longer to have sex.
Sixty-four percent of teens also said the advice they'd give a younger sibling or friend
would be: "Don't have sex until you're at least out of high school, but, if you do, be sure
to protect yourself against pregnancy and STDs."

Can you get pregnant if you use birth control?

Yes. Even if used perfectly, all methods of birth control have a failure rate, ranging from
0.05 percent for Norplant to 9 percent for the sponge and calendar rhythm.The only
way to make 100-percent sure that you won't get pregnant or get someone pregnant is to
not have sex. The next best thing is to use birth control correctly every time you have sex.
Many sexually-active teens don't use protection at all or use it inconsistently or
incorrectly.

Are sexually active teens using birth control?

More teens are now using contraception the first time they have sex, but are less likely
than in previous years to use contraception the most recent time they've had sex.
Moreover, thirty-one percent of girls were completely unprotected the last time they had
sex, and one-third of sexually active teens who do use contraception use it
inconsistently.

Why don't teens use birth control every time?

In a recent poll, teen boys (49.3 percent) and teen girls (54.2 percent) agree that pressure
from their partners is one of the main reasons teens fail to use birth control. Alcohol
and drugs can also play a role. Many young women say that they used alcohol - or were
even drunk - when they first had sex. And many of these same young women say that
they were so drunk that they were unable to use birth control (especially condoms)
properly at the time. In one study of unplanned pregnancies in 14-21 year olds, 1/3 of the
girls who had gotten pregnant had been drinking when they had sex; 91% of them
reported that the sex was unplanned.

You can't get pregnant the first time, right?

Wrong. Teen girls can get pregnant the first time they have sex, and every time after that.
A couple that doesn't use birth control has an 85 percent chance of pregnancy within one
year.

Do most teens who choose to raise the child get married when they find out they're
pregnant?

In 1960, only 15 percent of teen births were to unmarried teens. In 2000, 79 percent of
teen births were to unmarried teens.

Aren't there a lot of teen girls who want to get pregnant?

The majority of pregnancies to 15- to 19-year-olds - 78 percent - are not planned.

Do the teen girls who get pregnant keep their babies?

Just over one-half of all pregnancies to teens aged 19 or younger end in births. Thirty
percent of teen pregnancies end in abortion and 14 percent end in miscarriage. Of those
teens that give birth, most keep their children. According to a 1995 survey, only 1 percent
of all single women choose adoption.

What happens to teen mothers?

Less than one-third of teen mothers complete high school. Many teen mothers go on to
have more children - about one-fourth of teen mothers have a second child within 24
months of the first birth. A 2004 study shows that almost one-third of all teen mothers
and one-half of unmarried teen mothers go on welfare within the first year of the birth of
their first child. Within five years after the birth of their first child, almost one-half of all
teen mothers and over three-quarters of unmarried teen mothers began receiving
welfare.

What happens to the children of teen moms?

Children of teen mothers are more likely to be born prematurely and at low birth weight,
which raises the chances of blindness, deafness, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and
other disabilities. Children of teen mothers are 50 percent more likely to repeat a grade.
They also perform much worse on standardized tests and ultimately they are less likely to
complete high school than children of mothers who waited to have a baby. The
daughters of teen mothers are 22 percent more likely to become teen mothers themselves.
The sons of teen mothers are 13 percent more likely to end up in prison.

Who are the fathers, and where are they now?

Nearly 40 percent of the fathers of children born to teen mothers are age 20 or older.
Only 20 percent of the fathers marry the teen mothers of their first children. On average,
the remaining 80 percent pay less than $800 annually for child support.

Where can I find out about teen pregnancy rates in my state?

Check out this link: www.teenpregnancy.org/america/states/

You'll find all kinds of interesting information about your state, including teen pregnancy
and birth rates, changes in pregnancy and birth rates over the past several years, and
racial and ethnic breakdowns of the numbers.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Teen Parenting

Teen parenting is hard, so if you're thinking of having a child, make sure you understand the
responsibilities and sacrifices involved. Becoming a parent while you're still a teenager will have
educational, financial, social, physical, and emotional costs. Having a baby is the biggest
responsibility any person can have in life. You are now responsible not only for yourself but for a
tiny, helpless infant. Here are some factors to consider when thinking of teenage parenthood.

Loss of Education:

Babies take so much time and with the high cost of daycare, it often means giving up your
classes in order to care for your child. Most young mothers never return to school once they
have been absent for a long period of time. The standard maternity leave is six weeks, though
few return after that. That's a lot of classwork and tests to miss, not to mention the difficulty of
trying to study with a newborn.

Talk to teens who are parents and ask about their lives. Do their realities match your dreams for
your future? What support do they have, and what support will you have?

Financial Strain:

Babies cost a lot of money. With an incomplete education, it will be difficult to get a job that pays
enough to support a single teen mom and her baby. Who will watch the child while you work?
Will you have any financial help from the baby's father or his family? Is he able to work? These
are very important questions to ask yourself before taking on the role of a teen parent.

Loss of Social Life:

Here, one teen shares her story of how being a teen mom for only a weekend helped her to
realize that she wouldn't be ready for a long time.

http://sexetc.org/infocenter/post/teenparentforaweekend/

Unplanned pregnancy is one thing, but deciding to become teen parents is something that will
change your life in ways you probably haven't considered. Think carefully and remember that it
isn't just your future that you're planning.

Choosing Adoption For an Unplanned Pregnancy: What are the Benefits?

Français : Adoption Days (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While open adoption works for many pregnant teens when it comes to deciding the future for yourself and your baby, some young mothers still decide to do a closed adoption. A closed adoption is where the birth mother does not stay involved in the child’s life once the adoptive parents have obtained custody. There is no involvement at all between the adoptive parents and the birth parents. The birth mother does not choose the family that will raise the child. No identifying information is exchanged and they two sides never meet.

