Chauniece, who was shocked to find out that she was facing an unplanned pregnancy, said:

“Immediately after being hit with the facts, my heart sank. In that moment, all I could do was cry and panic. I had a lot of thoughts going through my head, trying to figure out what I was going to do with my unborn daughter.”

Chauniece’s situation is not uncommon, In fact, in Kansas, 45% of Kansas pregnancies were described as unplanned by the pregnant women in 2010.

If you are facing an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, no matter the circumstances around it, you are likely feeling a bit of this same panic and looking for a support system. An unwanted pregnancy can feel like an invasion, a burden, and sometimes can be traumatic. We created this guide to help.

Know that you are not alone, and there are professionals who can help guide you in this uncertain time in your life. You have options.

What to do When You Have an Unplanned Pregnancy in Kansas

There are three options for unwanted pregnancies. Each of them has its complications, and there is no single right answer to the question “What do I do when facing an unplanned pregnancy?” While there is a lot of unplanned pregnancy support available to you, only you can determine the right path for you and your baby.

1. Adoption
2. Abortion
3. Parenting

What is Adoption?

With adoption, a woman with an unplanned pregnancy carries her baby to term and chooses an adoptive family for her child. She transfers parental rights, and the adoptive couple raises the baby as their own. There are countless families who are waiting for an adoption opportunity. Choosing adoption is a generous, admirable choice, and can fulfill a dream for a couple waiting to adopt.

Can I Meet My Baby’s Adoptive Parents?

Yes. Not only can you meet them, but you will even choose them. Some women have someone in mind for their baby, but if you don’t, you can find adoptive parents by working with an adoption agency. They will help you to create an adoption plan with details about the sort of family you want for your child, and then they will match you with couples waiting to adopt.

You will be given family profiles to review, and when you are ready, you will be able to meet them. You will continue communication throughout your unplanned pregnancy in Kansas, and if it is your preference to have an open adoption, you can even arrange regular meetings and contact throughout your baby’s life. Of course, you can also have a semi-open or closed adoption if you would rather. This is a personal decision that is up to you. 

To begin your search for an adoptive family, you can contact the following Kansas adoption agencies:

• American Adoptions
• Adoption & Beyond
• Zoe’s House
• Beacon House Adoptions
• Joseph Adoption Ministry

National adoption agencies often have a large catalog of couples wanting to adopt and therefore can present you with dozens or even hundreds of family profiles from across the country. Local agencies will offer you a handful of profiles of couples in your region.

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

First of all, “giving up a baby for adoption” is not giving up. The choice to place a baby in adoption is a brave and extremely generous act, and the language around it does not always uphold the dignity of the decision.

There are six steps to putting a child up for adoption:

1. Decide you want to pursue adoption for your baby. Women who choose adoption after an unplanned pregnancy have many reasons that guide their decision, and there are several benefits they enjoy after making their choice. You will want to make sure that adoption is confirmed as the early pregnancy option you want to pursue.
2. Create an adoption plan with an adoption professional. Reaching out for unplanned pregnancy help to an agency will be your next step in the adoption process. An adoption specialist will help you to think through each step of the adoption and create a plan based on your needs and desires that will guide the rest of your adoption journey.
3. Select the perfect family for your baby. Again, your adoption specialist will provide you with family profiles for you to review. You will get to select the family, and if you change your mind as you get to know them, you have the right to change course.
4. Develop a relationship with the adoptive family. Your first contact with your chosen adoptive family will likely be a phone conversation mediated by an adoption professional. From there, you can choose how to best get to know them based on your comfort level and needs.
5. Give birth and sign adoption paperwork. Prior to delivering your baby, you will create a hospital plan that will outline your preferences during your hospital stay. Adoption specialists, health care workers, and the adoptive family will follow this to make sure that your experience goes the way you want it to.
6. Continue the relationship that you want with your child and their adoptive family. You will have the choice to establish an open adoption, a semi-open adoption, or closed adoption. Your contact with your child and their adoptive parents will depend upon the type of adoption you choose.

Does Adoption Cost Money in Kansas?

No, adoption does not cost a prospective birth mother anything. In fact, it is the cheapest option for unplanned pregnancy.

You may even qualify to receive adoption financial support from an agency or hopeful adoptive family. Credible and licensed agencies will make sure that you are given the support you need during this time, including making an unplanned pregnancy hotline available and covering the costs associated with the adoption.

Is Adoption Right for Me?

