Adoption in Alaska

My Unplanned Pregnancy in Alaska [3 Unplanned Pregnancy Options]


An unplanned pregnancy is a life-changing event, no matter how you choose to go forward. This guide will provide the information you need to make the best choice for your life.

You likely have many questions and a lot of uncertainty. Who will you tell and how? What is it like to carry a baby to term? Are you ready to be a parent? These are common questions and the overwhelm you may feel is completely normal. You are not alone.

There is support available to you in Alaska if you are facing an unplanned pregnancy. Professionals are available to help you think through your options and to determine the path that is right for you. If you are ready to talk to a counselor whose specialty is helping women through this situation, contact a professional today. Another option you have is to call an unplanned pregnancy hotline.

What to do When You Have an Unplanned Pregnancy in Alaska

If your life has come to a halt due to an unplanned pregnancy in Alaska, there is no easy answer. There are, however, professionals who will guide you through the considerations you should make with each choice that you have. There are three options available to women who are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy:

This guide will help you to understand what each of these choices looks like for women in Alaska and to help you determine what might be the right choice for you.

What is Adoption in Alaska?

If you choose adoption for your unplanned pregnancy, you will carry your baby to term but then transfer your parental rights to adoptive parents. You are in control of this process. The birth mother gets to choose the family for their child, the kind of relationship they want with the family, and much more. Often you will work with an agency that will offer unplanned pregnancy help and match your child to one of the countless families in Alaska who are hoping to adopt

Can I Meet My Baby’s Adoptive Parents?

Absolutely. This is perhaps the most important decision you get to make when you choose this option for unwanted pregnancy. With a licensed agency, you will not only get a chance to meet the adoptive parents but choose them from among a list of parents who match your needs and desires for your child. Here’s how it will work:

Contact the following Alaska adoption agencies to start your adoption journey:

How Do You “Give Up” a Baby for Adoption in Alaska?

“Giving up” a baby is a common way that you will hear people refer to adoption. We want you to know that nothing about adoption is “giving up.” Characterizing this option for unplanned pregnancy in this way does not give credit to the birth mother who is making the choice to:

If you choose adoption, an adoption specialist will guide you through these 6 basic steps:

  1. Decide on adoption. This is not an easy decision, and there is much to consider when facing an unplanned pregnancy in Alaska. Still, there are several benefits to choosing this unplanned pregnancy option that may help you to make the decision to pursue adoption.
  2. Create an adoption plan. After receiving the necessary unplanned pregnancy help in Alaska to feel confident in your adoption choice, you will begin working with an adoption specialist. With them, you will create an adoption plan that will outline your needs for your unique adoption process.
  3. Choose the perfect family for your baby. Next, you will gain access to profiles of adoptive families that match the qualities that you listed in your adoption plan. It is at this point that you will choose a family for your child.
  4. Begin a relationship with the adoptive family. Your initial contact with the adoptive family will likely be a mediated phone call with your adoption specialist. You can ask whatever questions you have at this point, and then you will continue in the relationship in whatever way that you are comfortable.
  5. Deliver your baby and sign adoption paperwork. Prior to delivery day, you will develop a hospital plan that will inform your adoption specialist, health care workers, and adoptive family of your needs on this day. They will follow these guidelines to make this day what you need it to be. In Alaska, adoption paperwork can be signed at any point after giving birth.
  6. Continue a relationship with your child and their adoptive family. Again, this is your choice. Most modern adoptions have a degree of openness to them, so an open adoption might interest you. You can also choose a semi-open adoption, or closed adoption. This decision will guide the relationship you will maintain with your baby’s adoptive parents.

Does Adoption Cost Money in Alaska?

Of your unplanned pregnancy options, adoption is the cheapest. There are no costs associated with this choice, and there are also opportunities for you to receive adoption financial support.

If you are working with a licensed agency, the adoption specialists that you work with will make sure that your pregnancy-related and adoption-related costs are covered. You will not pay for legal fees or for medical fees that are related to your pregnancy. Additionally, you could qualify for support with the following:

Is Adoption Right for Me?