This may sound very cold and too formal to some, but there are reasons why a young pregnant woman might choose an open adoption over a closed adoption.

The closed adoption experience can vary depending on individual circumstances. Potential advantages of closed adoption include:

Sense of closure- Some birthmothers and birth families report that having a closed adoption provided a sense of closure enabling them to move on with their lives.
Privacy- For people who feel threatened and vulnerable by their decision to place a child for adoption, a closed adoption can offer greater privacy.
Reduced fear- For birthmothers with concerns about explaining their decision to others, a closed adoption can offer a way to avoid confrontation.

In addition to the benefits that it can provide to the birth parents, the birth child may also experience positive results as well. These benefits are something to be considered when thinking about what is best for the child.

Absence of fuzzy boundaries- Eliminates the risk of complications that can arise from birth parent interference or co-parenting concerns.
Protection from unstable birth families- Offers the adopted child protection from unstable or emotionally disturbed birth parents or birth family members.

Choosing adoption is a difficult decision; choosing whether to do an open adoption or a closed adoption is a little harder. Hopefully, these potential benefits are helpful in aiding you as you plan a future for yourself and your child that is going to be successful for a lifetime.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Adoption Books

Reading (process) (Photo credits: www.mysafetylabels.com)

There is a saying that I have heard throughout my life that has stayed with me. The saying is: Rich people have libraries, poor people have big TVs.

Now, this is in no way a derogatory remark towards those who struggle financially, but it is a testament to the power of knowledge and the importance of being educated about the things that are happening to you and around you. You can never be too prepared for anything, whether it is prior to entering into a sexual relationship, after realizing you have become pregnant, or trying to decide what your options are as a pregnant teen.

I have compiled a list of books that I would like to recommend if you are a teen anywhere in the United States facing the temptation of having sex, facing unplanned pregnancy, or wondering about your options, this literature can provide you with information to help you find your way.

This is not your mother’s book! It is a real look at teen sex and what you need to know:

http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Teens-Uncensored-Guide-Safety/dp/0981973329/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1386179716&sr=8-4&keywords=books+about+teen+pregnancy

This book is going to answer those confusing questions you have about your body and your heart:

http://www.amazon.com/Teen-Guide-Relationships-Jess-Scott/dp/1477411429/ref=pd_sim_b_5

Here is a complete guide for all things unplanned pregnancy:

http://www.amazon.com/Unplanned-Pregnancy-Teens-College-Students/dp/0974783234/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386180002&sr=1-1&keywords=teen+pregnancy+books

A true story of one young girl’s life turned upside down by teen pregnancy and much more!

http://www.amazon.com/Back-Prince-Charming-pregnancy-healing-ebook/dp/B00CPTTA64/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386180119&sr=1-5&keywords=teen+pregnancy+books

If you are looking for answers to the tough questions regarding abortion, this is the book for you

http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Life-Answers-Pro-Choice-Arguments-Expanded/dp/1576737519/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386180406&sr=1-7&keywords=books+about+abortion

It is recognized that those who take an active involvement in reading have “higher GPA’s, higher intelligence, and general knowledge than those [who] don’t.” (Stansberry). Reading is an indulgence that enhances our knowledge by making us use our brain and causing us to think more and therefore enhancing our intelligence. Since books help improve both memory and concentration, one can say that reading makes it easier to study a subject and retain the knowledge received from the subject, thus directly making someone more knowledgeable. Dr. Anne E. Cunningham, of the University of California Berkeley, has shown through studies that reading enhances analytical thinking, “Readers improve their general knowledge, and more importantly are able to spot patterns quicker.” (Stansberry). If one can spot patterns at a faster rate, then analytical skills are enhanced by speed. Books are used nearly every day in schools to teach difficult subjects, there is a reason why schools of all grades assign a variety of textbooks. This is because books hold a variety of information within their pages, of all subjects. Brian Tracy, a self-help author, has said that “one way to become an expert in your chosen field is to read 100 books on the subject.” (Isaac). To some, this may seem preposterous but the matter of fact is that different authors know different kinds of knowledge, and by exposing oneself to a large variety of books and absorbing their information with understanding, one can easily become an expert in a chosen subject.

It’s your life. Shouldn’t you be as much of an expert as possible?

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Adoption: Research the Love

Interracial adoption (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Teen pregnancy is often discouraging, confusing, and filled with difficult choices. The desire to keep your baby and do your best is tempting for a lot of young pregnant girls. Unfortunately, age, circumstances, financial distress, and many other factors make it nearly impossible to do so successfully. We encourage adoption because it allows you the opportunity to have the future you had planned before the unplanned occurred. It also gives you the chance to be a part of your child’s life if you want and see him grow into a well cared for individual who is loved and given opportunities that wouldn’t have been available to him as the child of a single teenaged mother. I would encourage you to research not only adoption as a process, but to also read some adoption stories and see how wonderful the experience can be for both sides involved. There are hundreds of beautiful adoption stories available to you online and it is obvious that adoptive parents have a very special and close bond with the birth mothers who choose them to be parents to their children. These testimonies can go a long way in easing your mind about how adoption can be and why it may be the right choice for you.

To help you get started, I wanted to share a short story that I came across recently. It is a simple and sweet letter about the adoption of her son and the decision change that the birth mother experienced, which resulted in a beautiful family being created.

You can read this inspiring story here:

http://www.standupgirl.com/sisterhood/letters/dear-becky/5093-the-love-behind-adoption.html

Friday, December 20, 2013

Related articles

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Related articles

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Related articles

Monday, December 16, 2013

Related articles

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Related articles

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Related articles

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Related articles

Monday, December 9, 2013

Related articles

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Related articles

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Related articles