Teen Pregnancy in Minors: Pregnant and Under 18
Experiencing an unplanned pregnancy as a teenager can be scary, but remember, you have options. At Adoption Choices of Missouri, we help young women like you make the best decision for you and your baby. An adoption is a great option if you are unsure of whether or not you would like to parent, and it can be mutually beneficial to you, your baby, and their adoptive parents.
Why Should I Choose Adoption as a Teen Birth Mother?
There are a number of reasons why birth mothers choose to give their baby up for adoption. Some of these reasons include but are not limited to
- Lack of financial resources
- Unsafe living environment
- Not ready to be a parent for economic or emotional reasons
- Wanting to give someone the gift of starting or expanding their own family
Whatever your reasons are for considering adoption, know that those reasons are valid.
How Can Adoption Choices of Missouri Help Me?
Adoption Choices of Missouri is a private adoption agency that specializes in Adoption in MO. We guide all of our birth mothers through the adoption process and ensure they are taken care of during and after pregnancy.
The first step of the adoption process is to contact us via phone or text. After you contact us, we will schedule an initial meeting with you. If you cannot come to us, we will come to you. You will complete any necessary paperwork at this meeting. Make sure to bring proof of pregnancy to this meeting.
Next, we will find you a prenatal doctor. We want to ensure that you and your baby receive the best medical care possible. It is imperative that you regularly attend your doctor’s appointments for your health and the health of your baby.
Once we ensure that you have adequate medical care, we will present you with prospective family profiles. You should be thinking about what kind of family you want to adopt your child and what kind of life you want him or her to lead. If you are unsatisfied with the initial profiles we provide you, we will provide you with more. We want you to feel comfortable picking an adoptive family so we do not rush you through the process.
The next step of the adoption process is to determine what kind of additional assistance you may need. Adoption Choices of Missouri offers financial assistance to all of its birth mothers. This financial assistance can pay for expenses like rent, food, transportation, phone service, and other maternity-related expenses. We do not want you to struggle during your pregnancy, so we offer this type of assistance. You should have to worry about your basic necessities during this difficult time in your life. You can receive financial assistance throughout the duration of your pregnancy and up to six weeks after you deliver your baby.
After we make sure that you have sufficient medical care, choose your child’s prospective adoptive family, and take care of your financial needs, it is then time to choose the type of adoption you would like. There are three main types of adoption: open, semi-open, and closed.
Open adoptions consist of open communication between you and the adoptive family. Both parties can exchange their contact information, including phone numbers, social media accounts, and emails. You will receive regular updates and photographs of your baby and be able to participate in annual visits with your child and their adoptive family. Your adoption specialist mediates Semi-open adoptions. All communication, photos, updates will be disseminated through your adoption specialist to you. There is no communication in a closed adoption. Closed adoptions are best if you value your privacy. The only information the adoptive family will receive about you is your medical history.
We also offer supportive counseling to all of our birth mothers. These sessions can be one-on-one, group, or a birth mother retreat. One-on-one counseling sessions allow you to express your feelings and concerns regarding adoption in a safe and secure environment. These sessions are 100% confidential and tailored to you and your needs. Group counseling sessions take place in a group setting and allow you to connect with other birth mothers. Birth mother retreats are similar to group counseling sessions, except that you get to retreat or go to a type of sanctuary, where you can remove yourself from your day-to-day life and really focus on your feelings surrounding adoption. These retreats foster a sense of community between you and the otter birth mothers.
Adoption Choices of Missouri is Here for You!
We know that being a teenager is hard enough without finding out you are unexpectedly pregnant. We do not judge at Adoption Choices of Missouri; we are only here to help. If you are a teen currently experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, do not hesitate to contact us. We will help you navigate every step of the adoption process. We have adoption agency offices all over the state. Contact Adoption Choices of Missouri today!
Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800
Meet the Author: Rayna Batiste is an alumna of the University of West Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. Having graduated with honors, she hopes to attend graduate school at New York University, majoring in Journalism. Rayna is also a United States Air Force veteran who enjoys watching documentaries about pretty much any subject, learning, and spending quality time with her family and friends. She is also a fitness enthusiast and an avid Peloton user.
Her hobbies include brunch (yes, brunch is a hobby), fashion, makeup, and of course, reading and writing. Rayna has a real passion for the written word and correct grammar and syntax. She enjoys manipulating sentence structure and experimenting with punctuation in her writing. She’s what you would call a “werd nerd.” She was also recently featured at the Pensacola Museum of Art for her work, entitled Triangular Geometry.
