Home » Pregnant? » Unplanned Pregnancy Help » Unplanned Pregnancy by Month » 8 Months Pregnant & Don’t Want the Baby [What to Do]

8 Months Pregnant & Don’t Want the Baby [What to Do]

You’re one month away from your due date and you most likely have mixed feelings about it because you’re not sure if you’re ready to be a parent.

Right now, we can bet that you’re probably feeling nervous, anxious, and worried about what will happen next, especially if you’re still exploring your options when you’re 32–35 weeks pregnant and don’t want the baby.

If you’re still unsure of which option is right for you, you’re not alone. Many women don’t know what to do with an unplanned pregnancy until they’re already towards the end of it. While parenting is a great option for many women, you might instead be asking, “If you’re 8 months pregnant, is adoption still an option?” or “What options do I have left when I’m almost 8 months pregnant and don’t want the baby? “Adoption is always an option for you no matter how far into your pregnancy you are.

 Learn everything you need to make the right choice in this guide, and contact us now to be connected with a helpful adoption professional.

YOUR BABY’S DEVELOPMENT AT 8 MONTHS

Even though your baby’s almost here, don’t forget to take care of your health as you continue weighing your options. Here are some important things you should know about your baby’s development at 8 months.

  • 32 Weeks: If it hasn’t happened already, at 32 weeks your baby has probably shifted to the head-down position, which means they’re ready to make their journey down the birth canal. Don’t worry though. You should have some time before your baby decides to make an exit. If you are 32 weeks pregnant and don’t want the baby or don’t feel prepared to parent, adoption is still an option for you. Reach out to an adoption agency to learn more and start making an adoption plan whenever you’re ready.
  •  33 Weeks: At 33 weeks, your baby’s kicks are about to feel a whole lot sharper. It won’t be long until they make their big debut! You should also try to take care of yourself, because you’re probably not getting a whole lot of sleep around this week. Even if you’re 33 weeks pregnant but don’t want the baby, don’t forget to take care of yourself.
  •  34 Weeks: Did you know that at around 34 weeks baby can hear you pretty well? Don’t be afraid to get a little chatty, you might even sing them a few tunes. If you are considering adoption for this baby and have already chosen adoptive parents, you might play a recording of the adoptive parents talking or singing to your baby, too.
  •  35 Weeks: Just a few more weeks until the big day. Are you ready? Now is good time to make sure that your hospital bag is ready to go and that you have a plan just in case baby decides to come a little early. Whether you’re considering a 35 weeks pregnant adoption or you’re thinking about parenting, it’s a good idea to get prepared this week. And, if you’re wondering, “I’m 35 weeks pregnant — can I give my baby up for adoption?” know that you don’t have to make these preparations alone. You can absolutely choose adoption for your baby, and an adoption specialist will help you prepare a plan for placing your baby when you get to the hospital.

YOUR UNPLANNED PREGNANCY OPTIONS AT 8 MONTHS

If you’re 8 months pregnant and don’t want the baby, or don’t feel prepared to parent the baby, then you may be wondering what options you have. At this stage in your pregnancy, there are generally two routes you can choose: parenting or adoption.

Adoption

Some women ask, “If you’re 8 months pregnant, is adoption still an option?” and “Can you still find adoptive parents if you’re 33, 34 or 35 weeks pregnant?”

Absolutely.

Many prospective birth mothers make an adoption plan during their pregnancy, at the hospital, and even after they take their baby home. No matter what your situation is, it’s never too late to choose adoption. If you’re 31, 32 or 33 weeks pregnant but don’t want the baby, here’s what the adoption process will look like when you’re 8 months pregnant:

 Step 1: Contact an adoption professional. When you call an adoption agency, a trained professional will go over all of your options for as a woman who’s 32–35 weeks pregnant and wants to look into adoption.

