Pregnancy

Whether it’s in the plot line on a television series or the talking points of a political pundit, portrayals of adoption can often miss the mark. This can lead to misperceptions among people who’ve never experienced adoption, as a birth family, adoptive family, or adoptee, or who don't realize how it has evolved over time. Social workers with The Village Family Service Center’s Adoption and Pregnancy Options Counseling program offer these facts and fictions to help break common misconceptions about adoption. Unintended Pregnancy FICTION: Actively parenting a child is the one, “right” choice [...]

You’re pregnant. Now what? Finding out you are pregnant unexpectedly can be so overwhelming. Every woman who is pregnant is scared at times. Feeling scared is normal, and there can be a variety of reasons for feeling this way. Common fears during an unexpected pregnancy Telling people about your pregnancy Telling the father of the baby Feeling judged Disappointing family Feeling ashamed Not having enough money Making the wrong decisions It can be helpful to make a list of your own fears. What will really help is talking to someone about your list – someone who will listen to your feelings [...]

Natalia’s pregnancy came as a surprise. At that point in their lives, she and the birth father knew they couldn’t give their child the life that baby deserved. “As the birth father and I talked more, we both realized we wanted what was best for our child,” Natalia said. They turned to an adoption social worker to help them create a plan. “She was amazing, she explained everything to us in detail and gave us all our options,” Natalia says. “After speaking with her, we both knew what the best decision was for our child.” Both Natalia and the birth father were adopted, which helped them decide to [...]

1 in 4 American teenagers will experience a teen pregnancy.1 Finding out you are pregnant or becoming a teenage father can be extremely overwhelming. You may feel confused, scared, happy or excited. All of these emotions are normal and may change many times before birth. You may have difficulty speaking to your parents about becoming a parent yourself. They may have their own thoughts, wishes, or advice. In the end, it is ultimately your decision and you are the person who needs to feel comfortable with what you choose. What choices are available to you? Some young women find it difficult to [...]

You’re pregnant. This wasn’t part of your plan. There’s no doubt you have thoughts and questions swirling in your brain right now. Sometimes deciding what to do about an unplanned pregnancy is easy. Other times, the questions and answers are more complicated. You deserve accurate information about all your options, compassionate support, and the room to make your own decisions. Family situation, relationships, school, work, life goals, health, safety, personal beliefs, money – these are all things someone facing an unintended pregnancy will consider when making decisions about their child’s [...]

Any time a woman finds out she’s pregnant, she experiences a wide range of emotions – excitement, nervousness, joy, fear. These feelings can be more intense, and the situation more confusing, when the pregnancy was unintended. Social workers with The Village Family Service Center counsel expectant women who feel scared or alone in their pregnancy. They provide a listening ear and non-judgmental guidance as the woman explores her options, including adoption. “They were very friendly and helpful with all our needs and questions,” one client said about the pregnancy counseling experience. “My [...]

Pregnancy loss is devastating no matter the circumstances. The future you were envisioning is suddenly gone. You may find it’s difficult to cope with your feelings or to relate to others. You deserve time and space to mourn the loss of your pregnancy after a miscarriage or preterm birth while moving toward healing. Grieving Process The spectrum of emotions you might feel are not limited and are unique to each individual after experiencing loss. People commonly experience five stages of grief: Denial You might be in disbelief about your loss. Denial is a defense mechanism that tries to buffer [...]