Recession adoptions: Economy forces some women to give up babies
Filed under: Family Money, Health, Recession
The recession has caused some people to postpone having children until they feel more financially stable. But now comes reports of some struggling families putting the kids they do have up for adoption, all because they can't afford to keep them in this economy.
Siegfort is not alone in her struggle to raise kids in this tough economy. A variety of adoption agencies have reported more inquiries from women with unplanned pregnancies who are considering giving their babies up. Many of them are in their 20's and already have at least one child.
A recent Gallup poll found that 9% of married women have postponed a pregnancy because of their finances. Single women are especially concerned about an unplanned pregnancy, and 33% of women ages 18 to 44 say they've become more diligent about using contraceptives to avoid conceiving. That certainly jives with recent reports that condom sales have increased as the economy as worsened.
Common estimates say that raising a child from birth to age 18 can cost parents more than $250,000. The first couple years alone are full of all kinds of expenses that include diapers, clothing, formula, medical visits, child care and other necessary items babies just can't go without. All those purchases really do add up and strain many families' budgets even in the best economic times. (You can use a calculator to estimate the costs of raising your own kids here.)
As difficult as it is for me to imagine giving up my own child for adoption because things were tough financially, I'm not going to judge this woman for her decision. I think she probably did the best she could in her situation and wanted to put the welfare of her child first. She made a huge sacrifice giving up her baby, and I hope she really is at peace with her decision.
Money Clips
- HILARIOUS: Warren Buffet Plays Axl Rose in New Commercial - Huffington Post
- ON THE PLUS SIDE: Where Home Prices Are Rising - CNNMoney
- FRICTION: Could China Trade War Put Walmart Out of Business? - 24/7 Wall St.
- PROFILE: Opinionated Auto Industry Insider Dies - FORTUNE
- DON'T LAUGH: More Homeowners Turning to Fake Grass - SmartMoney
- HIT HARDEST: States Hurt Most From Rising Gas Prices - CNBC
- GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH: Best Cars to Buy Used - CBS MoneyWatch
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
5-20-2009 @ 2:42AM
Jaysh said...
This is really sad.Wonder when things will be back to normal.
Incidentally there is an interesting website that is specifically dedicated to recession victims.It offers help and discusses all issues related to recession- http://www.angstcorner.com. It’s worth a visit!
Reply
5-21-2009 @ 6:10PM
tina said...
Here's a thought BIRTH CONTROL!!!
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5-21-2009 @ 6:52PM
SU said...
BIRTH CONTROL IS RIGHT...HAVE YOUR TUBES TIED! TAKE A FREAKIN PILL, GET AN IMPLANT THAT LAST FOR YEARS. Stupid woman has now hurt 3 adult children who will always know they have a sibling out there somewhere not to mention child adopted will always wonder about birth family. The ignorance is beyond me.
5-21-2009 @ 11:51PM
Sarah said...
Did it occur to either of you that she could not afford birth control or a costly trip to the ob/gyn? What about paying for hospital bills for the birth of the child?
Just curious because women still live in a country where the majority of our health care is just too expensive for poor women. I'll bet her daughters may have to work. I could honestly never imagine putting myself in such a terrible position and I completely agree. The cost of the birth control or sterilization would be much cheaper compared to the cost of an unwanted/unplanned pregnancy.
5-22-2009 @ 12:43AM
Frieda said...
I agree and if she can't afford it...keep panties on and legs shut. She already had three kids with out a visible father, why make yet another? I have no pity for her, but do for the three kids that she still has in her home.....
5-22-2009 @ 3:05AM
niki said...
sadly, insurance companies, medical professionals, and drug companies seem overwhelmingly insistant upon making sure birth control is anything but accessible for women.
I have a latex allergy and thusly cannot use most barrier methods. The only pill that has worked for me without horrible side effects is Yaz.. which of course, isn't covered by my insurance and has no available generic for another 2 years. I pay $64 monthly out of pocket to be able to take what my insurance company evidently deemed some sort of optional, luxury prescription. Luckily I'm able to afford the extra cost, but MANY women can't. Add on top of that the fact that many doctors will outright refuse to sterilize women before a certain age for fear of a lawsuit if she 'changes her mind', and the ghastly premiums you'll pay if you do get approved for the procedure, and you may be able to see why birth control isn't as easy as it could be for many people.
But hey, at least viagra is covered, right?
5-21-2009 @ 6:11PM
sarah said...
Can't feed them, don't breed them! With all of the conraceptive possibilities out there, this woman should never have gotten pregnant in the first place if she knew how to practice safe sex. And if she doesn't know how to, then she should have stapled her panties on!
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5-21-2009 @ 9:52PM
Lala said...
Stapled her panties on...I like that idea.
5-31-2009 @ 5:14PM
EP said...
