How to Adopt an Infant in Massachusetts

Welcoming a baby is an incredible, life-changing experience. If you are looking into infant adoption in Massachusetts, you have come to the right place. You are growing your family in a beautiful way. Not all families are made from DNA; most of all, families are built on love.

If you are looking to adopt an infant or newborn, you are likely considering private adoption in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This means you will adopt from a private adoption agency that is licensed by the Commonwealth. Private adoption agencies work directly with pregnant women, as well as those who have just given birth, to find the best possible families for their babies. They provide the expectant/birth mothers with care and counseling throughout the adoption journey. They also provide personalized services to hopeful adoptive parents in Massachusetts, to help ensure the best possible match. You can learn more here.

As exciting as it is to adopt a baby, it can also feel a bit overwhelming. Understanding what it takes to adopt and raise an infant — and what to expect during the process – is important. Read on, as we share the steps to take when adopting an infant in Massachusetts.

1. Find an Adoption Agency

The first step for prospective parents in Massachusetts is to find a reputable adoption agency that offers newborn adoptions. You will want to consider the type of adoption you are seeking for your family. For example, are you looking to adopt a child within the U.S., or are you interested in pursuing an international adoption? For infant adoption, many parents choose to work with a local adoption agency. Adoptions With Love, for example, is a private, domestic, full-service adoption agency based in Massachusetts. We work with expectant/birth parents from all over the country, and with prospective adoptive parents only in the Bay State. This means that the search pool is much bigger for you and that a match can happen more quickly than with national adoption agencies.

2. Figure Out Finances

Bringing a child into your life is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can be expensive. Just like any other chapter in life – college, marriage, home buying – raising a child comes with a cost. This is inevitable whether parents bring a baby into their lives through adoption, surrogacy, IVF, or conception

Adoptions With Love is a full-service adoption agency, and uses a one-time, all-inclusive fee for prospective parents. This fee covers everything needed for the many services involved in adoption, including counseling and medical care for the birth mother. This one-time fee makes it possible for you to know exactly how much this adoption will cost with no financial surprises at the end. Take some time to consider your financial situation before taking any more steps. Some adoptive parents choose to save up for a while, others refinance or take out a loan or mortgage. Click here for 10 ways to save for adoption. Adoptions With Love subsidizes adoptions according to a family’s income and there are many local and national grants where you can apply.

3. Prepare for the Home Study

The Massachusetts home study can take several months to complete. This important step ensures that a prospective adoptive family is healthy and stable enough– emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially – to raise a child. Before this process begins, you will need to compile important documentation that your adoption agency will need, such as tax returns, medical records, proof of insurance, etc. You should also prepare for home visits and in-person or Zoom interviews. In addition to your adoption specialist getting to know you, this process helps you get to know them better, as well. This home study is an educational process so that you can understand the process of adoption and what you can expect along the way.

4. Build Your Family Profile

During the home study process, you can put together your adoptive family profile book. This is a booklet of letters, photos, and information about you and your family. This profile is what expectant/birth mothers will look through when choosing their child’s adoptive parents. Be sure to include your family’s story, a mix of professional and candid photos, stories of family vacations, adventures, passions, and hobbies – everything that makes your family special. Your adoption agency can help guide you in making your adoptive family profile, as you go through this process.

5. Prepare for Parenthood

As you wait to be matched with a birth/expectant mother, you will have some time to prepare for parenthood. If this is your first child, you will want to take advantage of this time to take infant and parenting classes. An infant adoption agency can refer you to the right classes and help you connect with other adoptive parent support groups. Don’t cheat yourself out of this “expectant waiting period for your baby.”  Enjoy it and use the time to prepare baby’s nursery or register for much-needed baby items. If you enjoy travel, you may want to take a trip – or a “babymoon” – before baby’s big arrival.

6. Meet Your Child’s Birth Parent(s)

Before – or after – your child’s birth parent has chosen you, they may want to meet you. This will help them get a better sense of who you are and how you will raise your child. You may choose to meet in person, chat over the phone, or simply exchange correspondence online. Your adoption agency can help guide you through this step and can even help arrange the meeting. Meeting your child’s birth parent can also help you feel more connected to your child and feel more prepared going into the adoption.

7. Finalize the Adoption Plan

Your adoption plan is just that – a plan for how your adoption arrangement will be between you and your child’s birth parent(s). Most adoptions today are open adoptions. This means there is ongoing communication between the adoptive and birth parent(s). Your child’s birth parent will choose whether to have an open, semi-open, or closed adoption.

8. Continue Your Adoption Journey

Once the adoption is complete and baby is home with your family, you will want to continue to grow and learn about adoption. Adoption is a life-changing, ongoing, lifelong journey. You will have ongoing conversations with your child – as they grow – about their adoption story. There are many books and other resources to help you navigate this experience. Your adoption agency can also serve as an important resource throughout your child’s upbringing.

If you are looking to adopt an infant in Massachusetts, contact Adoptions With Love today. Our 35+ years of experience can help guide you through this exciting journey. Call us at 617-964-4357 or contact us online.