Pregnancy options - Essay Example

Pregnancy Options A pregnancy is one of the most miraculous and natural events that can happen in anyone's lifetime, but is too often threatened by a lack of information that can lead to a poor decision regarding the options that are available for a pregnancy. When a woman becomes pregnant she may decide to carry the baby to term, get a surgical or medical abortion, or place the baby up for adoption. When a woman discovers that she is pregnant, it is critical that she makes a sound decision as soon as possible. Some options, such as a medical abortion, may be time sensitive or require extensive planning. Making the decision to have an abortion with inadequate or incomplete information can result in an irreversible decision that could negatively impact all the people involved for a lifetime. Abortion can also have lasting health effects and presents significant religious and cultural considerations. Before an abortion, women should receive information on medical and chemical abortion procedures, the risks of the abortion, and the option of adoption. Whether the woman decides to carry the baby to term, get an abortion, or place the baby up for adoption, there will be risks involved. These risks will be highly dependent upon the individual situation of the woman. The decision to bring a baby into the world requires a lifelong commitment, which carries with it the responsibility to raise a child and provide for its well-being. If the woman does not have the physical and mental resources required to raise a child she should receive information about the alternatives of abortion or adoption. If the woman decides to take the path of abortion she should be well informed about the different procedures available for abortion, such as surgical, medical, or chemical. These are time sensitive procedures that carry different risks for different women, and some women may find a chemical abortion more acceptable in the first trimester of pregnancy. Cultural or religious considerations may make any abortion unacceptable and the procedure for adoption should also be presented to the woman. Each alternative is a permanent solution to a pregnancy and the woman should understand the expectations and risks of each option. The risk of abortion is often either understated or overstated by special interest groups that have a social or political agenda. It has become part of the common discourse that an abortion results in a high risk of mental health problems, but this view has been challenged by a recent research study that has failed to find a correlation between abortion and mental health (Dvoskin, 2008). Basing a decision on misinformation could result in a woman making a poor decision that will impact her for a lifetime. For example, if the woman based her decision to have the baby due to the risk of mental health problems, she could expose herself to additional risks encountered during childbirth or from postpartum depression. By being well informed the woman can avoid the misinformation that is advocated by groups that take extreme positions either for or against abortion. If a woman makes a decision to have an abortion she should be completely informed in regards to all the options available for terminating a pregnancy. In addition to the surgical procedure that is often performed at an abortion clinic chemical options are also available. Two chemical procedures, Mifepristone and Methotrexate, are approved for use in the United States to induce abortion (Dudley and Mueller, 2008). It is important for women to be aware of these alternative methods that are available for the termination of a pregnancy so she can make the best decision for her individual situation. Anti-abortion groups may overstate the risk that a medical abortion places on the possibility of a future pregnancy, but a study reported by Virk, Zhang, and Olsen (2007) did not find any link between a chemical abortion and the increased risk of complications in a future pregnancy. By getting the correct and complete information on these available procedures, a woman can determine when and if these methods of abortion can benefit her. If a woman does make the decision to have an abortion she should be informed of the risks associated with the procedure. Complications from an abortion can include toxic shock syndrome, excessive bleeding, blood clots, infections, an incomplete abortion, "in which tissue from the pregnancy remains in the uterus, and requires a repeat suction procedure" and increase based on the length of pregnancy (Dudley and Mueller, 2008). In addition, an abortion raises the woman's risk of developing breast cancer some time in the future. According to Lanfranchi (2008), "the longer a woman is pregnant before premature delivery or induced abortion, the higher her risk of breast cancer because her breasts have greater numbers of lobules where breast cancers start" (p.65). In other words, it is imperative that a woman receives this information in a timely fashion so that she can make a decision as soon as possible before the risk becomes unacceptable. In addition to the physical risk of having an abortion, there are also mental and social risks involved. While research has found no connection between mental health and a first abortion, there are psychological factors that influence an abortion. An abortion is, by definition, an unwanted pregnancy. This factor places a heavy burden on the mother who attempts to make a decision regarding brining a baby to term and having an abortion. Often times an unwanted pregnancy involves a person that may be under-educated, poor, addicted to drugs, or challenged by some other issue that would negatively affect bringing a child into the world. In addition, the child in these situations has an increased risk of developing behavioral or cognitive problems (Waters, Roberts, and Morgen, 1997). The woman may be subjected to cultural, religious, or social stigmas by having an abortion, as well as "sadness and grief and, in some cases, clinically significant disorders such as depression or anxiety" (Dvoskin, 2008). While the physical and mental risks may be no greater than delivering a full term baby, every woman must evaluate the risks based on her own unique situation. A woman that is faced with an unwanted pregnancy and is concerned about the risks of abortion can always turn to the option of adoption. This option can alleviate the risks of having an abortion or brining a baby into an undesirable parenting situation. Though laws vary from state to state, many women who place a baby for adoption are able to maintain contact with the child through written correspondence with the adoptive parents (Are you pregnant, 2008). Once again, the woman needs to be fully informed of all of the repercussions of placing a baby through adoption. In addition, the decision to place a baby needs to be made early on in the pregnancy to assure that the process is of the greatest benefit to the child, as well as to prepare the mother for the psychological impact of giving up her child. Information on adoption should be given to all women involved in an unwanted or undesirable pregnancy. In conclusion, when a woman becomes pregnant there are three alternatives that are available to her. She may decide to keep and raise the baby, have an abortion, or place the baby up for adoption. There are risks and benefits involved with each option, and the woman should be fully informed of each alternative so she can make the best decision for her. In addition, this information should be given as soon as the woman knows she is pregnant. Adoption should be presented as an alternative to see if this may be the best option for her based on laws in the state where she lives. In any event, becoming fully informed on delivering a baby, having an abortion, or placing a baby in adoption will assure that the woman is able to make the best individual decision with a full understanding of the risks involved. References Are you pregnant and thinking about adoption (2008 ). Retrieved January 12, 2009, from http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_pregna/f_pregna5.cfm Dudley, S., & Mueller, S. (2008). What is medical abortion. Retrieved January 12, 2009, from http://www.prochoice.org/about_abortion/facts/medical_abortion.html Dvaoskin, R. (2008). Abortion risk reviewed [Electronic version]. Scientific American Mind, 19(6). from Academic Search Premier. Lanfranchi, A. (2008). The federal government and academic texts as barriers to informed consent [Electronic version]. Issues in Law & Medicine, 24(1), 61-69. from Academic Search Premier. Virk, J., Zhang, J., & Olsen, J. (2007). Medical abortion and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes [Electronic version]. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(7), 648-653. from Academic Search Premier. Waters, J., Roberts, A. R., & Morgen, K. (1997). High risk pregnancies: Teenagers, poverty, and drug abuse [Electronic version]. Journal of Drug Issues, 27(3). from Academic Search Premier. Read More