How to Make a Last-Minute Adoption Plan from the Hospital

Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be overwhelming. It can feel like a scary and lonely time in your life. Amidst everything you are feeling, you may be trying to decide on your options. You may be considering whether to place your child for adoption. This is a difficult decision to reach. For some, they may feel they need more time to make that final call.

Making an adoption plan for your child is a brave, loving and selfless decision. If you are considering adoption for your baby, you may feel that you have a looming deadline: Your due date. Whether you are in your third trimester or have already given birth, know that it is not too late to make an adoption plan. Some birth mothers make their decision right from their hospital room after delivery. If this sounds like something you may be doing soon, take comfort and read on. Here, we will share a “how to” guide on how to make a last-minute adoption plan.

1. Contact a Trustworthy Adoption Agency

Your first step will be finding a reputable licensed adoption agency who can carry out the adoption. Even if you decide to make your adoption plan from the hospital, you can still benefit from the support of a trustworthy adoption agency. Adoption agencies have already approved many families waiting to adopt and can match you with the perfect family for your baby. An adoption agency can also help you complete adoption paperwork, and ensure your adoption is both legal and safe. Most of all, an adoption agency can help support you emotionally and financially after giving birth.

Adoptions With Love is a private, non-profit adoption agency that has been working with expectant/birth mothers since 1986. We can help you make your last-minute adoption plan right from the hospital. We will meet you, wherever you are, to walk you through the process if and when you are ready.

2. Find and Reach Out to Your Child’s Adoptive Family

Even when making a last-minute adoption plan, you have the right to choose a family for your baby. Your adoption agency can help you through this process. Adoptions With Love can share profiles and information about prospective adoptive families. Our waiting families have gone through extensive background checks and home study interviews, to ensure they can offer your precious baby a safe, stable, and loving home.

While you may feel rushed to make a decision, take time to look at adoptive parent profiles and think about what you want for your baby. Choosing the right family can give you great peace of mind. Of course, you can rest assured that any family you choose at AWL will be ready and able to offer your child a secure, loving home full of opportunities.

If you would like, you can also speak with – and, perhaps meet – your chosen adoptive family before the adoption. You may decide to chat with them on the phone on their way to the hospital. This way, you have a better sense of who they are and how they will raise your child.

3. Decide on Your Adoption Plan

Even a last-minute adoption can be made with care and attention to detail. When you make an adoption plan – no matter where or when you decide to do it – you can still determine the type of adoption plan that makes you comfortable. You may choose between an open adoption, a semi-open adoption, or a closed adoption plan.

Having an open adoption means you will maintain a relationship with the adoptive family. Your adoption professional can talk you through your options and help you determine the plan that best suits your needs. Perhaps you would like letters and pictures or an email update with photos once or twice a year. Or maybe you would like to have a phone call every few months. Whatever you decide, you have the power to create this adoption plan. You can make a plan that makes you happy and keeps you connected to your child, if you wish.

Most adoptions today are open, but if you decide that you would like a closed adoption – which involves staying anonymous – that is okay, too. Your adoption professional can walk you through this decision right from the comfort of your hospital room.

Once you have determined your adoption plan, you can take comfort in knowing that your adoption professional will take care of the rest. At Adoptions With Love, our attorneys are well-versed with the various adoption laws in each state. They can handle every detail of your child’s adoption to ensure it goes smoothly. These attorney services – like all the adoption services at Adoptions With Love – are free to expectant/birth mothers. Once you leave the hospital, you may choose to use our free counseling services as you heal.

When you are ready, contact Adoptions With Love. We are here for you, no matter when you decide to make an adoption plan. We can meet you in-person, even at the last minute. Contact us toll-free, any time at 1-800-722-7731 or online at https://adoptionswithlove.org/contact-us. You may also learn more in our free eBook: “A Guide to Adoption After Birth.” Download below.