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Making an adoption plan for your baby is a brave decision. It is a difficult choice to make, but it is one of the most positive decisions you can make for your child long-term. Adoption offers love, stability, and opportunity for children. If you are grappling with this decision, you should know that you are not alone – and you do have options, no matter how far along you are. Deciding to give your baby up for adoption can be done during your pregnancy, at the hospital before delivery, and even after birth.
If you are asking, “Can I give my baby up for adoption at the hospital ?”…
The simple answer is yes, you can.
You can choose to make an adoption plan when you are in your first trimester (or second or third), from your recovery room right after giving birth, or at home after you and baby have been discharged from the hospital. It is never too late to make an adoption plan for your baby.
You may be here now because you are unsure if adoption is right for your baby, and are not ready to make a choice just yet. Know that you have time. On the other hand, you may be in the hospital currently, considering adoption for your newborn baby.. Know that adoption is an option for you.
In this guide, we will share what you need to know about giving a baby up for adoption at the hospital.
Hospital adoptions happen more often than you realize. Both medical and adoption professionals are familiar with this circumstance and can help guide you through the process. In fact, an adoption counselor can meet you at the hospital to help you navigate next steps.
We understand that placing your baby for adoption can be overwhelming. With more than 36 years of experience, Adoptions With Love has helped thousands of women like you find the right adoptive family.
*Giving a Baby Up for Adoption from the Hospital
As you consider “giving your baby up” for adoption, you should first know that adoption is not the same as giving up. “Giving up” is a dated phrase that is still used in everyday language, but those in the adoption community know that it is a misrepresentation of what really happens. Placing your baby for adoption is a brave, selfless, and loving decision. You must be an incredibly strong person to take this step for your child’s future. Anyone who considers making an adoption plan for their baby is putting their child’s needs before their own. That is what it means to be a loving parent.
Before making this decision for yourself and your child, you may be wondering how the process works. You may have many questions surrounding adoption from the hospital, such as:
- Is it legal to make and adoption plan for my baby at a hospital?
- Will the hospital help me place my baby for adoption?
- What do you say at the hospital to let them know you are choosing adoption?
We can set your mind at ease now: It is perfectly legal for you to place your child for adoption from a hospital. While the hospital itself cannot take your baby and handle the adoption process, you can tell the staff there that you would like to place your baby for adoption. They can contact a professional adoption service, such as Adoptions With Love. This adoption professional will meet you, wherever you are and wish, to help you create an adoption plan.
How to *“Give Baby Up” for Adoption at the Hospital
- Contact an Adoption Professional
As noted above, an adoption professional can come right to your hospital bed, if and when you are ready. This adoption professional can talk to you about your options, discuss the adoption process, and help you choose an adoptive family. They can also talk to you about the other benefits of adoption and help you navigate the legal steps involved.
This is just one of the many services provided by Adoptions With Love, and there are never any fees for birth/expectant mothers.
Choosing an adoption agency will depend on many factors, but at the end of the day, you will want to find an organization that is reputable and makes you feel comfortable. Your local hospital may have recommendations for you. If you are doing your own research, look for an agency that offers comprehensive counseling and puts your medical and emotional needs first.
- Create Your Adoption Plan
Once you know that you want to place your baby for adoption, you can begin to think about the type of adoption plan you want. Most adoptions today are open adoptions. Open adoption can look different for every family, but it means there is communication between birth and adoptive parents, after the baby has been placed with the adoptive family you have chosen.
Whether you would like an open adoption, a semi-open adoption, or a closed adoption, your adoption professional can help guide you in making the plan that best meets your needs. There is no right or wrong way to make an adoption plan. It is your choice, and your adoption professional will support you no matter what you decide.
- Choose an Adoptive Family
Did you know that even if you choose to put your baby up for adoption from the hospital, you can still choose the adoptive parents for your child?
It may seem like it is too late to make this choice, but choosing a family is possible with the help of your adoption agency. Adoptions With Love, for example, can come to the hospital with adoptive family profiles for you to browse. These will be hopeful adoptive families who have already completed a Home Study and have been approved to adopt. They have undergone a thorough screening process, involving background checks, at-home interviews, and the examination of medical and financial records. This ensures that every family that adopts a child is a healthy one – physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially.
Choosing your baby’s adoptive parents is a major decision and – like the adoption plan itself – is completely your choice to make (if you would like). Because every hopeful adoptive family has passed the Home Study, there is no wrong answer. Many birth parents go with their gut when it comes to picking a family. If you are unsure about your decision, you can ask to speak with the family ahead of time, either on the phone, on a video call, or even in-person, before making your final decision.
- Sign Consent Forms for the Adoption
Once you have chosen the adoptive family for your child, your adoption professional will contact them directly and ask them to travel to the hospital (or your city) immediately. For many hopeful adoptive families, this is the moment for which they have been waiting, so they will jump at the opportunity to get there as quickly as possible. You may choose to meet them at the hospital, if you feel comfortable. If you do not wish to see them, that is okay, too. Your wishes will be respected no matter what choice you make.
You will then need to sign legal documents to place your baby for adoption. This may also be done at the hospital, with a free adoption attorney provided by your agency. Depending on your state, you may have to wait a certain number of hours or days after birth before giving your consent. Adoption laws vary by state. Your adoption counselor can guide you through this process, so that you are informed about your rights as a birth parent.
Once you have signed legal documents consenting to the adoption, your baby will be placed with the adoptive family.
- Navigate Life After Giving Birth
Adoption is a life-changing experience that does not end as soon as you step out of the hospital. You will begin your physical and emotional recovery, but you will also get to look forward to the next chapter. You can also begin to build your lifelong relationship with your child’s adoptive family if you wish to maintain an open adoption. Open adoption is not “goodbye forever.” It is, in fact, only the beginning.
Adoptions with Love understands that this is a lifelong journey. We consider our birth parents family, which is why we offer free counseling services for up to a year after birth. We are here to listen and offer you the support you need and deserve during this emotional time in your life.
Contact a Professional Today
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and you are considering adoption – whether you have just found out you are pregnant or you have already given birth – contact Adoptions With Love today. We can help you right from the hospital bed or meet you where you are to help you make an adoption plan that meets your needs. We never charge birth parents any fees and offer comprehensive adoption services you deserve. Call us any time of day, any day of the week at 800-722-7731, text us confidentially at 617-777-0072, or contact us online.
