You’ve probably heard the old saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again.” Some British doctors seem to have taken it to heart: last year, they performed two abortions — on the same baby.
Business executive Julie Smith took the morning after pill in August 2014 after her boyfriend’s condom broke. To her surprise, Smith learned a month later that she was with child. She elected to have an abortion in September, believing that the matter was settled—it wasn’t.
Towards the end of November, Smith got some unexpected news: she was still pregnant. As she recounted to the UK’s Daily Mirror, “I was 16 weeks pregnant with a foetus I had tried to get rid of twice.” Although she referred to the fetus as her “child” and “my baby,” she ultimately decided on having a second abortion.
Smith explained that her decision was based on not wanting to be single mother. “I looked at the pros and cons, but it all boiled down to not wanting to delete my hard work over the last 15 years. As a little girl I’d always waited for a dad that never turned up and I didn’t want this for mine.”
While Smith’s circumstances might have been unusual, her reasoning wasn’t. It isn’t easy being a single parent, and for some it doesn’t fit with their career goals. Unfortunately, a lot of women think that choice is the only alternative to having an abortion. However, there’s another option that’s often overlooked, and there’s a lot of people who are ready to offer it.
There are presently long lines of couples seeking to adopt and a shortage of available infants. That’s lead many to join sites like Adoption.com— a place where hopeful parents can connect with expectant birth moms. The site verifies that a couple has been approved by a licensed adoption agency and then allows them to create an online profile, complete with pictures, contact details, and a bio explaining what they have to offer.
One example is Angela and Matt Bernier. Based in Virginia, they enjoy Sunday meals, watching sports, and spending time at the playground. The Berniers are already raising a son and would like to adopt another child, as well.
Adoption.com also allows birth moms to sort through prospective parents based on location, religious affiliation, family size, and other factors. It also offers pregnancy-related resources, along with first hand accounts from women who’ve been through the adoption process.
It’s often assumed that choosing life means looking after a baby you aren’t ready for. Thankfully, that’s not the case. Even if you aren’t planning on raising your child, there’s plenty of couples who would love the chance. And the good news is that they’ve never been easier to find.
