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Text: 617-777-0072
[Adoption is Not Giving Up]
Making a plan to place your baby for adoption is just that – a plan for your child’s future. The phrase “give baby up for adoption” is not used by the adoption community anymore, as it does not fit with what adoption truly means. Adoption is a loving and selfless choice. It means putting your child’s needs before your own. If you are looking to “give your baby up for adoption in Maryland,” then you are already taking your child’s best interest into consideration. Adoption is anything but giving up. It is giving your baby a future, full of opportunity and love.
Whether you are living in Baltimore, Annapolis, Ocean City, or anywhere in between – you can get the help and support you deserve. Read on for tips on how to make an adoption plan for your baby in Maryland.
How to Put a Baby Up for Adoption in Maryland
1. Consider Your Options and Meet with a Professional
Before contacting an adoption agency, consider what you want to do regarding your unplanned pregnancy. Expectant/birth parents in Maryland have the following options:
- Parenthood
- Abortion
- Adoption
Learn more about your adoption options with the help of an adoption counselor. Meeting with an adoption professional does not mean you will be obligated to choose adoption. This professional can offer you educational, unbiased information about each of your options in Maryland – including parenthood, adoption, and termination.
Take some time to weigh your options and determine which path will be best for you. Every pregnancy is different, and you must do what works best with your medical needs, your wishes, and your life plans. If you wish to give baby up for adoption in Maryland, keep reading.
2. Choose an adoption agency in Maryland.
The first step to place a baby for adoption in Maryland is to find a reputable adoption agency with whom you feel comfortable. This is a critical part of the adoption journey, as your adoption specialist will guide you through every step of the process.
With a full-service adoption agency, you can rest assured that your adoption will be handled professionally and safely. Your child will be in good hands when working with an experienced adoption organization.
3. Learn About the Different Adoption Plans Offered in Maryland
As you consider adoption, consider the type of adoption you would like for your baby. Many expectant/birth mothers today choose to make an open adoption plan, but you can choose whatever will make you the most comfortable. With adoption in Maryland, you can choose between:
Your adoption specialist can help you design an adoption plan that meets your unique needs. You can choose the form and frequency of which you maintain contact with your child’s adoptive family. Before sitting down to make your adoption plan, consider what you envision for the relationship between you and your child’s adoptive family.
- Would you like to meet or speak with the adoptive family before making your choice?
- Would you like to stay in contact with your child’s family over the years?
- If so, would you like to stay connected via text messaging or emails? Or, would you rather catch up on the phone or on video calls?
- How often do you wish to have contact, if at all?
- Do you wish to have direct contact with the family, or would you prefer your adoption agency to mediate any communication?
Your adoption specialist can help you navigate the type of communication you maintain to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in your decision.
Post-adoption contact agreements are signed by the birth and adoptive parents and are legally binding documents. They can, however, be tweaked over the years to accommodate a growing child.
4. Choose an Adoptive Family
Once you have found an adoption agency you can trust, you will have the opportunity to select your baby’s adoptive parents. You can browse the profiles of the many hopeful adoptive parents who are ready to raise and love a child. These profiles include personal letters, information, and photos of the adoptive family. If you have more questions about the potential parent(s), you can ask your adoption agency or request to contact them directly, if you wish.
One of the many benefits of working with a full-service adoption agency is the fact that adoptive families all go through a thorough screening process. At Adoptions With Love, every prospective adoptive family must complete the Home Study. This several months-long process includes multiple background checks and screenings, at-home visits and interviews, and the examining of important medical and financial records. The Home Study ensures that every baby is going to be in a safe, stable, healthy, and loving family environment.
5. Understand Maryland’s Adoption Laws
Adoption laws vary by state. It is important, when making an adoption plan in Maryland, to choose an adoption agency that can provide you with experienced adoption attorneys who are specifically trained within Maryland. You can find these professionals who will work with you to ensure you are making an informed decision, knowledgeable of your rights as a birth parent.
It is important to check in with your adoption professional for legal advice regarding the adoption and any adoption laws in Maryland. The right adoption agency will provide you with a Maryland adoption attorney completely free of charge.
6. Create a Birth Plan
If you have not yet given birth, you can also determine how your birth experience will go while in the hospital. For example:
- Would you like the adoptive parents in the delivery room?
- Would you like to be the first one to hold the baby?
- Do you want time alone with the baby after the birth?
This is another part of the adoption journey with which your adoption specialist can help you. YOU are the one in the driver’s seat, and YOU can determine what kind of birth and recovery experience you have.
7. Create a Post-Adoption Plan
Adoption is a lifelong journey. It does not end once the adoption papers are signed, or when a judge has approved the adoption in family court. One of the biggest benefits of open adoption is that you are not saying “goodbye forever.” With an , you can form a lifelong bond with your child’s adoptive family and rest assured that your child is being raised in a home that is safe, stable, and full of love and opportunity. You can also enjoy seeing your child grow over the years, whether you get photo updates or annual in-person visits.
You can also plan to stay connected with your adoption professional. At Adoptions With Love, our birth mothers are family. We offer compassionate counseling services after the adoption is finalized and as you continue to heal.
You can be confident that you will always have a family to connect with, and you can also rest assured that your child is growing up in a healthy environment, being loved by two families instead of one.
What You Should Know About Giving Up a Baby for Adoption in Maryland
When can birth parents give a baby up for adoption?
If you want to place baby for adoption in Maryland, you should know that you cannot sign any legal adoption consent forms until after the baby is born. This gives you time to meet your baby first and be confident this decision is the best one for you and your child. Check with your adoption agency for more information regarding Maryland adoption laws.
What rights does the birth father have during the adoption process?
Maryland uses a putative father registry – also known as a paternity registry – for men who voluntarily acknowledge their paternity for a child born outside of wedlock. If a birth father does acknowledge paternity through the system, he has parental rights to the child. You can contact your adoption agency for guidance with the birth father’s rights should you have any concerns about this.
Can birth mothers get paid to place their baby for adoption in Maryland?
While birth mothers cannot get paid to place their baby for adoption in Maryland, they can receive assistance and reasonable medical and legal expenses, as well as adoption counseling.
At Adoptions With Love, expectant/birth mothers who give up baby for adoption in Maryland have the following free services:
- Financial assistance with utilities, phone, maternity clothing and more
- Assistance custom-designing an adoption plan that meets your needs
- Housing assistance. We can pay a deposit and several months of rent
- Complete counseling services by compassionate and experienced professionals Medical care. Adoptions With Love will cover any uninsured medical expenses when you complete the adoption.
- Legal assistance provided by experienced lawyers who specialize in adoption
- Ongoing contact through pictures and letters from the adoptive family of your child over the years
Learn more about our Maryland adoption agency here.
If you would like to learn more about the adoption process in Maryland, contact Adoptions With Love today. 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. We are here and ready to help you make an open adoption plan that works best for your individual needs.