Inquiries about adoption, abortion on rise

MARENGO, Ill., May 20 (UPI) -- A Gallup Organization survey indicated 10 percent of married women are putting off pregnancy due to the current economy.

USA Today reported Joan Jaeger of The Cradle, a Chicago adoption agency, said 30 percent more women with unplanned pregnancies than a year ago seek information about adoption services.

Financial considerations have caused more abortion inquiries. Vicki Saporta of the National Abortion Federation, an abortion-provider advocacy organization, indicated her group's hotline activity has almost tripled within the past year. Many calls are from women in families experiencing job loss.

"The economy has made them take a second look at adoption," says Scott Mars of American Adoptions in Overland Park, Kan. He reports a 10 percent to 12 percent increase in adoption placement inquiries and a 7 percent to 10 percent increase in placements since last year, although the demand for healthy babies continues to exceed the supply.

"We've seen a dramatic increase in girls calling us from the hospital," says Joseph Sica of Adoption By Shepherd Care in Hollywood, Fla. He said pregnant mothers hope for help in child-raising, but when it is not forthcoming, they phone. Sica saw 14 such cases in 2008, an increase from 11 in 2007 and four in 2006.