Only you can answer this question, but you are not alone in this decision-making process. Birth mother specialists are experts in helping women like you consider your specific life circumstances and needs to determine what is best for you. If you are ready for this kind of guidance, you can call an Alaska unplanned pregnancy hotline to speak with a professional today.  

Sometimes a good way to judge whether adoption is right for you is to hear the reasons that other women have chosen adoption. Some common reasons are:

What is Abortion in Alaska?

Abortion is the termination of an unwanted pregnancy. There are several types of abortion – medical abortion, vacuum aspiration, dilation and evacuation, and induced labor. Of your unplanned pregnancy options in Alaska, abortion is the most controversial, and may not appeal to some women depending on their religious or moral beliefs.

What Restrictions are on Abortion in Alaska?

Alaska does not have any of the major types of restrictions that are enforced with this early pregnancy option in other states. There are no waiting periods, no mandated parental consent, and late-term abortions are lawful in Alaska. The only real limitation they have is that a woman must receive “state-directed counseling” that explicitly discourages her from getting an abortion.

The cost of an abortion varies and will depend on your insurance and what type of abortion you are accessing.

Who Provides Abortions in Alaska?

If you are considering this option for unplanned pregnancy in Alaska, you may also want to look into where the nearest clinics are to where you live. In 2017, about 86% of Alaska counties had no clinics that provided abortions. Additionally, some clinics only provide early abortion options.

What Risks are Involved in Abortion?

Abortion is considered safe and is a common procedure. For the last 40 years, it has been used as an unwanted pregnancy option. It is very rare that having an abortion could adversely affect your chance of becoming pregnant in the future. Of course, there are some side effects that you will want to keep in mind:

Another consideration must be the emotions that often come with the difficult decision to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. Women report feeling relief, sadness, elation, and depression. If you find that these emotions become more than just temporary or are intense enough that they are interrupting your life, you might consider reaching out for some post-abortion counseling.

Is Abortion Right for Me?

Abortion is the right choice for some women, but not all. After learning more about the procedure, you might be wondering “Is this the unplanned pregnancy option that is right for me?”

Common reasons that women in Alaska follow through with an abortion are:

If abortion is not appealing to you, you can consider alternative pregnancy options in Alaska.

What is Parenting in Alaska?

For most women who are facing an unintended pregnancy in Alaska, the ideal choice will be to parent their child. This means, of course, that they will carry their baby to term and raise the child. While surprise of an unplanned pregnancy may cause these women to consider other options for unplanned pregnancy, the initial shock wears off and they embrace the opportunity to raise a child.

Often, women who choose to parent feel that they have a support system and the stability necessary to raise a child. This is not always the case for women facing an unplanned pregnancy.

What are the Challenges of Being a Single Parent in Alaska?

Choosing to parent when facing an unplanned pregnancy is the most common choice that women make. Many times, an unplanned pregnancy is simply a matter of poor timing. When the initial shock of the pregnancy wears off, the choice to raise a child becomes very clear to some.

For other women, choosing to parent a child means choosing single parenthood, which can present challenges and obstacles that must be considered before selecting this option for unwanted pregnancy.

Some struggles that single parents in Alaska face are:

What Resources are Available to Single Parents in Alaska?

Becoming a parent can be an emotional challenge and a financial struggle. For both single parents and couples, raising a child can complicate every part of life. While it is extremely rewarding for most, it often requires that you surround yourself with friends and family who are supportive. In some cases, also, you may need to reach out for assistance from some organizations who are set up to help:

Is Parenting Right for Me?

Again, this is a decision that only you can make. You are not alone, and there are experts ready to help you make this decision, but only you can know what is right for you.

Parenting can be a beautiful experience, and for some women in Alaska, it is the preferred unplanned pregnancy option.  Some situations that lend themselves to this conclusion are:

You should not feel pressure from anyone to choose one unplanned pregnancy option over another. Licensed professionals have your best interests in mind and will help you to decide what works for you. These specialists will give you the empathy and support you need right now, and you can contact us today.

Ready to get started? Contact an adoption agency now to get free information.

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