Unplanned pregnancy is difficult on its own, but when you are only 15 years old, it is much harder. We understand why you’re feeling scared right now. Although things may feel hopeless, we’re here to tell you that there are options available to you. You are not alone.

What are those options, exactly? That’s what we’re here to explain to you.

If you would like to get more free information now, then you can fill out our online contact form whenever you feel ready. In the meantime, though, we have created this informative guide that outlines your three options when you are pregnant at 15. Without further ado, here is what you need to know.

15 and Pregnant [Help Is Always Available]

Being 15 and pregnant is a stressful situation to be in, and you may be wondering what you can do right now. From a general standpoint, you have three unplanned pregnancy options: parenting, abortion and adoption. How do you choose among these options, though? We’ll go into detail about each of these paths below.

Remember, this decision is up to you. If you need some help, though, then unplanned pregnancy counseling is always available to you whenever you may need it. No one should have to go through this alone. Still, we have outlined your three unplanned pregnancy options and the benefits and disadvantages of each choice:

Should I Keep My Baby? I’m 15 [Choosing Parenting]

As a pregnant 15-year-old, your mind may make the automatic jump to parenthood when you weigh your options. Although raising a child can be a fulfilling, rewarding experience, you will also need to think about the phase of life you’re in right now.

First of all, parenting is a time-consuming, emotional effort. Because you are 15 and pregnant, you are likely in high school and have academic responsibilities and extracurricular activities. You may not have the time to constantly clean dirty diapers, experience sleepless nights and tend to a baby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Aside from the significant time commitment, parenting is expensive. You are still a legal minor, which means you can’t have a full-time job to financially support a baby. This means that your parents would have to chip in, but, depending on their financial situation, they might not be able to afford to raise a baby right now.

In other words, if you are considering parenting, speak with your family members beforehand about the logistics. For instance, can they afford to help you raise a baby? Will they be able to care for your newborn while you are at school?

They may not be able to do this if they lead busy lives like you. Being pregnant at 15 is challenging, but these are important conversations to have if you are thinking about having a baby at 15 years old.

Choosing Abortion as a Pregnant 15-Year-Old

When you are 15 and pregnant, another option that you may think about is abortion. For the most part, this is a safe, viable option if you can find a licensed, trained professional near you. This option means you don’t have to carry a pregnancy to term, or in simpler terms, give birth. So, how do you know if abortion is right for you?

One aspect that you’ll need to think about is the cost. From a general perspective, an abortion can range anywhere from hundreds to even thousands of dollars. This price can increase when you aren’t using your parents’ health insurance, too. Getting in touch with your local Planned Parenthood can help you learn more important information.

Speaking of local abortion clinics, you may find that there aren’t any close to your home. Depending on what state you live in, there could be only one or two abortion clinics, and they could be a hundred miles away. When you are a pregnant 15-year-old, this might mean that abortion is not accessible.

On top of this, because you are pregnant at 15, you’ll need permission from your parents before you can receive an abortion. This can be a hard conversation to have if your parents are not supportive of abortion rights. There could also be some restrictive abortion laws in your state, so check with the Guttmacher Institute to see what your local abortion laws are.

Choosing Adoption as a Pregnant 15-Year-Old [Adoption Is an Option]

Being 15 and pregnant is hard, to say the least. As you weigh your options, you could be deciding between parenting and abortion.

But, these are not your only two options. You may not have thought about it yet, but adoption is always an option. You can choose adoption at any point in your pregnancy, and you can even choose adoption at the hospital or after you’ve given birth.

Parenthood and abortion each have their own costs, but adoption is 100% free for birth parents. As a prospective birth mother, you are entitled to something called adoption financial assistance, which your agency and the adoptive family provide to cover your pregnancy- and adoption-related fees.

Birth parents shouldn’t have to worry about money when they place a baby for adoption. This allows you to focus completely on the health of your pregnancy.

Also, even though you are 15 and pregnant, you are still in charge of your adoption process. Your adoption professional will arrange everything for you and take all your needs and preferences into account as you create your adoption plan. This includes:

• Choosing the right adoptive family for your baby
• Choosing the type of adoption that you’d like to pursue
• Choosing the hospital you’d like to give birth at

You also don’t need your parents’ permission to choose adoption. But, as a pregnant 15-year-old, you should probably still talk with your loved ones about your adoption decision. You can ask them for their support during this time, and they can even attend the meetings between you and your adoption professional if you want.

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If you have any more questions about being pregnant at 15, then we are here for you. Contact us online to get more free information now.