Is Adoption Good for My Baby?

Making an adoption plan for your child can be an emotional roller coaster. When you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may feel overwhelmed. This is not what you had planned, and this may not be what you wanted right now. The good news is that you have options, and you can make a positive and responsible choice. One of those options, of course, is making an adoption plan for your child.

Many expectant/birth mothers grapple with fears during their unplanned pregnancies. One of those fears is the simple question, “Is adoption good for a child?” You want to make the best choice, and you want to be confident in your decision. Some mothers worry about their child’s future, and how adoption will affect their course of life. Some worry, “What will my child think of me?” 

These are all completely normal sentiments to have when pregnant and considering making an adoption plan. The good news is adoption is a wonderful option. It brings many positive outcomes for both children and their families. Here, we will share some of the top reasons adoption is a  good choice.

Why Adoption is Good for Expectant/Birth Mothers 

Adoption benefits everyone who is touched by it – birth parents, adoptive parents, and adopted children. Studies have shown that women who lovingly place their child for adoption go on to live a very fulfilling life. When compared to single moms who decide to parent their child, birth moms who place their child for adoption are:

• More likely to finish school
• More likely to have higher educational aspirations
• More likely to delay marriage
• More likely to be employed one year after giving birth
• Less likely to get divorced in the future
• Less likely to have another single-parent pregnancy
• Less likely to struggle with mental health issues, such as depression

One of the biggest advantages for expectant/birth mothers who choose adoption for their child is the possibility to have a relationship with their child. Open adoption today is more common than ever before. In fact, 95 percent of expectant/birth mothers choose to have an open adoption plan. This means that you can choose the adoptive parents for your child, and you may maintain a relationship with them – and possibly your child – for many years to come.

Children who are adopted also enjoy many benefits from their adoptive status. According to the latest research, more than 90 percent of adopted children over the age of five report having positive feelings about their adoption. More than half of adopted children enjoy dinner with their family daily. They are also more likely to:

• Be read to every day as young children
• Be sung to and/or told stories on a daily basis
• Participate in extra-curricular activities in the school-age years

Adoption is an Act of Love

There is no question that adoption is an act of pure, selfless love. While it may feel, at times, as though you are “giving up” your child for adoption – this is nowhere near the truth. Adoption is not giving up; it is giving your child opportunities in life that you are not able to provide. In fact, you are giving your child an incredible opportunity to live a life full of love and happiness, all in a safe and stable home that you decide upon for him or her. 

Many expectant/birth mothers worry about how their child will cope with the adoption later in life. Many fear their child will grow up to feel hurt or resentful of their birth mother. This is another idea that is not correct . Adoption has evolved over the years. It is no longer the taboo, secretive topic it once was. In fact, 99 percent of children today know they are adopted. Adoptive families are encouraged to discuss adoption openly and positively with their child right from the very beginning, so there is no  surprise or negative feelings tied to their adoption.. Which leads us to our next point…

Why Adoption is Good for Children

Here are some more reasons adoptions are good. Children who are adopted enjoy some of the best perks of the adoption equation. For one, they are given the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable and loving home. They receive unconditional love from their parents, who want nothing more than to raise a child. From this love and devotion, they reap many benefits such as having:

• More one-on-one attention from, and time with, parents
• More opportunities and resources, such as great education
• Higher academic achievement
• More involvement in school activities
• Very good physical and mental health (about 85 percent of adopted children are in excellent or very good health today)

Despite popular belief that adopted children have more problems, they are reported to be as well-adjusted as their peers, if not more so. 

Because more children know they were adopted and have positive feelings about it, they can grow up knowing they are loved by two sets of parents. Their pool of family is doubled, and they can grow up confident and happy with their permanent, loving family. Many children who end up in foster care are deprived of this opportunity, since they can be bounced around between homes and age out of the system before finding their forever home. Your child can also thank you later for giving them such a good  life!

There are so many reasons adoption is good. Once you have decided to make an adoption plan for your child, you can begin to think about all of these reasonings and look forward to a brighter future for both yourself and your child.

If you are an expectant/birth parent and have any questions about the adoption process, please contact Adoptions With Love. Our loving staff can speak with you any day of the week, or any time of day. Just give us a call at 1-800-722-7731, text us confidentially at 617-777-0072, or email us at: info@awlonline.org.