 Step 2: Create an adoption plan. After you contact an adoption agency, your assigned specialist will ask you some questions about your wishes for adoption to help you create an adoption plan that’s made just for you. They’ll ask you about what you imagine the perfect adoptive family to look like, what kind of post-placement contact you’re open to, what to include in your hospital plan, and more.

 Step 3: Choose the perfect adoptive parents: Many women ask, “Can you still find adoptive parents if you’re 33–35 weeks pregnant?” Yes, of course. It’s never too late to find adoptive parents for your baby. Once you know what you’re looking for, your adoption specialist will send you adoptive family profiles until you find the perfect family. With a larger, national adoption agency, you’ll have many more families to consider. At that point, when you think you’ve found the perfect one, you can start getting to know them through texts, emails, and even in-person visits.

 Step 4: Create a hospital plan and get ready for placement. Similar to your adoption plan, you’ll be able to decide how you want your hospital stay to go with the help of your specialist. With this template, you’ll be able to decide:

  • How much time you plan to spend with the adoptive parents and your baby
  • If you’d like to take pictures with the adoptive family
  • If you plan to nurse your baby
  • And more

You can make changes to your hospital plan at any time. Just notify your adoption specialist and they will make all the necessary arrangements for you so that you have one less thing to worry about.

After delivery, you’ll be able to sign the adoption paperwork. How much time you have to wait before you sign this document will depend on which state you live in. The most important thing to remember is that once you sign your consent to the adoption, and the placement will be complete.

 Step 5: Start your post-adoption relationship. Your adoption might be legally over, but that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye for good. Many birth parents choose to continue their relationship through picture and letters, phone calls, emails, and in-person visit. No matter what you’re comfortable with, there will be a family who can meet your needs.

“They would never want to keep her from me because they just said I gave them the most precious gift they could ever have,” Angelica said about her post-placement relationship with the adoptive family. “I know that she’s going to have the best life she could ever have. I don’t ever want anything to stand in her way, and I know she has two people that she can look up to.”

Although it’s never too late to choose adoption, it’s never too early to get a head start. If you’re almost 8 months pregnant and don’t want the baby, please call an adoption professional as soon as you can. That way, you’ll have more time to pick a family, make a hospital plan, think about how much contact you want, and more.

Parenting 

Your baby’s due date is approaching quickly. Right now, you’re probably feeling stressed out and overwhelmed figuring out how to prepare for your first day of parenthood. This may be especially true if are 8 months pregnant and “giving it up” for adoption didn’t feel like the right choice. If you’re just now considering this unplanned pregnancy option, but you think it might be right for you, now is the time to really get started in preparing for baby. Start building your savings, talk to friends and family who will be ready to help, and start getting everything you need ready for your baby’s arrival.

You should also think about packing your hospital bag. It’s a small step in the grand scheme of things, but it will really make your life that much easier. If you’ve haven’t already, now would be a great time to take a tour of the hospital you’ll be staying at. This would also be a great time to get the nursery set up, start reading through books about newborn care, and get your car ready to take baby home.

ADOPTION VS. PARENTING

Now that we’ve laid out your options, you’ve got some important things to think about. Knowing which option is right for you won’t be easy, At this stage in your pregnancy, it mostly comes down to adoption or parenting. While you think about which option is right for you, it might be helpful to consider a few key factors like:

  • Your financial situation
  • Your living situation
  • Your support system
  • Your relationship to the birth father
  • Your readiness to be a parent
  • Your plans for the future

Keep in mind that this decision is entirely yours to make. While it can be helpful to get the opinion of friends and family, they should not be pressuring you into a decision that you’re not comfortable with or ready for. You are the only one who can and should make this life-changing decision.

PREPARING FOR NEXT MONTH

Whether you decide to choose adoption or parenting, it’s important to be completely sure before you make your choice. The good news is that there are plenty of resources available to help you make your decision. If you’re 32, 33, 34 or 35 weeks pregnant and want to look into adoption, please contact an adoption professional at any time to get more support with your unplanned pregnancy options.