What Do You Know About Adoption?
Many myths and misunderstandings surround adoption. Women believe they will be giving their babies up to strangers, but nothing can be further from the truth.
A loving mother never gives up. She makes a plan for her child to receive what she cannot give them. And the adoptive family aren’t strangers. She chooses them after learning all about them. Find out more about the adoption option.
Why Would I Choose Adoption?
Women from all walks of life choose adoption. It is the most difficult, selfless, loving, and painful decision a woman will ever make. Why do they choose adoption? Here are a few of the reasons:
- I’m too young or too old to parent
- I’ve already got other kids I’m raising, and I don’t have the capacity for this one
- Motherhood is something that has never interested me
- Now is not the right time to parent
- The father is no longer a part of my life
- I want my child to have a two-parent home and better opportunities
- I’m not in a safe relationship or environment
How Do I Make an Adoption Plan?
Begin by choosing a reputable adoption agency or attorney. A licensed adoption coordinator should never charge you for their services.
They must explain the adoption process to you from start to finish. There should be no surprises as you move through the process. By having a thorough understanding of your rights as an expectant woman or birth mother, you will know if adoption is the right choice for you.
Choosing Your Adoption Plan
Once you’ve determined to proceed with adoption, you will select your adoption plan. There are three basic plans to choose from:
Open Adoption
Open adoption gives you the ability to connect with the adoptive family and your child freely. You exchange identifying information such as full names, addresses, phone numbers, etc. You and the adoptive family determine how and when to communicate with each other.
Semi-Open Adoption
A semi-open plan is also known as a mediated adoption. You and the adoptive family communicate with each other through a third party, such as your adoption agency or lawyer. A mediated adoption allows for greater privacy for everyone.
Closed Adoption
Less than 10% of today’s adoptions are closed. With this plan, you remain entirely anonymous. No identifying information is exchanged, and the courts seal the original birth certificate.
Choosing the Adoptive Family
The most important part of the adoption process is choosing the couple to raise your child. An agency will present bios of potential adoptive couples who match criteria that are essential to you. Couples share their lifestyle, employment, hobbies, family history, and other pertinent information.
Before being considered for adoption, every couple must submit background checks, fingerprints, a home study, financial and health records, references, and more. You can be confident they are ready to love and care for your child.
Adoption Counseling
No one should ever manipulate you into choosing adoption. Find an adoption coordinator who provides counseling before, during, and after the finalization. Adoption is a lifetime choice and you want to be confident it is the right one for you and your child.
How Can the Pregnancy Help Center Assist Me?
We do not facilitate adoption or gain financially from your choice to place your child for adoption. We can, however, refer you to organizations that we know and trust.
Schedule a time to discuss adoption to better understand this option.
The information presented on this website is intended for general education purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional and/or medical advice. We do not provide or refer for abortions. We do not profit from any of your sexual health or pregnancy decisions.
