School and Work for Birth Mothers

Once a birth mother decides to continue her pregnancy and place a baby for adoption in Arizona, she often still has months to go before birth occurs. Daily life can become difficult as the woman strives for a healthy pregnancy while living their daily life of school or work. While this can be a challenge, you can ensure your goals stay on track.

Continue With High School
The decision to delay high school until after giving birth is risky. Only 40 percent of teen mothers receive a high school diploma. About 30 percent of female dropouts list parenthood as the reason they left. Even when a teenager plans for adoption, a delay in learning could make them feel left out from their peer group or put them behind as a student.

You can remain in class and graduate when pregnant. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 ensures that pregnant students have the same rights as all other students in a public school. The administration cannot punish a student who misses school for pregnancy-related issues and must allow them to complete lost work during an absence.

Many states now offer free online public education. Some allow students to take the full course schedule, and others offer a range of classes that aid towards qualifying for a diploma. If social pressure, pregnancy-related illnesses, or other concerns make it difficult for you to attend a class every day, consider this type of option.

Keep Your College Goals
Women aged 18–24 have some of the highest rates of unintended pregnancies. About 10 percent of female community college dropouts leave their program because of their pregnancy. Again, the plan to delay classes until after the birth of the child could affect your future. College-aged women need to remain focused on their pre-pregnancy goals.

The expected birth date can affect how the plan should take place. Women who have a third trimester that coincides with their summer break may have no conflicts with their schedule. A need for alternate options could arise if the due date is in the middle of a semester or health concerns begin.

Look for online classes as opposed to attending a class every day if the pregnancy causes illness or fatigue. A summer semester could work well for any women who expect to miss several weeks during a fall or spring schedule due to the birth and their post-partum recovery.

The decision to take a year off from college could cause financial hardship if you received any federal loans. Many federal loans, like direct loans and Stafford loans, have only a six-month grace period before payments become due. Others, like PLUS loans, have no grace period. The decision to not re-enroll could mean you have to start making loan payments.

Stay Focused at Work
The workplace is often the hardest for women who have chosen the route of placing a baby for adoption in Arizona. People often become too familiar with their co-workers, and the questions about the pregnancy may seem uncomfortable. Birth mothers must often, unfortunately, address both social and career questions related to their pregnancy.

The human resource department needs to know your due date and the amount of time expected before your return. Since management will usually want to know about maternal leave, health plan changes, and other details related to the child, you’ll likely need to inform them of the decision to choose adoption.

Co-workers should respect your desire for privacy or at least respect your right to choose adoption. You only need to tell people what you are comfortable with giving them information. If someone presses further or insults your decision, discuss the matter with management.

Birth mothers have many fears and questions about how they should manage their pregnancy and what their life will be like after they give birth. At Arizona Adoption Help, we focus on the needs of the birth mother for this reason. Our staff can help guide you through this challenging time. Contact us to learn more to see if we are the right choice for you when asking yourself about placing a baby for adoption in Arizona.