addmeKEEPING YOUR BABY
Though a surprise, your baby can enrich and bring great joy to your life! Your baby has already inherited his/her looks, talents and personality from you and your partner, and carries your DNA. While you may be feeling overwhelmed and a bit scared, know that you will not be alone in your decision and that there is support available. Click here for information about how we can help you.
addmeADOPTION
Adopting your baby out can also be a positive experience. You are able to choose the family who adopts your child based on your preferences of culture, values, and/or religion, and you’re able to have as little or as much contact with your child as you want. Although it is a challenging decision for many, it’s one that brings great rewards—you're giving your baby and another family the gift of life. Contact us for more information about adoption.
addmeFOSTERING
If you’re not too sure what you’re wanting to do with your baby, fostering is an option that gives you more time to consider whether to keep your baby or to adopt out. It takes the pressure off of the situation, giving you time to consider your options.
Fostering involves someone else looking after the baby for a set time to give the mother time to evaluate what she wants in life. Contact us if you have any further questions about fostering or would like more information about your options.
addmeWHANGAI
In Aotearoa New Zealand, Whangai is is a customary Maori practice where a child is brought up by someone other than their birth parents—usually involves a child being raised by its whanau or extended family. Often, it means placing a child with its grandparents—but it could also be another family member, or someone unrelated. It can be a short-term, long-term or permanent arrangement.
Whangai is informal. A whangai placement is arranged directly between the birth parents and the matua whangai (the family who will raise the child). Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children do not need to be involved and the birth parents are still the child’s legal guardians. In most cases, whangai takes place at birth, but it can also involve older children. A whangai child usually knows its birth parents and has an ongoing relationship with them.
In some cases, parents or others in the wider family may not be able to have children of their own and would be most willing to step in to help raise your child. Maybe consider talking to your family more about this unique and possible option. Click here to visit the New Zealand Government site on adoption and fostering/whangai.
addmeABORTION
There can be many factors that can surround one’s decision when considering an abortion. Please don’t rush. Take the time to be truly informed, so you can make a decision from a place of certainty and knowledge.
There are two main methods of abortion: medical abortion involves taking pills to end the pregnancy, and surgical abortion involves a minor operation.
A woman can seek an abortion without restrictions within the first 20 weeks of their pregnancy. After the 20-week period, women seeking an abortion must consult a qualified health practitioner who will assess the patient's physical health, mental health, and well-being. Click here for more information on the New Zealand Abortion Legislation Act 2020.
Like any medical procedure, it is important to be fully informed about the possible risks following an abortion. These risks can have an effect on your physical, emotional or mental wellbeing. Click here to find out how abortion can affect your wellbeing. And to read a review of the evidence for health professionals 'Abortion and the Physical & Mental Health of Women' click here.
We know that making the decision whether to abort or continue your pregnancy can be very overwhelming. Please know that you are not alone, and you are welcome to contact us to talk more, without judgement and in a safe environment to consider all your options.
If you feel threatened or pressured about your decision, you can contact us for support or refer to Women’s Refuge.