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Hi, ladies. I've been lurking here for a few weeks now, reading numerous threads to see if I could glean a little advice from them, and some of them have been helpful, and I do have an idea of what sort of advice I'll be getting, but... I guess I just want to put my story out there, and see if I can get some more fine-tuned advice. I apologize in advance if this post turns out lengthy. In a way, I'm also lining it all up for myself.
I turn 22 in one week, and I'm 31 weeks pregnant.
I met Bdad in late July of last year, a mere two weeks after moving to a place far, far away from my family with nothing but some clothes and $100 in my pocket to live with some friends and start a new life, save up for college, all that jazz. Bdad and I literally haven't been apart for more than (one instance of) two days since then. We even slept in the same bed, sneaking around his house late at night, just so I had a bed to sleep on instead of the chair I was sleeping in at the time. Our relationship has been full of extreme highs and lows, but it's intensity is only emphasized by how deeply in love we are. We've been through a lot, (mostly him coming to terms with his insecurities and jealousy, and learning not to take it out on me, while I've been adjusting myself so that he has to deal with those feelings less, meaning giving up friends, a social life, etc) and all of those things, including this pregnancy, have brought us closer. But I'm worried that no matter what path I choose, it might tear us apart in the end.
By the time we found out I was pregnant, I already had my own place, and was still paying huge chunks for the deposit. At first, we planned for an abortion. We decided it'd take much too long for health care to kick in to help us, so I started saving up for the procedure, (he didn't have a job and couldn't help, so it took awhile.) Before I had enough money, I suffered horrible cramps and severe bleeding for days. Sure I'd lost the baby and too poor to check if I had, we went on with our lives. Luckily I decided to stay healthy and not drink or smoke at all, because I kept growing and growing. By the time I was able to get health care and an ultrasound, I was 25 weeks pregnant. I had just barely missed the cutoff point by a single day.
Naturally, our first choice was adoption. We didn't consider parenting for a moment. First and foremost, we wanted to give the child a bright future, with a proper home, a proper family, a chance to get into a good college; everything we couldn't give it. I work at a deli in a grocery store. He has a Bachelor's in Business Administration, but in this economy, he can't find work, and he pushes carts at the same store to help me with rent and groceries. My job position is very secure and I do get health benefits through the union (finally qualified for them last month) so I'm in for the long haul to begin with, but he continues his search and makes very little in between deciding whether or not to go to school for his Master's and looking for a job. We make enough to get by, but not enough to raise a child.
I love him with all my heart. If he asked, I would marry him tomorrow. But I know he won't ask me, and I know he isn't ready to be a dad. He still has many things he wants to do in life, while I am content to postpone or even forgo school to raise my son. He is planning on never telling his family, because he's afraid they'll disown him, and he's so very ashamed of what we've done. I feel none of his shame. Guess it helps that my family's incredibly dysfunctional to begin with. (my situation's like a record for my family, I made it all the way to 22! :rolleyes:)
I told my mother, and she resents me for telling her. She wishes I never had, because she wants so badly to raise the child, to keep him in the family, to know and to love him while I send money to help support him. She's even less qualified than me, being that she hasn't got a job at all, and is raising my 15 year old sister in another state while being supported by my dad. We don't speak anymore, adding to the incredible weight of loneliness I find myself under. I have only the older ladies at work offer advice, mostly leaning towards parenting. Many of them are single mothers, with encouraging "if I could do it, you can do it" or "it's the hardest but best, most rewarding thing you can ever do" stories, and ominous "I was never able to have children, you've got a gift" or "you'll regret it for the rest of your life" stories.
And now I turn to you ladies, who have been in my shoes.
A lot inside me tells me I can raise him. A lot inside me tells me I'll lose a huge part of my perceived "life" if I do. Then again, I've done SO much in my life already, (lived overseas, lived out my dream career as a radio dj, lived on my own, worked for myself for years, etc. I guess what I'd lose from my "life" is college, but I can always do that later...)
A lot also tells me that I'll lose a HUGE part of myself if I go through with this. I can't even envision what it will be like seeing my son leave with other people, then leaving the hospital with Bdad. Eating something. Going home. The emptiness. Who will I be, afterwards? My heart is breaking even as I type this. I can't see the keys for the tears in my eyes.
Bdad isn't very sympathetic... he sees it as a necessary step. I wonder if he'll ever understand what I'm going through. Or what I'll go through when my son is gone.
Our first adoptive family rejected us, because I have a mental health history. That was so incredibly difficult to go through. But we're meeting with another one on Friday, this time, with guarded hearts. It's supposed to be an open adoption. I don't know, my expectations are all but extinguished by this point.
Maybe that rejection is the source of this confusion. Or maybe it's just natural.
