Teen Mothers And Adoption

Only an estimated 5 percent of pregnant teens will place their infants up for adoption. A young woman who experienced an unplanned pregnancy and chose to raise the child as teen mother instead of placing it with and adoptive family may feel differently about her choice after having to balance the demanding education and social responsibilities of being a teen with those of being a mother. Although she may have had counseling and advice from loved ones, she may have still felt she wanted to raise the child. And now that she is having doubts, she is probably feeling scared about disappointing herself and others.

It's no secret that being a single mother is difficult, let alone a single teen mother. Teen mothers rarely are able to get ahead in their lives and are less likely than their peers to finish high school and are more likely to get into an abusive relationship in the future. For these reasons, it's best that a teen mother struggling with her responsibilities is given an understanding second chance.

A teen mother considering adoption after childbirth will need to terminate her and the birth father's parental rights and either give the child to protective services, to a relative for foster or adoption, or find an attorney or agency to facilitate an adoption.

Every state has its own laws about voluntary termination. Terminating one's parental rights requires a "good cause" be provided to the state, explaining the reason for terminating one's rights. Adoption is generally considered good cause.