I’m Pregnant and Don’t Want to Be a Mom
If you’re pregnant and don’t want to be a mom, you’re not alone—and you’re not wrong for feeling this way.
Motherhood is not something that should be forced on anyone, and it’s okay to know that it’s not the right path for you right now.
You have two primary options in Colorado: adoption and abortion. The right choice depends on your personal circumstances, beliefs, timeline, and what feels most aligned with your values.
To talk to someone about your options, you can contact an adoption professional for free help.
Abortion vs. Adoption in Colorado: Comparing Your Options
Abortion ends the pregnancy. Adoption places your baby with a family you choose, allowing you to remain connected (if you want) through open adoption.
Both paths offer you a future without parenting—but they work in different ways.
Adoption in Colorado
Adoption allows you to carry the pregnancy to term and place your baby with a family you personally choose. You can remain involved in your child’s life through open adoption, or you can choose a more private arrangement.
What to know:
- You choose the family: You review profiles of pre-screened families and select the people who will raise your child.
- Open adoption is common: Most adoptions today include some level of ongoing contact—photos, letters, phone calls, or visits. You decide what feels right.
- Adoption is free for you: You will never pay to place your baby for adoption. You may also qualify for financial assistance during pregnancy (rent, utilities, groceries, medical expenses).
- You have time to decide: You can explore adoption at any point—even after your baby is born.
Timeline: Adoption can be planned during pregnancy, but the legal process doesn’t begin until after birth. This means you have time to think, change your mind, or adjust your plan.
After adoption: Depending on the level of openness you choose, you may receive updates, photos, or have visits with your child as they grow up.
Abortion in Colorado
Colorado is one of the most accessible states for abortion care. There are no gestational limits, no mandatory waiting periods, and parental consent requirements can be bypassed in some cases with court approval.
What to know:
- Medication abortion (the abortion pill): Available up to about 10 weeks of pregnancy. Involves taking pills to end the pregnancy, and can often be done at home.
- Surgical abortion: Available throughout pregnancy, though fewer providers will offer abortion in later pregnancy. The procedure varies depending on how far along you are.
- Cost: Ranges from $0 cost for medication with insurance up to several thousand dollars, depending on the procedure and how far along you are. Abortion funds can help cover costs if needed.
- Where to go: Planned Parenthood locations across Colorado, and other licensed providers.
Timeline: Abortion must happen while you’re still pregnant. The earlier you decide, the more options you have (medication vs. surgical) and typically the lower the cost.
After abortion: Once the procedure is complete, the pregnancy is over.
Can’t Get an Abortion But Don’t Want to Be a Mother? You Have Choices
If you’ve realized you’re pregnant and don’t want it, but you’re past the point where abortion feels accessible or affordable, adoption offers a path forward that doesn’t require you to become a parent.
Here’s what makes adoption different from abortion:
- No time limit: Unlike abortion, adoption isn’t restricted by trimester or gestational age. You can make an adoption plan at any point in your pregnancy—even in your third trimester—or after your baby is born.
- No rush: Abortion often requires making a quick decision, especially if you’re facing financial or logistical barriers. With adoption, you have time to think, process your feelings, and explore what feels right without pressure.
- Financial support during pregnancy: If the financial cost of abortion feels out of reach, adoption agencies can often provide assistance with living expenses during your pregnancy, covering costs like rent, food, transportation, and medical care.
- You remain in control: With adoption, you’re not giving up control—you’re actively choosing the family, the level of openness, and the plan that works for you.
If you thought abortion was your only option but it no longer feels accessible, adoption may give you the time, support, and control you need to move forward.
Can I Give Up My Baby for Adoption Right After Birth?
Yes. Adoption doesn’t require months of planning. If you give birth and realize you cannot parent, you can place your baby for adoption immediately.
By working with a national adoption agency like American Adoptions, you can be connected with a waiting family who is ready to welcome a baby on short notice. These families have already been vetted, approved, and are prepared to step in when a birth mother needs them.
Even if you haven’t made an adoption plan during pregnancy, it’s not too late. You can reach out to an adoption professional from the hospital, and they will guide you through the process.
Need help right now? Call 1-800-236-7846 to speak with an adoption counselor 24/7.
You Don’t Want to Be a Mom—Adoption Lets You Choose a Better Future
Adoption isn’t a fallback plan—it’s a proactive choice that allows you to give your child a life you feel good about, while creating a future for yourself that feels manageable and right.
Here’s what adoption offers you:
- Financial support during pregnancy: Help with rent, utilities, groceries, maternity clothes, transportation, and medical bills (as allowed by Colorado law)
- Free counseling: 24/7 access to trained counselors who provide emotional support throughout your pregnancy and after placement
- You choose the adoptive family: You review profiles, meet families if you want, and select the people who will raise your child
- Open adoption options: Stay connected through photos, letters, phone calls, or visits—whatever feels right to you
- Post-placement support: Ongoing counseling and resources for as long as you need them, even years after placement
Adoption gives your baby stability, love, and a prepared family—while giving you the chance to move forward without the responsibilities of motherhood.
Curious about what adoption could look like for you? Learn more about the adoption process here.
What Happens When You Choose Adoption in Colorado?
If you decide adoption is the right path, here’s what the process looks like:
1. Find an adoption agency
Reach out to a licensed adoption agency in Colorado (like American Adoptions). You’ll be assigned an adoption professional who will answer your questions and help you create a plan.
2. Make an adoption plan
Your adoption plan is a personalized outline of what you want. This includes:
- What kind of family you’re looking for
- How much openness you want (photos, letters, visits)
- What kind of support you need during pregnancy
3. Choose an adoptive family
Your agency will show you profiles of families who have been screened and approved. You pick the family that feels right. Many birth mothers choose to meet the family before the baby is born.
4. Receive financial assistance
Once your plan is in place, you may begin receiving help with pregnancy-related expenses like rent, groceries, utilities, maternity clothes, and medical care.
5. Birth and hospital stay
When your baby is born, you decide who is present—the adoptive family, just you, or both. You also decide how much time you want with the baby before placement.
6. Post-placement life
After placement, you’ll continue to have access to counseling and support. Depending on your open adoption agreement, you may receive photos, letters, or have visits with your child.
Adoption is not about disappearing from your child’s life—it’s about creating a new kind of relationship that works for everyone.
Want to see what this could look like for you? Learn more about the families in who choose open adoption here.
Who Can I Talk to Right Now? Free, Confidential Support Is Available
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, scared, or unsure about what to do, talking to someone who understands can help you gain clarity.
Where to find free, confidential support:
- American Adoptions: Call 1-800-236-7846 (24/7). These counselors can help you explore both abortion and adoption without judgment. You don’t have to be considering adoption to call—they’re here to listen.
- All-Options Talkline: Call 1-888-493-0092. A judgment-free national hotline for anyone navigating pregnancy, abortion, adoption, or parenting decisions.
These resources exist to help you think through your options—not to tell you what to do. You deserve support, clarity, and space to make the decision that’s right for you.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone—Getting Help in Colorado
Being pregnant but not wanting to be a mom doesn’t make you selfish, irresponsible, or wrong. It makes you honest and brave. And honesty is the foundation of making a decision you can live with.
Whether you choose abortion, adoption, or need more time to think, help is available right now in Colorado.
Ready to talk through your options?
Call 1-800-ADOPTION (236-7846) for free, confidential support 24/7.
Want to explore adoption first? Learn more about your choices here.
You deserve support throughout your decision-making process and beyond.