Before Pregnancy

Every single mother will say that pregnancy changed her life. Even those who placed a child with an adoptive family after her pregnancy came to term. One's perception of abortion, adoption, single mothers, pregnant teens and other experiences that were not relevant to you before pregnancy are certain to change.

So what changes? And can you trust these changes to be something you support after making a decision with your new beliefs?

The answers to those questions depend. If you're someone who has always stood against abortion, you may find yourself considering it as the best option for you and your lifestyle right now. Some women cannot make the nine-month commitment required of pregnancy, even if she's going to place the child after birth. Other women may consider becoming a single parent or decide that their education or career need to be more settled before they start any kind of family. This can change one's view of adoption and will require a future birth mother to evaluate her future in such a way that can be overwhelming, particularly as a teen or young adult. Pregnancy can change the way a woman pursues relationships, it can change her social circle and the way she sees herself.

Life before pregnancy may be an 180-degree turn from where a woman will be after pregnancy, but that doesn't mean normalcy is achieved by turning another 180 degrees. It's about accepting the changes, your decision and moving on with conviction.