Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, more than 3 million per year. But unplanned doesn’t necessarily mean unwanted, especially in the long run. While it’s not always the first reaction, many women come to view their unplanned pregnancies as “happy accidents,” or even miracles.
One young woman (we’ll call her Jessie) wrote about her initial fears in her blog:
“At first I thought about terminating my pregnancy. My boyfriend and I barely knew each other and the time was all wrong. We were broke. We were careless. We were new. I cried for two days straight.”
After considering her options, however, Jessie decided to keep her baby. Two years later, she wrote this in a letter to a friend who was then dealing with an unplanned pregnancy of her own:
“Pregnancy was the most amazing physical experience of my life. I cannot imagine never experiencing those forty weeks of creation, the changes and the swelling of self. I cannot imagine my body without it’s stretched tattoos and belly flab. I cannot imagine my life without (my son) Archer.”
21-year-old Michelle found herself in a similar situation:
“I had everything under control, and then my pregnancy test turned positive…It took a good 15 minutes for the tears to come – and they came: tears of fear, tears of guilt. This isn’t how my life is supposed to go. I’m not this type of girl. This can’t be right.”
Then, like Jessie, Michelle chose to keep her baby, later writing:
“Against all logic and assumptions, I chose to keep my pregnancy and embrace the terrifying void…My unplanned pregnancy proved that I could survive change, and be better because of it…My unplanned pregnancy blew out the sides of my narrative and forced me to see a bigger picture. It made me a better person…Lucky for me, I have a tangible, huggable child to remind me of those unexpected lessons every single day.”
These young women transformed the fear and uncertainty of unplanned pregnancy into the hope and joy of new life. They embraced the unknown, refusing to let their babies be unwanted.
Of course, there are occasions when women who become pregnant unexpectedly simply do not feel physically or emotionally capable of raising a child. Even in these instances, however, it is still possible to find a home where that baby is desperately wanted. Some sources estimate there are up to 2 million Americans households waiting to adopt a child. And adoptive parents can be just as loving and nurturing as birth parents, making adoption a beautiful option for everyone involved.
If you are deciding how to deal with an unplanned pregnancy, we invite you to call Sira at 352-377-4947. Our client advocates can talk through your pregnancy options and connect you with helpful resources. Unplanned doesn’t have to mean unwanted for any baby.