Why Do People Choose Adoption?

Adoption is rooted in love. Whether you are considering this path or you are already in the process, adoption is a choice that comes from devotion, compassion, and love. There are many common reasons why people want to adopt.

The following highlights some of the reasons behind choosing adoption. Some may speak to you and your circumstances, and some may present new ideas that you have not yet considered. You can use this as a guide to inspire you along your adoption journey.

If you are just getting started, contact Adoptions With Love for support. We can help you adopt a baby and work with you every step along the way.

Understanding the Many Paths to Adoption

Just as there is more than one way to grow a family, there is more than one path toward adoption. The following is a brief outline of the several types of adoptions that prospective adoptive families may choose:

Private Domestic Adoption

This is the most common path for those looking to adopt a baby within the U.S. With a private domestic adoption, every aspect of the adoption is carefully planned and overseen by a fully licensed adoption agency. This professional handles the emotional support by offering counseling services to both adoptive and birth parents, medical care and financial assistance for the birth mother, guidance on building a post-adoption contact agreement, and legal aspects of the adoption itself. Every element of the adoption is free for birth mothers, and there is one flat fee for adoptive parents. This fee covers everything that is needed to handle the adoption – from the prenatal care and birth to the matching services and support between birth and adoptive families. With private domestic adoption, families are often matched with an expectant mother or with a birth mother who has recently given birth.

Learn More About Private Adoption Agencies

Foster Care Adoption

Foster care is a state-run program meant to protect children who cannot live with their birth parents. It is the temporary and permanent placement of children who have been removed from their homes due to unacceptable or unsafe living conditions. With foster care, birth parents’ rights are revoked – sometimes temporarily – and the child is placed in another home. Foster care is not a choice made by an expectant/birth mother.

This type of adoption can be an option for those looking to adopt without expenses, but it carries with it the risk of the child being returned to live with their birth parents or another biological relative.

International Adoption

An international adoption involves the adoption of children born and living in a country outside of the U.S., brought home by the adoptive parents to live with them permanently. This type of adoption has declined over the past few years, as many countries prioritize domestic adoption and implement stricter regulations.

Infertility and Medical Challenges

One of the most common reasons why people want to adopt is due to infertility or physical limitations. Many opposite-sex couples face medical challenges when it comes to having a biological child. Infertility can stem from female factors, male factors, or a combination of the two. The causes may include age, health status and/or disabilities, lifestyle impacts, or – in many causes – the cause may be unknown. Some couples struggle to conceive, while others cannot carry a baby to term, meaning they get pregnant, but it results in a miscarriage or stillbirth.

A Desire to Help a Child in Need

Another common reason for choosing adoption is the simple desire to care for a child. Many want to adopt because they know there are plenty of children in need of good homes. When questioned about biological children, some think: ‘Why would I bring another child into this world when there are so many in need of a home right now?’ This mentality inspires many adoptive families to choose adoption.

Building or Expanding a Family

Some families choose to grow their family in multiple ways – having biological children and adopting, as well. For some families, adoption is a place to start. For others, it might be the way they expand their family after having one biological child (or multiple children). There is no right or wrong way to grow a family.

Avoiding Genetic or Hereditary Concerns

Our genes play a key role in our lives. Raising a child involves navigating a unique set of physical, mental, and emotional health considerations regarding genetics and hereditary concerns. Prospective parents often take these vital factors into consideration when they decide to grow their family. Choosing adoption is a way for many to spare a child from complex or negative health outcomes due to a family’s medical history, making this one of the most common reasons why people want to adopt.

Adoption is a Positive, Lifelong Choice

As any adoptive family could tell you, family is made from love, not DNA. Adoption is a positive path toward parenthood and can offer families a lifetime of meaningful memories and experiences. If you are considering this journey, or you have already decided you are choosing adoption, you can look forward to a bright and happy future. Adoptions With Love can help you navigate the adoption process with ease. Call 617-964-4357 or contact us online to get started.