Exploring Adoption for Your Baby?
“You have done a terrific job bringing up such a beautiful daughter she looks so happy and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving her a life that I would not have been able to” – Birth Mother
Putting a baby up for adoption is a life-changing process that can be difficult but rewarding.
The first thing you need to know is that if you’re feeling conflicting emotions about your decision, it’s perfectly normal.
Every expectant mother who considers putting up (or, as it’s more commonly described, placing) her baby for adoption experiences a wide range of feelings ranging from denial, guilt, shock, anger and confusion to relief, excitement and acceptance.
Most women who place a baby for adoption do so because they feel they’re not ready or able to parent. They make their decision because they’re responsible and Because they love their baby.
In fact, they put their child’s welfare above their own and only make their decision after a long and difficult period of soul-searching.
You likely have your own reasons for choosing adoption. There’s no one right reason to do it. The circumstances and motivations behind the decision to place vary as much as the individuals who make them.
The next thing you need to know is that adoption is a legal process. So you can’t just decide one day to place your baby and go out and find an adoptive family. There are laws and rules regarding the process that vary from state to state.
However, no matter where you live, as an expectant mother considering adoption, you have the right to:
- make your decision without pressure or coercion
- receive counseling free of charge
- make an informed choice
- there is never any costs you will incur when placing your baby for adoption
- living assistance is available and is regulated on a state by state basis
- all medical expenses are covered
You can have an active role in the placement process from start to finish.
This could include:
- choosing adoptive parents for you baby
- speaking & meeting the adoptive parents
- having an ongoing relationship as the child grows up
Parenting or adoption. If you decide on adoption, you’ll also need to decide which path to pursue: open adoption (exchanging identifying information and contact with the adoptive parents); semi-open adoption (exchanging some identifying information with the adoptive parents); and closed adoption (no exchanging identifying information and no contact with the adoptive parents). These are all choices you can decide and we are there to help guide you through it, if you need it.
While exploring your options, adoption counselors are available to help educate you on adoption and whether it’s right for you.