Again, it may be helpful as you determine the right choice to hear the reasons why many women choose this unplanned pregnancy option:

• They are unable to provide the life they want to for their child. Birth mothers choose adoption out of love for their child. They choose adoption so that their child can be given greater opportunities than they can offer.
• They want to gift an adoptive family with a baby. There are thousands of couples dealing with infertility for whom adoption is their only choice to grow a family.
• They want a continued relationship with their child. Modern adoptions offer the birth mother a chance to have ongoing communication with the adoptive family. She can watch her child grow up, know how her child is doing, and stay in communication with the family.

What is Abortion?

Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy that requires either medical or surgical intervention. Of the unplanned pregnancy options available to women, abortion is the most controversial. In Kansas, abortion is not typically performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy, so this option is the most time sensitive. If you are considering terminating your pregnancy, you will want to receive objective, accurate information as soon as possible.

What Restrictions are on Abortion in Kansas?

If you decide that abortion is the best choice for you, it would benefit you to familiarize yourself with the restrictions on Kansas abortion, which include:

• An abortion can only be performed at 22 weeks after a patient’s last menstrual cycle except for in cases of severely compromised physical health.
• A patient must receive state-approved counseling 24 hours before the procedure. This counseling is designed to discourage her from having an abortion.
• Unless a patient needs an abortion because her life is in danger or she has purchased an optional rider that includes abortion, the procedure will not be covered by private insurance policies. An abortion will cost you between $300 and $900.
• If a patient is a minor, they must have the consent of their parents before an abortion can be administered.
• A patient must have an ultrasound completed before an abortion is provided.

Who Provides Abortions in Kansas?

If you are considering this unplanned pregnancy option, you may also want to consider the accessibility of medical centers. Only 4 facilities provide abortion in Kansas:

• Center for Women’s Health – Overland Park, KS
• Planned Parenhood Comprehensive Health Center – Overland Park, KS
• Trust Women South Wind Center for Women’s Health – Wichita
• Wichita Health Center – Wichita

What Risks are Involved in Abortion?

Abortion is a generally safe procedure and does not affect your chance of becoming pregnant in the future. However, there are some side effects that you should be aware of:

• Cramps
• Spotting or bleeding
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting

There is also a toll that abortion can take on women emotionally. It is not an easy decision to terminate an unwanted pregnancy in Kansas, and a woman can be left feeling a range of emotions after the procedure: relief, sadness, elation, or depression. Most women find that these feelings do not last very long, but if you are struggling after an abortion, there post-abortion counseling resources available to you. 

Is Abortion Right for Me?

A good place to start when trying to determine if abortion is right for you is to consider some of the reasons that other women have chosen abortion:

• They do not want to experience pregnancy. Pregnancy and delivery can be hard on a woman’s body and emotions. Some women even have risk factors that exacerbate the typical toll that it can take. Every woman has the right to decide if they want to put themselves through this experience.
• They want to uphold their privacy. For some women, revealing their unplanned pregnancy could place them in a tumultuous or even dangerous situation. A woman who chooses abortion can avoid announcing or explaining their pregnancy.
• They do not want to put their education or career on hold. A pregnancy can disrupt important and pressing pursuits. A woman has the right to choose when or if she wants this disruption in her life.

Of course, there are reasons that abortion may not be the best choice for you, namely if it conflicts with your values. In this case, you will want to consider alternative pregnancy options.

What is Parenting?

A great percentage of women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy have the desire to parent. In many cases, the timing was just not expected. The shock of pregnancy in this case may wear off soon, and transition to enthusiasm toward or at least interest in parenting.

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

For many women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, choosing to parent will mean that they are choosing to raise their child as a single parent. While this can be an exciting journey, you will also face some obstacles, such as:

• One Income
• Finding Support
• Childcare
• Carving out time for yourself

What Resources are Available to Single Parents in Kansas?

Parenting is a challenge emotionally, financially, and practically. Fortunately, there are resources available to you if you decide this is the right path for your unplanned pregnancy. Contact the following organizations for assistance:

• WIC
• Local Social Services
• Postpartum Support International

Is Parenting Right for Me?

There are many reasons that women choose parenting over the other two unplanned pregnancy options and reading some of them may help you determine if this is the route for you. Some reasons are:

• They can support a family. While the financial strain of having kids can be challenging for most people, mothers who choose to parent are confident they can support a child with reasonable adjustments.
• They can provide the home life that they want for their child. For some women, raising a child in her current situation is not tenable, which excludes parenting as an unplanned pregnancy option.
• Having children was a part of their life plan. Some women who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy never planned on being mothers, but others choose to parent because they have always seen themselves having kids.

Only you can decide which of these options is best for you, but you are not alone. There are professionals who can offer you the empathy and support you need right now. If you’d like to be connected with one of these helpful professionals, you can contact us today.