The decision to have a child is a big one. For many people, the next step is to decide whether to adopt or give birth. Both options come with a unique set of pros and cons. It’s important to weigh all of your options before making a decision. Here are some things to consider in choosing between adoption and giving birth.
Giving Birth
Giving birth is the option most parents choose, and there are reasons why. Here’s why most people choose it and what things make it difficult:
The Pros of Giving Birth
There are many pros to giving birth. First, when you and your partner choose to give birth, you are doing something that a lot of people do. You are becoming a mom or dad. This is a role that many children have been familiar with since they are born, and as a social role and expectation, there is some satisfaction to be gained in taking up that mantle. This also gives you common ground to share with your parents and grandparents.
Second, you get nine months to prepare for the arrival of your baby. This gives you plenty of time to read about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. You can also take classes to prepare for labor and delivery. Third, you have complete control over your pregnancy. You can eat what you want, exercise as much as you want, and choose your own doctor.
Lastly, you get to experience the miracle of life firsthand. This is a truly amazing experience that cannot be replicated by adoption. You also develop a deep bond with your child before the moment they are born. This bond can never be replaced by adoption.
The Cons of Giving Birth:
On the other hand, giving birth has a lot of drawbacks. For one, pregnancy can be unpredictable and filled with unknowns. Even when you think you’ve done everything right, some things can go wrong. Pregnancy subjects the mother’s body to a lot of stress, so it can be physically and emotionally taxing, even for the father. There is even a risk of health issues and death for both the mother and the child.
After childbirth, the mother may also have to deal with postpartum depression or anxiety. This is a result of the hormonal imbalance and extreme change in lifestyle brought about by having a child.
Lastly, healthcare during childbirth is very expensive. Giving birth to a child, even with insurance, costs between $3,300 up to $57,000, depending on procedures and complications. This is a bitter pill to swallow, but many people go through with it nonetheless.
Adopting
Adoption is becoming a more popular option recently, especially among LGBT couples. Here’s why people should choose it, and what they have to consider before doing so:
The Pros of Adoption
Adoption has several pros. For one, it is the more moral choice if you compare creating a human life and taking care of life that already exists. Rather than bringing another human life to the world and possibly exposing that child to dangers and trauma, you would surely be doing more good by taking care of a child who needs to be taken care of.
Second, the adoption process can be less expensive than pregnancy and childbirth. This is because you are not incurring the medical costs associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, there is less of a time commitment than pregnancy and childbirth. Even though the adoption process can take a while, adopting a child does not require the mother to be pregnant. You can also adopt a child who is older, which basically lets you skip the sleepless nights associated with having an infant. You can also have less anxiety since you won’t have to worry about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) with children past infancy.
The Cons of Adoption
Adoption can be long and complicated, and there are no guarantees that you will be matched with a child. The whole process may take anywhere between a week to two years. Hiring an adoption lawyer may make it faster, but that also means paying more.
You may also not develop the same bond with an adopted child as you would with a biological child. It mostly depends on how you can adapt to a child’s personality and how trusting they can be. It takes more effort to bond with them, too.
Lastly, adopting does not fulfill a social expectation. Most people only choose adoption lawyer as a last resort, and some LGBT couples even choose in-vitro fertilization over adoption. For heterosexual couples, adopting always comes with prejudice since most people would assume that they adopted only because they are infertile.
Final Thoughts
It is clear that there are pros and cons to both giving birth and adopting. Ultimately, the decision comes down to the parents. Some people may feel more drawn to one option or the other, but it is important to weigh all of the factors before making a decision.