I don't know.
Phew! Sorry for the huge blocks of text -_-;; Enough information there? Haha!
So... any advice?
It's okay and perfectly normal to be going through all these feeling right now. To be honest I don't know if you will truly know until the baby comes and he is here in person. So many feelings etc. Maybe tommorrow after you meet the potential AP your feelings may change. Good luck and don't get dishearten it will come eventually the choice just like the baby will.
Angela
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Only you can make this decision, I can tell you a bit of what it has been like for me to relinquish though.
I was 18 and just starting university. Adoption was the only option that was on the table for me when I found out 'for sure'. No one ever told me to look into the option of parentiing. The first agency I went to offered semi-open adoptions, with pictures and updates, I really wanted that, but was coerced into a closed adoption situation as 'that was best'.
I didn't get any counseling, wasn't allowed to speak of it afterwards and suffered many years of depression. I thought of my son every single day since I knew of his existence.
Was adoption the right choice for me? I don't really know. He has had a fantastic life (I found him two years ago). My life is good now and I don't know if I would be where I am if I'd kept him. I have no idea if my life would have been better or worse. Just different. I wouldn't have that ache though, that sadness over the years I've missed with my son, the realisation that I'll never have the relationship with him that I have with the daughters that I'm raising.
My parents also 'offered' to raise him, but as my brother. No way. I KNEW that was wrong!
I can urge you to get counseling. I can urge you to look fully at your options before making any final decisions.
Remember also that adoption is a permanent solution to what are often temporary circumstances. That said, only you have a full understanding of what your circumstances are!
I wish you all the best, let us know how you're doing in this tough time.
I would also encourage you to know all your options. Also you do not have to decide to place the baby NOW. You have plenty of time to decide. If you want to take him home for a few days or more and then decide that you want to place him you still can. Do not rush your decision and do what feels right for you and your baby. And DO NOT make the decision for anyone else but yourself and your child. Not even dad--Make this decision for you.
From all you said in your post, this was of utmost concern to me:
We've been through a lot, (mostly him coming to terms with his insecurities and jealousy, and learning not to take it out on me, while I've been adjusting myself so that he has to deal with those feelings less, meaning giving up friends, a social life, etc)
I just saw a huge red flag here, because the behaviours you describe are typical of someone who abuses or has the potential for abuse. If he is jealous and "taking it out on you," (how??? hitting??? yelling???? fighting?? emotional abuse???) that is not healthy. If you are having to break off friendships due to his insecurities, that is not healthy for you, as it is a pattern of isolating you from those you turn to for support. Now you find yourself undecided about what to do and feeling as though you might be able to parent, while he is wanting adoption.
If YOU want to parent, do NOT make the decision to place because that's what your BF wants. It has to be what you want--truly what you want. Just think if you placed this baby to placate your bf and then a few months or even years down the road, the relationship does not work out (and sorry to be a downer, but given that a large percentage of relationships don't work out, it is a real possibility). Now you would have signed away your rights to your baby and you will also not have this relationship, either. That could lead to a lot of anger and resentment for you.
On the other hand, if you feel placing your baby would be best for him or her (regardless of what BF wants), and have explored your options, and determined that you are just not in a good place right now to raise your child, then you could go that route. Understand that in most states, Open Adoption is not legally binding, so whatever agreements have been made can be broken.
Please take your time and explore every avenue. Wait until after you have your baby and re-examine your decision. Even if you decide on adoption, you have every right to change your mind after your baby is born. If you can, take your baby home (assuming that is a safe place for you and your baby to be) and spend some time making your decision.
In my case, I was well set on adoption from early in my pregnancy. After having him, I was completely unprepared for the strong feelings and bonding I would feel. Leaving the hospital was excruciatingly hard. I did take some time, though, after I got home, to really think about my decision. I still chose adoption and believe it was the right choice under my particular circumstances. I got a lot of counseling and had a semi-open where I got updates and pictures. The first year was very hard for me, but I did move forward and was pretty much OK with my choice. I have found it more difficult in midlife now that my son is grown, but I think a lot of the midlife issues and changing hormones are magnifying a lot of the adoption stuff.
It's not an easy decision either way, but the best is to be as well-informed as you can be, get counseling, don't rush into anything, and make sure this decision is YOURS and not anyone else's.
i think justpeachy really has a great point....
If YOU want to parent.... and you WANT to mother this baby.... then i think those are really important feelings to listen to.... otherwise, yes... you can get yourself into a situation that will regret for the rest of your life....
