Are you a parent who is dealing with a teen pregnancy in Florida? If so, you probably feel overwhelmed right now. It’s not uncommon to experience feelings of shock, excitement, fear, and anger. But where do you go from here? Maybe you’re not sure how to navigate the road ahead. That’s okay, you’re certainly not alone in that. Here are some tips on how to best help your daughter navigate her teen pregnancy in Florida.

Support.

The best thing you can do at the beginning of an unplanned teen pregnancy in Florida is simply support your daughter. Listen to her. Truly listen to her. You may be frustrated and/or disappointed about the unplanned pregnancy, but right now your daughter needs you to be there for her, judgment-free. Listening to her will go a long way in keeping the lines of communication open between the two of you. You need to show her that you are a safe space, someone with whom she can discuss her fears and whom she can trust.

Resources for a Teen Pregnancy in Florida

After both you and your daughter have had some time to really talk over everything you should begin to help her find some teen pregnancy resources in Florida. If she does not already have an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN), help her to find a doctor with whom she feels comfortable. Doing this is very important. Getting good prenatal care early and throughout the pregnancy will help ensure a healthy baby.

In addition to getting medical resources in place, you should also consider researching counseling, parenting classes, and support groups. The Law Office of Madonna Finney would be happy to help connect you with these types of resources, with no obligation or cost. You do not have to make an adoption plan for us to give you referrals to services related to a teen pregnancy in Florida.

Pregnancy Options.

Once you’ve established a good amount of trust and communication with your daughter, and you’ve addressed her current medical needs, it’s time to begin helping her explore her pregnancy options.

Parenting: Many young mothers successfully parent their babies, while also achieving their educational and professional goals. If your daughter chooses to parent her baby, you should begin helping her to plan how she will do so, while also staying on track to reach her own potential in other areas of her life.

Adoption: If your daughter doesn’t feel ready to become a parent, placing her baby for adoption is always an option. If your daughter chooses adoption, she can make arrangements to stay in touch with the baby and adoptive family throughout the child’s life. This could be through letters and emails or staying in the child’s life through an ongoing relationship. She may also wish to explore a closed adoption wherein she can select the baby’s adoptive family, if she wishes, but not meet them or have any sort of relationship with them.

Abortion: This is another option you can explore with your daughter. However, in today’s political climate, finding a provider may be challenging. 

If your daughter is experiencing a teen pregnancy in Florida, and needs help understanding her options, the best resource would be a pregnancy counselor. They would be able to walk your daughter through ALL of her options. The Law Office of Madonna Finney has a pregnancy counselor on staff. She is a licensed professional, who would be happy to speak with you and your daughter. There’s no cost and no obligation when meeting with our counselor.

Showing Love.

And finally, once your daughter has made her decision about which direction she’d like to take this pregnancy, all you can do is give her your ongoing love and support. Facing a teen pregnancy in Florida planned or unplanned, is never easy. You may be frustrated with the situation, but your daughter really needs you right now. Knowing that she has you in her corner will go a long way.

Need Help Today?

If you or your daughter would like to explore the option of adoption, The Law Office of Madonna Finney would be happy to help. We employ an all-female staff of caring, professional social workers, and Madonna is the panhandle’s only Board Certified Florida Adoption Attorney. We offer the best services that any Florida adoption agency would typically offer you. However, we pair that with our unmatched legal expertise. You can contact us at any time, regardless of where you’re at in your pregnancy and even after you’ve given birth.

Call or text us today at (850) 308-1836 or Message Us on Facebook.