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Adoption is a positive, thoughtful decision. It is about placing the needs of your baby before your own wants. If you are navigating an unplanned pregnancy, you may be considering adoption. While you may not have planned to become pregnant, you are already thinking like a loving and selfless parent.
You may not be prepared to become a parent right now, but you can take charge of this situation now. With the support of the right adoption agency, you can plan your baby’s adoption. This can be an overwhelming time in your life, but it is important to know that there are resources available. You do not have to face this situation on your own.
While you are considering adoption, you may also have many questions. You have come to the right place. In this short guide, we will highlight the difference between open and closed adoptions, what to know about the adoption process, and success stories for those who have faced the same circumstances.
Before Choosing Adoption
Before making any decisions regarding your pregnancy, it is important to take the time to consider your options. The best decision is an informed one. Depending on your location, you can choose from the following:
- Adoption
- Parenthood
- Abortion – If your state has restricted or banned abortions, you can travel to another state. There are support groups to assist with travel and financial coverage for this path.
While you may feel that adoption is the best choice for you and your child, it is important to take the time to weigh your options carefully. It can help to speak with a trusted friend or family member for advice, and a trustworthy adoption professional can also offer helpful information.
You can also turn to resources to learn more about adoption and how the adoption process works. Knowledge is power, and you can empower yourself to make the right decision for your future.
It is also important to remember that, while friends and family can serve as comforting sounding boards, this is your decision. Only you can know what is best for you and your baby. Take the time to consider your choices, pray, or meditate about it, learn all you can, and then make the decision that feels right for you.
What to Know About Adoption
Adoption is a life-changing experience. It is one that comes with many emotional highs and lows and can evoke many unexpected feelings for expectant/birth parents.
The first and most important step of the adoption process is to find a great adoption agency that you can trust. This professional should be available for one-on-one support and offer you the time and care you deserve. The right adoption agency will also listen to your wishes and walk you through the adoption process with patience, understanding, and love.
A private adoption agency can also offer you the supportive services you need. This includes counseling services, legal support, and even financial assistance. At Adoptions With Love, expectant/birth parents planning adoption have access to the following services:
- Financial support, including a deposit and several months of rent, utilities, phone bills, transportation, food bills, and even maternity clothes, as needed.
- Medical care. We can help you find a midwife or doctor with whom you feel comfortable, and cover any uninsured medical expenses related to the pregnancy and birth, as needed, reimbursed after the adoption is complete.
- Adoption design support. Our team of adoption professionals can help you custom design an adoption plan that meets your needs and helps you feel comfortable with – and confident in – the adoption plan.
- Counseling services. Expectant/birth parents are urged to pursue counseling before and after the adoption is complete.
- Legal support. Our team of adoption attorneys can help you understand your rights, the adoption process, and ensure that your adoption is handled smoothly, safely, and legally.
- Ongoing support. We continue to check in with birth parents after the adoption is complete.
Choosing adoption means choosing a bright future ahead. It also means having even more empowering options from which to choose. At Adoptions With Love, for example, expectant/birth parents can choose from the following types of adoption plans:
As the name suggests, closed adoption is closed from communication. This means there is no identifying information or contact shared between birth and adoptive families. For some, this type of adoption plan feels right because it offers a sense of anonymity and privacy. It can also feel, for some, like a fresh start once the adoption is complete.
The most common type of adoption plan today is open adoption. This type of plan can look different for every family, but it simply means there is direct and ongoing communication between birth and adoptive families. This may feel right for you if you want to see your child grow and progress over the years. It can also feel like a comfortable choice if you wish to build a relationship with your child in the future. Choosing open adoption also means having the power to choose your child’s adoptive family.
A semi-open adoption falls somewhere between a closed and open adoption plan. You may opt to choose your child’s adoptive parent(s), but then keep communication strictly between the adoption agency. You may wish to have the adoption agency serve as a liaison between you and your child’s adoptive parents. There is no right or wrong choice or plan when it comes to adoption. You can choose the type of plan that best meets your needs.
Have More Questions About Adoption?
Successful Adoption Stories
As you consider adoption, it can be helpful – and comforting – to read success stories of the birth parents who have come before you. Many adoption agencies share stories on their websites for expectant/birth parents to read.
Here are a few quotes from birth mothers who have lovingly placed their babies for adoption at Adoptions With Love:
“…all these years later I can look back and find myself so very grateful for AWL, the adoptive parents who have taken extraordinary care of my daughter and also for the life I have been able to map out for myself. The decision to place my baby for adoption still stands as the most difficult decision of my life but it was also the best, for her and for me. I have so much appreciation for the life my daughter has and all of the opportunity that her parents were able to provide that I know I would not have been able to.” – Carma
“…Ultimately, I decided to become part of the Adoptions With Love family despite researching many similar organizations. I chose them because they treated me with respect, they were responsive, they did not push me, they were calling me to see how I was doing, and most importantly, they developed a plan that fit around my unique needs and dreams. I was not a “cog” in their “machine.” AWL staff recognized me as a person, challenged me, comforted me, and ultimately supported me through the toughest decision I have ever had to make. Now that decision has become the best decision I have ever made. I haven’t regretted that decision since.” – Katy
You can also read about Birth Mother Madison’s successful adoption story, wherein Madison and her boyfriend have remained close with their son’s adoptive family since his birth. They have enjoyed conversations via text messaging, FaceTime, and multiple in-person visits. Learn more about their story here.
Explore Your Adoption Options
If you are considering adoption and would like to learn even more about the adoption process, contact Adoptions With Love today. We can help walk you through the adoption journey with ease, respect, and dignity. Call us any time: 617-964-4357, text us (confidentially): 617-777-0072, or contact us online.