If you honestly do not want to parent right now.... it is possible that adoption is the best option for you and the baby.... i just think you have to be prepared for those feelings to change after he is born....
some states do claim to have legally binding open adoption laws.... we adopted our baby in New Mexico... and they absolutely claim that the post-placements agreements are binding.... as a matter of fact, at our agency, there was a set of adoptive parents not keeping their promises.... and the agency very much encouraged the birthmother to go to court since attempts at mediation had failed....
unfortunately, tho.... there are many many adoptive parents that do not keep adoptions open.... I survived placing a baby in 1986.... and her parents immediately failed to keep the promises they made.... they never sent one picture.... not one. And this was the biggest source of unimaginable pain....
If i were making the choice to place today.... I would probably only place my baby in a family that was already living an open adoption.... and who would allow me to speak to the other childs birthmother.... so i could get added assurance that promises are likely to be kept.... however....
there are no guarantees in adoption....
keep gathering information... it's alot to process... especially when you are pregnant and faced with the extra hormones.... and reality of a baby living inside of you....
j
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For me, reading through what you wrote, the thing that struck me so much is that you have no one to talk to about this, about how you feel, and what you hope for the future.
I know that when I found that I was pregnant (Granted, I'm only 13 weeks along right now) I had all these thoughts and feelings, and they just went around and around in my head. The only way I was able to make sense of it all was to sit down and talk it out with my signifigant other (over many days/weeks). He listened, and was not judgemental, which helped so much.
From what it sounds like, either you have not, or can not, had a good sit down with your SO. Either he refuses to talk to you, or you just don't feel comfortable with talking to him. With all the societal influences, from your mother trying to influence your decision, to the inherent embarassment of an unplanned pregnancy (which is the one that gets me the most personally) there are so many emotions to deal with. I found it impossible to deal with it alone, I just kept spiraling my thoughts and getting no where.
I know that while I am very comfortable with my deicion to place my child for adoption, I can still feel the pressure to parent it. All the people who tell me that I will regret my decision, that I will be miserable for ever missing my child, and that I shouldn't jump to a conclusion, I listen to what they have to say, then I make myself sit down and realize that they are not me. They do not intend to make me feel bad, in fact, they are trying to give me insight into their own experiences. Only through an open and honest discussion was I able to come to terms with how everything (from what others think to my hormones, to my ultiamte goals and dreams) fit together.
So, my advice to you is either to actually talk this out with your SO, or someone you can trust (a best friend, even one you haven't seen in a while?). Including your urges to parent, how your SO would feel about that, think about how YOU would feel about that (the logical side, not the hormonally induced urge to bond with your baby). If you have always wanted to have a family one day, then consider that point as well. For me, I have not wanted to raise children, hence the perspective I have. I worry that once the hormones have worn off, I will resent the child and my need to parent the child. And no, I'm not all the way through my decision process either.
If you can't do that, then sit down with a piece of paper (it's important to write it where you can read it later) and list the pros and cons of your decision. Step away from it for a bit, add more as you think of it, and after a break, think about which list would make you happiest. It doesn't matter which is the longer list, just which you feel more comforable with. The feelings of compassion and joy for giving a loving family a child they wouldn't have otherwise, or the feelings of joy and happiness of watching your child grow up. Neither is right or wrong, it's all about what is right for you.
I am also one of the biggest advocates of the fact that I am a woman, and therefore have the right to change my mind! Raising a child is a big decision, but it's not the best decision for every one, and that's perfectly ok.
Hi there, and congratulations on your pregnancy!
I'm not a birthmom, and I can't tell you whether to raise the baby or place him or her for adoption. But I am worried about your situation. It sounds like your economic situation is pretty precarious, and the birthdad has some significant emotional issues that are affecting you and your pregnancy.
Can I make a suggestion? It sounds like you need some help to make it through the pregnancy, no matter what you decide. You're doing a GREAT job, no doubt about it. It is not easy starting from scratch in this economy, and you've already got a secure job and health insurance and a place to live, which is just incredible. But there is a lot of help out there which could make things easier for you, and help ensure your baby's health.
If you contact your local county Department of Social Services, you will probably qualify for some free prenatal care, which will keep you and the baby safer. Lots of counties can also offer you well baby visits and pregnancy advice and parenting assistance through the Nurse/Family Partnership program. The baby will probably qualify either for Medicaid or SCHIP, which will give him or her free medical insurance, including well baby visits and vaccinations. And Social Services can advise you if you qualify for rent assistance, food stamps, WIC (free groceries and formula!), and even counseling for you and the baby's dad. If you have some mental health issues, you might also qualify for therapy and medication, if you need it.
It's one heck of a tough economy out there, and you and the baby should get all the help you qualify for. You both deserve a safe, healthy, and worry-free pregnancy! Will you consider reaching out to Social Services to see what help they can offer you?