How to Place Your Baby for Adoption in New Hampshire

Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption in New Hampshire? You are in the right place. Adoptions With Love is a licensed, non-profit adoption agency helping expectant/birth parents make the most positive, informed decisions for their babies. Whether you just found out you are pregnant, are in your third trimester, or have already given birth, we extend our support to you.

For over 30 years, Adoptions With Love has been building lifelong relationships with young women like you. For the last three decades, we have also built good relationships with the best adoption professionals in your state. If you need help placing your baby for adoption in NH, know that you can always contact us. Our trusted New Hampshire adoption partner can help you explore your options, understand the adoption laws in your area, and make an adoption plan that is tailored to your needs.

This short guide outlines some of the many steps you can take if you decide to place your baby for adoption in New Hampshire.

• Choose an adoption agency.

As you contemplate adoption, your first step will be to choose the right adoption professional to guide you through this unexpected journey. There are many New Hampshire adoption agencies that can help you, but it is important to find one you truly trust – one that will discuss all of your options with you, listen to your wishes, and respect any choice you make. Choose an adoption agency that will never pressure you, but rather stand by your side and support you as you make this important decision. The right agency will also be licensed and willing to provide the financial, emotional, and physical assistance you need and deserve – both now and after the adoption takes place.

• Meet with an adoption counselor to begin your adoption plan.

After choosing an adoption agency, you will begin working with (and establishing a relationship with) one of their licensed, compassionate social workers. This person will become your shoulder to lean on, your teacher, and the helping hand to guide you through the entire adoption process. Together, you will discuss your hopes and needs as an expectant mother, and then create an adoption plan for your baby.

At Adoptions With Love, we feel the meetings with your adoption social worker are a crucial part of this journey. They will give you the opportunity to consider all of your choices, learn about all of your birth mother rights, and understand exactly what to expect before, during, and after an adoption takes place.

• Understand the adoption laws in New Hampshire.

Adoption laws vary state to state. In New Hampshire, no parent can sign legal adoption documents until at least 72 hours after the baby is born. This will give you time to rest, think about your decision, and spend time with your baby (if you would like) before finalizing an adoption plan.

If you choose to make an adoption plan, it is important to work with an experienced adoption agency that has attorneys specifically trained in your state. Adoptions With Love, for example, has a team of compassionate and knowledgeable adoption attorneys who understand the laws of adoption in NH. Our attorneys can meet you – wherever you are – to help walk you through the legal process.

Rest assured that our legal services are always free of charge. In fact, there is never any cost for expectant or birth parent services at Adoptions With Love. New Hampshire law permits financial assistance for pregnancy-related expenses needed before, during, and after your baby’s adoption, such as transportation, counseling, uninsured medical expenses, living costs, and more.

• Choose an adoptive family.

At Adoptions With Love, you will have the opportunity to choose an adoptive family for your baby. For many expectant/birth mothers making an adoption plan, this gives them peace of mind in being able to hand-pick a loving family for their child.

If you would like to select an adoptive family, Adoptions With Love will meet with you to discuss your wishes, your expectations, and your vision of the perfect family. Then, we will send you detailed photo albums and personal profiles of the waiting families that best meet your needs. Once you choose a family for your baby, you can speak to them through email, phone, or meet them in-person if you wish.

No matter what family you choose, rest assured your baby will be placed in a loving, safe and secure home. At Adoptions With Love, all potential adoptive families are thoroughly screened through a series of personal interviews and background checks. They have also undergone an extensive home study process to ensure the safety and stability of their home.

• Make a post-placement plan.

Adoption does not have to mean goodbye. As an open adoption agency, Adoptions With Love gives you the option to establish ongoing and open communication with your child’s adoptive family. This means you can keep in touch with your child and see how he or she is growing over the years. This contact may be through emails, phone conversations, letters and pictures, or even mediated through an adoption counselor – this choice is yours to make. Whether you choose an open adoption, semi-open adoption, or closed adoption plan, our trained social workers will help you consider all of your options for post-adoption contact.

If you choose to make an adoption plan, we encourage you to attend counseling after your baby is placed. Adoption is a lifelong and often emotional journey, which is why Adoptions With Love offers ongoing, confidential counseling services that are available at no cost to you. We will be here to help you navigate emotions, communication, and any adoption relationships before and after your baby is placed. We will always be here for you.

Whether you just found out you are pregnant, are in your final trimester, or have already given birth to your baby, it is not too late to make an adoption plan. Contact Adoptions With Love toll-free at 1-800-722-7731 or text us confidentially at 617-777-0072 for more information on adoption in NH.

This is our State by State Adoption blog series.  To learn about the different areas we service, or to find the specific steps of adoption in your state, please visit adoptionswithlove.org/areas-we-service.