Women facing an unplanned pregnancy often think abortion is the only answer to their situation. Stop for a moment. Have you considered making an adoption plan?
If you like the idea of being a mother but cannot handle the day-to-day responsibilities or you are already a Mom with more than you can handle, adoption may be the answer.
The adoption process today is entirely in the hands of the expectant mom. Even if you already have children, or have already given birth, making an adoption plan is a wonderful option.
As the mother, you are the one who chooses the family that will raise your child, and you create a plan according to how much contact you want to have with the adoptive family and your child.
Don’t let anyone tell you adoption means giving your baby away to strangers. You can rest assured the family you pick has been through a very intense screening process. Background checks, home visits, and questionnaires make sure they have all the necessary qualifications to raise your child in a loving home. They will not be strangers to you or to the agency you work with.
There are basically three types of adoption plans. No one plan is better than another. It is up to you and the adoptive family as to which is best for all of you.
As a birth mother, you choose how involved you want to be in your child’s future. An open adoption plan means you and the adoptive family share information such as full names, phone numbers, and addresses. Together, you and the adoptive family determine how often you will contact one another. You can speak to one another through face-to-face meetings and phone calls, or choose to send texts and letters.
Some families have very close relationships with their child’s birth mother and possibly the birth father. Even birth grandparents can become actively involved. The birth family becomes another extension of the adoptive family. Through regular contact, you have the opportunity to be a part of your child’s life as he or she grows.
Some women who choose adoption prefer to have no communication with the adoptive family or their child. They feel this is the best choice to move on with their lives. As the birth mother, you will still choose the adoptive family, but you do not interact with them before or after birth. Your identity remains completely anonymous in a closed adoption.
A semi-open adoption is somewhere in between the other two plans. Any communication you have will be through a third party, like a lawyer or an adoption agency. You will still choose the adopting family, but your relationship will be more controlled.
You may exchange first names, but you don’t give any other identifying information such as phone numbers or addresses. Letters, photos, and gifts are exchanged through the lawyer or agency. You have limited exposure to one another.
Let us answer your adoption questions. We can talk about the pros and cons, provide referrals to adoption agencies, and give you all the information you need to make the best choice.
Every woman decides to make an adoption plan differently. Some women deeply struggle, and others never doubt it is best for both themselves and their child. Either way, you don’t have to make this decision on your own. We’re ready to take this life journey with you.
