If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy in Oklahoma, you are likely feeling like your choices are narrowing and your life is becoming overwhelming. You are not alone – professionals are available to help you navigate your next steps, whatever they may be. If you are wondering what to do when you have an unplanned pregnancy, you are in the right place.

Your unplanned pregnancy options in Oklahoma are:

• Adoption
• Parenting
• Abortion

Maybe you are leaning toward one of these, and just want to make sure that you are making the choice that is right for you. Maybe you have no idea what your preference is, and you need to have the choices explained in an objective, informative way. Either way, this guide will help you to envision what it would be like to make each choice and direct you to some helpful resources for further assistance.

If you are ready to speak to someone about your unplanned pregnancy options, there is free professional support available to you in Oklahoma. Contact a professional today or call an unplanned pregnancy hotline for guidance.

What is Adoption in Oklahoma?

Adoption is the unplanned pregnancy choice to carry your pregnancy to term and to sign final adoption paperwork that indicates your voluntary consent to transfer your parental rights to adoptive parents. If you choose open adoption, you will have the opportunity to continue a loving relationship with them – in whatever way you would like this to look. If you want privacy and anonymity, you might choose a closed adoption. Either way, you get to choose the perfect family for your child.

Adoption professionals advocate for open adoption because it is widely understood as beneficial to all members of the adoption triad: birth mother, adoptee, and adoptive family. If you are intrigued by adoption, but do not want to cut all ties with your child, an adoption specialist will help you to develop an adoption plan that allows you to maintain a relationship with them.

In fact, agencies offer the birth mother a lot. With the right professionals, you will receive:

• Unplanned pregnancy help
• Guidance as you develop your adoption plan
• Help finding families in Oklahoma who want to adopt
• Legal counsel
• Financial assistance

Do I Get to Choose My Baby’s Adoptive Parents?

When you choose adoption, you get to choose your baby’s adoptive parents. This unplanned pregnancy option puts you front and center, and you get to determine the way that things play out. You oversee every decision and will have an adoption specialist who will support for you throughout the entire adoption process.

Choosing an adoptive family for your child is likely one of the most important decisions to you because it has such a significant impact on your baby’s life.  When you partner with an agency, they will assist you in your search for the perfect family for your child.

Here is how it works:

• You will develop an adoption plan with you adoption specialist that will list the qualities of the ideal family for your baby.
• You will receive a list of family profiles that match your needs and preferences.
• You will review them, think through your choices, and then select the family that is best for your child.
• You will begin to communicate with your baby’s adoptive and determine what you want your relationship to be like now and throughout your baby’s childhood.

If you are ready to begin this process, contact one of the following Oklahoma adoption agencies:

• American Adoptions
• Lilyfield
• Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption
• Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma

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

Choosing to place a baby for adoption is a brave and generous choice that birth mothers make from a place of deep love for their child. While the phrase “giving up” a child of adoption is commonplace, we want you to know that adoption is absolutely not “giving up.” With this option for unplanned pregnancy comes many benefits:

• You can give your baby the life you envision for them,
• You can fulfill the hopes of a waiting adoptive family, and
• You can choose to continue a pregnancy for the sake of your child.

When you choose adoption, your adoption specialist will guide you through these 6 basic steps:

1. Determine that adoption is right for you. There are many benefits that come when you choose this unplanned pregnancy option. When it is right for your situation, it can be a rewarding and beautiful choice.
2. Create an adoption plan. The first step in an adoption is to create an adoption plan with a professional. They will guide you through each choice and help you to understand the implications of each. Then this document will follow you through your adoption process and direct others who come alongside you to make it the experience you need.   
3. Choose the perfect family for your child. You adoption specialist will give you access to profiles of adoptive families who they think you will connect with. You will then take time with them, have conversation with families who stick out to you, and finally select an adoptive family for your baby.
4. Start your relationship with the adoptive family. You get to choose what kind of relationship you are comfortable having with the adoptive family: open, semi-open, or closed. These interactions can begin as soon as you choose the family that is best for your child.
5. Deliver your baby and sign final adoption paperwork. Delivery day will be when your hospital plan goes into effect. This will ensure that you have the experience you want at the hospital. In Oklahoma, you can sign final adoption paperwork any time after your baby is born.
6. Continue a relationship with your child. If you have chosen an open adoption, you will maintain a relationship with the adoptive family in the way that you outline in your adoption agreement. For many women, this relationship is meaningful and long-lasting.  

Does Adoption Cost Money in Oklahoma?

No. Adoption does not cost a birth mother anything.

Of the three unplanned pregnancy options in Oklahoma, adoption is the least expensive because it is free. There are no hidden costs associated with adoption. In fact, many women who choose to place a baby for adoption qualify to receive adoption financial support.

When you are partnered with a licensed agency, your pregnancy-related medical fees and legal costs will be covered for you. The services of the adoption agency will be free also.

Potentially, you could also be eligible for financial assistance for:

• Rent and utilities
• Groceries
• Transportation
• Cell Phone and Data
• Childcare for minors in your custody

Is Adoption Right for Me?

Adoption is a beautiful unplanned pregnancy option. It is a rewarding experience for many women. Still, it is not the right choice for every woman.  One way to evaluate whether adoption is the right choice for you is to hear the reasons why other women have chosen this unplanned pregnancy choice.

