Exploring Your Maryland Unplanned Pregnancy Options

Deciding between the unplanned pregnancy options in Maryland can be an incredibly stressful situation for a woman wondering how to handle her unexpected pregnancy. So, how does she choose the path that is right for her?

There are three pregnancy options available to any woman facing a Maryland unplanned pregnancy: parenting, abortion, or adoption. Choosing to parent can be incredibly rewarding; however, it is far from an easy task and is instead a lifelong commitment. Choosing abortion may seem like the fastest solution to a Maryland unwanted pregnancy, but the healing process can bring grief and require courage. Choosing adoption may seem like an impossible decision, but it can be the best-case scenario for many Maryland unplanned pregnancies. Whatever decision a woman makes regarding her pregnancy, it is her decision alone.

It can be very helpful for a woman facing this decision to seek out support when deciding what to do regarding an unexpected pregnancy in Maryland. Many crisis pregnancy centers, churches, and adoption agencies offer free pregnancy counseling. Whatever decision a woman makes regarding her unplanned pregnancy, it should bring a sense of peace with it.

Below, read more about how you can decide which Maryland pregnancy option is right for you.

What are My Options if I’m Pregnant in Maryland?

So, what are your options if you are pregnant in Maryland?

The answer is that you can choose to parent your child, abort the pregnancy, or place your baby up for adoption. How to decide whether to keep a baby in Maryland involves a different process for every woman facing an unplanned pregnancy. Everyone’s decision-making process is unique, as every woman faces different circumstances within her personal life.

While the decision is ultimately up to you, below, you can find a general overview of your three pregnancy options in Maryland: parenting, abortion, or adoption.

Option 1: Parenting

There are many factors that come into play when it comes to the question, “Am I ready to parent in Maryland?”

Some of the important things that you might consider include:

  • Financial status: Can you provide financially for your child now and in the future?
  • Maturity level: Are you prepared to take on the responsibility of parenting and all that it entails?
  • Mental health: Are you mentally in a place where you can handle taking care of a child and raising that child to age 18?
  • Physical environment: Can you provide for a child’s basic needs and necessities in a happy and healthy environment?
  • Personal support: Do you have supportive relationships in place that promote community and well-being regarding raising a child?

More specific factors may come into play when a woman deals with an unexpected pregnancy in Maryland. This might include her relationship with the birth father, the dynamics of her own family, her other support resources, and more.

If a woman decides that parenting is the right decision for herself and her baby, she may find that she needs additional resources. The Maryland Department of Human Services offers food, childcare, and parenting assistance. A local crisis pregnancy center can offer many different forms of assistance during unplanned pregnancies.  A local hospital can offer medical services for the duration of the pregnancy and labor and delivery.

Option 2: Abortion

Electing to have an abortion is also an option for an unwanted pregnancy in Maryland — within certain state restrictions. In Maryland, the parent of a minor must be notified before an abortion is provided, although health professionals are allowed to waive parental involvement in limited circumstances.

It is also important to note that every state has different limitations on how far into a pregnancy a woman can elect to have an abortion performed. In Maryland, a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy can have an abortion up until the point of viability. Viability occurs when, in a doctor’s best medical judgment, there is a reasonable likelihood of the fetus’ sustained survival outside the womb. Viability usually occurs around 20 weeks, but it is crucial that any woman considering an abortion consult with a medical professional to learn if abortion is an option for her.

While abortion may seem like a quick solution, there can be a long path for healing after the procedure. Fortunately, there are many churches, local organizations, and other resources that offer post-abortion counseling to help women in this situation. If you are a woman considering having an abortion, please speak with your medical professional to learn more about your options.

Option 3: Adoption

Your options if you are pregnant in Maryland always include adoption. Adoption is not an easy decision to make, but it can bring with it an invaluable sense of peace. Adoption is always free of charge to prospective birth mothers, and many women can qualify for financial assistance during the adoption process, depending upon their financial situations. A prospective birth mother remains in control of many aspect of her adoption, including when she will place her child with the adoptive family, who she will adopt her baby to, and what type of relationship she may or may not have with her child after placement.

While adoption offers many doors for creating a new life after having faced a Maryland unplanned pregnancy, it also requires that a birth mother walk a path of healing. There will be grief to face, but it will also bring great hope for the future.

If you are a woman wondering how to decide to keep a baby or not in Maryland, please fill out this contact form. Someone will reach out to you, offer you pregnancy counseling, and discuss your options for unplanned pregnancy in Maryland. Please remember that the decision for how to handle an unexpected pregnancy in Maryland will always belong to you alone.

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