She should have had an abortion. She will be lucky if her child doesn't grow up to hate her. This woman disgusts me.
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5-21-2009 @ 6:24PM
amber said...
STOP HAVING BABIES!!!!! Then you won't have to put them through a system where they get mistreated in most cases and then when they are 17, dumped on the streets to fend for themselves. How selfish some people can be to put children up for adoption because they can't express self control.
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5-21-2009 @ 6:41PM
beccy said...
i have a very close friend who is adopted. she is almost 19 and the system hasnt "dumped" her yet. once you're adopted you are a part of that family forever, no matter what your age. and birth control fails sometimes. condoms break and women forget to take a pill every now and then, or in some cases it just fails whether or not you are on time in taking it.
5-21-2009 @ 7:04PM
Nova said...
That's a really horrible thing to say about the families who have adopted children. Not everyone falls into that steryotype. I have two adopted siblings and we're doing just fine with them, thank you very much. -.- I know several other families who have adopted children and none of them are mistreated or anything.
5-21-2009 @ 7:39PM
Cecilia said...
Um...this child wasn't put in any "system," it was ADOPTED by a FAMILY. It's not in foster care, and it's not going to be "dumped" on the streets. At any rate, I applaud this woman. She could have chosen to have the child KILLED before it was born, you know. That would have been the easiest thing to do. Yes, a lot of people should be more diligent with using birth control, but that's only 99% effective - - when used PROPERLY!
5-21-2009 @ 8:43PM
Steph said...
"In the system"???? She gave her baby up for adoption to a loving family who will care for it and be able to give it a good, stable, home. That is the most SELFLESS act of a true mother. Good for her!
5-21-2009 @ 6:34PM
Jackie said...
Seriously, if you can not afford to take care of a child, then GO BUY CONDOMS! There are still health departments that provide them free...as well as getting other forms of contraception, ie pills, depo shots,etc. This is just ridiculous. Everyone knows that adoption has always been an option in the past, and that is great. Many children have found loving families. However, for the people who want to blame the economy for their inability to care for the child that they apparently conceived without thinking about the economy at the time, you will be those people who always wonder what if I had kept my child? When they look you up in 20 years are you going to tell them, "Hey I had sex back in 2009 without protection, got pregnant with you but, Gee daughter/son....the economy was just too bad for me to care for you, so I gave you to the nice people."
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5-21-2009 @ 10:30PM
djdeligirl said...
Or, things could have been worse, The baby wouldn't have to worry about who her mother is, had the mother chose to abort. She chose to give this child a chance, a chance she could not give him/her. With so many people out there not able to have kids of her own, I applaud her,
She was obviously beyond the point of birth control if she was pregnant. Do you really think nagging about that will fix the situation now? Hopefully she will use more precaution, but I assure you, all of you yelling about her not using birth control,....do you live in glass houses?
5-21-2009 @ 6:49PM
Cynthia J. said...
What is wrong with this woman? Why did she have the first three kids? She struggles financially (probably on Welfare), didn't want to "hurt" the child. What nonsense. Why do people who cannot afford children continue to have them?? Having children is a privilege not a Right. I'm sick of supporting irresponsible, lazy, uneducated and unemployed Mothers who keep having kids knowing they cannot afford them. Why do they get pregnant in the first place?? Probably too freaking lazy to use birth control. What a disgusting mess this Country is in and why do the poor little kids have to suffer??
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5-21-2009 @ 7:05PM
marie said...
I agree with you. I know a women who is working on her number 8. She gets everything for free,Her house, her food with food stamps. electric, gas, water and everything else that comes with everyday living. Her boyfriend don't work he sit in the house all day and night plays X-Box that was giving to them for free for Xmas . I think this country needs to stop handing out everything for free to mother who keep having children and not take care of them.
5-21-2009 @ 11:06PM
K said...
Perhaps poor women cannot afford birth control.
I have no clue how much birth control pills cost, but they are rarely covered by insurance.
Why didn't the man wear a condom? If he did, what happened?
5-21-2009 @ 11:17PM
Jessica said...
Excuse me you crossed the line there. I am a women with two kids that got laid off my job three years ago. I have had severe health probelm the past few years. I am on welfare and I'm a good mother and going to college. Just because you are on welfare does not make you a bad parent lazy or stupid. You are ingorant. Guess what doctor's will not tie many womens tubes they just wont do it. I just had it done last week it hurts BAD!! and if you have kids to take care of it's even harder. I got pregnant on condoms and the pill. It happens. Ye who is without sin cast the first stone. It's a bad economy people have no money and no health insurance. Birth control at full cost is more expensive than my grocery's. So huh buy my groceries or spend over 100 dollars on the pill. Let my family starve so Joe Shmo won't think I'm being too risky. Oh and I like many people are allergic to condoms.. use 'em and get nasty side effects I won't get into. Have your opinions but don't be a fascist.