Some common reasons are:

• Her circumstances don’t allow her to offer the life she wants for her child. It is common for a woman to experience an unplanned pregnancy and (through no fault of her own) be in a situation that is not ideal for parenting. Adoption gives them the chance to provide their child with experiences that they are unable to offer at the time.
• She is aware that there are couples who want to adopt a child. Oklahoma has countless hopeful adoptive families who would be overjoyed by the gift of a child. The choice to put your baby up for adoption is a generous act of love, and it can be life-changing for couples who cannot grow their family another way.
• She wants to continue contact with her child. In most modern adoptions, the birth mother chooses to stay in contact with her child after placement. Perhaps you are not ready to parent a child, but you want to still be a part of their life. Open adoption could be the alternative pregnancy option that is best for you.

If you feel ready for some guidance from an adoption professional, you can dial a Oklahoma unplanned pregnancy hotline to speak with a professional today.

What is Abortion in Oklahoma?

Abortion is a procedure – either medical or surgical – that terminates an unwanted pregnancy. In 2017, about 862,000 abortions were performed, and the women who accessed them represented a diverse cross-section of the population.

Abortion is the most controversial of the unplanned pregnancy options in Oklahoma, and the laws around it are constantly being challenged. Access to the procedure depends on where you live, and the legislation that is passed in your state.

What Restrictions are on Abortion in Oklahoma?

If you are considering abortion, keep in mind that it is an early pregnancy option. It can only be performed in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy in Oklahoma except for in cases where the woman’s physical health is severely compromised. Besides this limitation, there are many other restrictions you will want to consider as you make your unplanned pregnancy choice.

Some of these restrictions are as follows:

• A patient must participate in state-directed counseling at least 72 hours before the abortion. The expressed goal of this requirement is to dissuade you from this alternate pregnancy option in Oklahoma.
• Funding for abortion in Oklahoma is not easy to come by, and it is rarely covered by insurance. Expenses associated with an abortion depend greatly upon your circumstances, but they can often be between $300 and $1500.
• If a patient is a minor, they must have consent from their parents before an abortion is provided.
• A patient must undergo an ultrasound before the procedure.
• About 96% of Oklahoma counties had no clinics that provided abortions. 

What Risks are Involved in Abortion?

Abortion is a relatively safe procedure that has been used as an unwanted pregnancy option for 40 years. While there are some side effects, there is also a lot of misinformation that claims it poses more risk than it does. Very rarely does it leave long-lasting effects on a woman’s body or reduce the chance of becoming pregnant in the future.

Some common side effects are:

• Cramps
• Spotting or bleeding
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
• Difficult and conflicting emotions

Is Abortion Right for Me?

If you have moral or religious convictions related to abortion, you may not be seriously considering it. Similarly, if the people in your support system have strong opinions against the procedure, you may be looking to other unplanned pregnancy options. But if abortion is an viable option for you, it might help you to read some of the common reasons why women choose abortion:

• They do not want to experience pregnancy. Pregnancy is hard on a woman’s body, and a woman has the right to decide when and if she wants to have this experience.
• They require privacy. For some women, revealing an unplanned pregnancy could jeopardize their safety or the safety of their children. A woman has the right to terminate a pregnancy to protect herself and others.
• They cannot afford to delay their education or career. Pregnancy can flip a woman’s world upside down and compromise opportunities they have. A woman has the right to choose her aspirations, independence, or financial stability over a pregnancy

If abortion is not the right choice for you, you can consider alternative pregnancy options in Oklahoma.

What is Parenting in Oklahoma?

Of the unplanned pregnancy options in Oklahoma, the one that most women choose is parenting. For a great percentage of women who experience an unintended pregnancy, they go through an initial period of shock, but eventually conclude that parenting is right for them.

Many women, with some reasonable adjustments to their lifestyle or budget, are able to see a way that they can offer their child the life that they want for them. These women often have strong networks of support, stability in their living situations, and possibly some social services that help them to make ends meet.

Of course, this is not always the case for women facing an unplanned pregnancy.

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

For some – but of course not all – the decision to parent a baby is a decision to become a single parent. Raising a child on your own can present some challenges that you will want to consider before choosing this option for unwanted pregnancy in Oklahoma.

Some of these obstacles are:

• Creating a workable budget with one income
• Building a network of support with people who can offer the help you need
• Paying for childcare for your baby
• Finding the time to care of yourself

Fortunately, there are some organizations that focus on single parents. If you choose the unplanned pregnancy option of parenting, the following services could be of interest to you:

• WIC
• Local Social Services
• Postpartum Support International

Is Parenting Right for Me?

Parenting is a rewarding decision, and the relationship you have with your child is like no other. Of course, a parent’s experience raising children depends greatly upon their circumstances. If you are struggling to know what the right decision is for you, there are unplanned pregnancy resources available to you. You are not alone. Reach out to an expert to help you with this decision.

Some circumstances that make parenting an easier decision for an expectant mother to make are:

• They are able to support their family with their current income. When a woman sees a way to support her child financially, this unplanned pregnancy option is much more attractive. 
• They can provide their child with stability. When a woman’s career, relationships, and living situation is stable, her decision to raise her child can be easier.
• They want kids at some point in their life. For a woman who has always pictured herself having children of her own, it might make more sense to her to carry her unplanned pregnancy to term and to parent her child.

Licensed professionals can help you to make the right decision for you. Adoption specialists offer the empathy and expertise that you need right now, and you can contact us today to get connected with a helpful professional.