Should I keep my baby?

Go ahead and have your new baby. You can do it. After all you have done it 3 times before! The financial aspect is often overblown in the west. I have seen couples in the slums of India raise up multiple happy children. If they can do it, so can you!

Abortion really would be wrong and a huge mistake. Abortions can indeed sometimes give physical complications and problems with future pregnancies such as miscarriages being more likely. Common side effects (which can last up to two months) can include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and bleeding. Some experience even worse complications.

A lot of real guilt and shame often can come with an abortion. Perhaps it is for this reason that many relationships end not too long after an abortion is done.

The other day a girl on Yahoo Answers commented that she could not stop crying ever since she had her abortion.

Someone else shared, “My sister had an abortion at 21 and she said it haunts her and she has dreams of a three yr old boy! (it’s been three yrs).”

And another said, “I had the procedure done two days ago and i regret it deeply. I just keep crying and want the baby back. I just keep having all these what if thoughts about the fetus I aborted and i just feel horrible. I should of kept it and now i just don’t know how to cope with the decision I made.”

Someone else posted, “ I have a lot of guilt and regret about the abortion... I wanted it, but felt like I didn't have another option. That I took the easy way out because I didn't have the guts to stand up to everyone and do it on my own.”

And another girl on Yahoo Answers recently wrote, "I was 9 weeks pregnant and had an abortion a couple of days ago. I had a medical abortion where they brought on a miscarriage and I had to use toilet pans when I needed the toilet so they could examine everything. I saw the tiny fetus just laying there perhaps just over an inch long. It actually broke my heart and it's been haunting me with regret ever since. My boyfriend came in the room because I screamed and he saw it as well and he's been extremely sad about it.”

But you can avoid all this pain and heartbreak. By having this 4th child it is no small aspect that you can go for the rest of your life knowing that you gave that child the chance to live out his or her life.

Don't worry, you will do fine, one day at a time. :) This new child is a blessing. All the best....

dear MrsCraig this baby is the same as the other ones you have:) keep and love your baby..no one regret keeping a baby:)) at least and temporary custody to a family or relatives?(when everything is well you can keep him\her without abortion)or at least give the baby up for OPEN or close adoption(even in an other country if you want to)....cause adoption or custody so life is better than abortion..

baby has heartbeat too:)

adopting parents may pay everything in pregnancy!”

then there's also open adoption so you can follow your child growing up :)

love and life are sacrifices but they're better than abortion!

so please the most important thing is:not abort,then I suggest keeping him\her and you see “THANKS”in his\her smile because you didn’t abort him\her despite your difficulties!

then adoption or custody is better than abortion that doesn't let the baby live and hurts you too

Dont listen to anyone else, if u think u can cope with another baby emotionally, financially and physucally then keep the baby if u think u really cant and have gone through all the options then abort. Dont keep this baby if u cant manage or things can get very stressful.

You still have some time to make a decision. If you can't live with having an abortion, then it looks like you're having it. Perhaps it's time to think about sterilization. Your husband can have a vasectomy right now. You've done your share.

'I can understand not "believing" in abortions, but do you also not "believe" in birth control? After 3 kids I would assume you know how babies are made. So why aren't you using protection?'

Did they say they weren't using any protection? Do you know of any contraception that's 100% effective, 'cos I don't.

I can understand not "believing" in abortions, but do you also not "believe" in birth control? After 3 kids I would assume you know how babies are made. So why aren't you using protection?

Literally all you can do is discuss it amongst yourself and the baby's father just weigh out all of the pros and cons. Think very long and hard about it remember every life is precious.

My husband has always regretted that his mother gave him up and has dealt from lifelong insecurity issues from that. Do not let worry steal your joy. God never brings you to a task without bringing you through it. Your baby is no less precious than your other children are would you give your 7 year old away? I think not. look at the bright side of things you already have all the stuff that you need. Can you do away with cable? Extra car trips? Can you stop going to outside activities you can't walk to to save on gas? Can you get on medicaid to pay for the child birth or food stamps? Or WIC? Can you give up buying new clothes and shop at yard sales. I know you are stretched thin but you must stretch more. Can you stop buying snacks and feed your kids home made cookies croutons and pop corn instead? Can you make 96 loads of home made detergent for .50 instead of paying $15.00 for a container? I do this with finely grated glycerin type soap and hot water it takes me 5 minuites to make a batch. Can you move to a house where the rent is less? Can you enroll the 3 year old in Head Start to make things go easier on you in the day? Can friends give you their old clothes. You can try upcycling your clothing to make children's clothing out of it. It took me 20 minutes to make my youngest a dress out of an old T-shirt, there is no end to instructions for this online. Do you have friends willing to give away their hand me downs. Can you go to cloth diapers? Are you using everything that you own in each possible way that you can? Can you make home made Christmas gifts? Can you back from scratch instead of from mix? Can you cut the sugar in to koolaid in half using the plain off brand packs instead of the premixed mix. Can you add 8 additional ounces of water to koolaid when you are making Popsicle? Are there any gym or pool or magazine memberships that you can drop? Can you make shampoo out of 8 ounces of water and a tea spoon of baking soda? Trust me this works and irritates babies eyes less and baby smells fresh coming out of the tub. Can you use less water in the bathtub. Can you switch to a less expensive brand of diaper? Will your children ever be able to forgive you for giving the baby up for adoption? Do you have anything of value that you can sell. I keep my kids in camping cots till I can afford to buy them beds. Can you have a yard sale? Can you cut back on gift expenses? My daughter gave each teacher a flower when they were on sale for mother's day and for Christmas she is collecting seeds from the food that she eats so that she can give them a seed pack gift. It makes her happy, tells them thank you and doesn't cost them anything. You can make a lot of home cleaners for way less I have included recipies from online I have found helpful. I have even found simple recipies for "Shout" and "Febreeze" which I can make in under 30 seconds and are quite effective. I plan on selling these easy products at my community craft fair this fall to help earn money, it is very low overhead and little work compared to the price of the products sold in the store and way more natural. Did you know that catnip tea has been shown to be 4 times as effective as mosquito repellent than "Deet" in laboratory tests? It is less toxic and costs less and means that I won't have to keep going out to buy my kids mosquito repellent? A mixture of 50% sugar and 50% Borax is more effective for me in getting rid of roaches in my house than when I called in the exterminator or used expensive store bought poisons. I am just saying that I get where you are coming from I have a 2,3 and 4 year old and I am a full time college student. I am one of 9 children I know how hard life can be. You need to be very honest with your children. A lot of responsibility already falls on the shoulders of your 7 year old and even more will fall on him/ her but that is good it will make him or her tougher and more responsible and capable. 8 months from now is a long time right now you can't find time to shave your legs or brush your hair and it feels like you just got over being pregnant and you want a break but this is your baby we are talking about. Don't buy into the lies of consumerism. You are not super mom but God will give you the strength you need for each new day at the beginning of each new day. You are tired find a friend to sit for free while you take a bubble bath or a nap of go on the long needed date. Because this new baby is the part of the family you already have and the kids will be excited you need to keep this baby. Nothing you could ever do even divorce could make your kids feel more insecure than giving the baby away, the question they will then ask themselves is will mommy give me away to if I become to expensive or inconvenient. Good luck!