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Making an adoption plan for a child is a selfless and loving decision. It is not an easy one, and it is not the right path for everyone. If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy in Arizona, and you are not yet ready to parent, you may be considering this option. You may be researching how to “give my baby up for adoption Arizona.” *The first thing to know is that adoption is not giving up.
Choosing to make an adoption plan is something that requires strength, devotion, and unwavering love. You are trying to ensure your child has a better life than the one you can provide, at this time. You are placing your child’s needs before your own wants. While it is common to hear the term “give your baby up for adoption,” it is not the term the adoption community uses today. Instead, we describe it as “placing baby for adoption.” To place your baby for adoption in Arizona is to give your child a chance at a wonderful life – full of love, stability, and opportunity.
As you consider your pregnancy options, read on. In this short guide, we will break down how to give your baby up for adoption in Arizona.
Step 1. Decide Whether Adoption is Right for You
Navigating an unplanned pregnancy is a life-changing experience. Whether you are a young student or someone who simply never planned to have kids, it can feel as though your world has been flipped upside down. The first step to take is to consider your options. You have three basic choices when it comes to your pregnancy in Arizona:
- Parenthood
- Abortion has changed today
- Adoption
Anyone who is not yet ready to parent but does not wish to – or cannot – have an abortion may consider adoption. Adoption is not an alternative to abortion. It can, however, offer young mothers the chance to continue their lives, working toward personal and professional goals, while offering the peace of mind that their child is safe, healthy, and well-loved. Adoption offers expectant/birth mothers many benefits, but it is not always an easy choice to make. It is one that requires thought, research, and self-reflection.
Step 2: Find an Adoption Agency in Arizona You Trust
The first real step toward adoption is to find an Arizona adoption agency with whom you can trust. There are many types of adoption agencies out there, but the best adoption agencies in Arizona will support you and make your health and well-being the top priority. This adoption professional will also listen to your concerns, wishes, and needs, and treat you with the respect, dignity, and compassion you deserve.
The right adoption agency will also offer you supportive services at no cost, including:
- Housing assistance, including a deposit and several months of rent.
- Other living expenses, such as utilities, phone bills, and maternity clothes, as needed.
- Legal services with experienced Arizona adoption attorneys.
- Comprehensive counseling services, before and after the adoption is complete.
- Adoption planning support, to help you custom design an adoption plan that best meets your needs.
- Ongoing support. Adoption does not end once the paperwork is signed, and your adoption agency should feel the same about your relationship.
The best Arizona adoption agencies will support you throughout the adoption journey. You should never feel pressured or judged when it comes to any pregnancy or adoption decisions you make. To get a sense of how you will be treated, contact an adoption agency to set up a consultation or in-person meeting. These conversations are always obligation-free and can be considered purely informational.
You should always have access to adoption attorneys who are well versed in Arizona adoption laws. These professionals can help keep you informed of your rights as an expectant/birth parent. They can walk you through the adoption process and answer any questions you may have. In the State of Arizona, for example, an expectant/birth parent cannot sign consent forms until 72 hours after the baby’s birth.
Step 3: Choose an Adoptive Family
Adoption is empowering to expectant/birth mothers. It gives you the power to select the perfect adoptive family for your child. This is your child’s adoption. You are in charge. You decide who will raise your baby. At Adoptions With Love, there are many individuals and couples ready to adopt. Every single prospective adoptive parent must complete the home study. This is a process that takes several months to complete. This study assures you that your child is going to a safe, stable, and loving home. The home study entails thorough screenings and background checks, multiple home visits and interviews of each person in the household, and the review of important medical and financial documents. This guarantees that every child is placed in a home that is healthy – physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially.
You can browse the profiles of adoptive families ready to adopt with Adoptions With Love. You can also ask for even more information about the potential families. You can speak with them – or meet them in person – before making your decision.
Step 4: Design Your Child’s Adoption
With the help of an Arizona adoption agency, you can lovingly design an adoption plan that best meets your needs. You can choose between the following types of adoption plans:
Most adoptions today are open adoption. This can look different for every family, but – put simply – it means there is ongoing communication between birth and adoptive families. You can determine the form and frequency of contact and your adoption agency can help you design the plan that will work best for you. If you would like, you can choose to stay connected with your child’s adoptive family through emails a few times a year. If you choose to make a deeper connection with your child’s adoptive family, you may choose to have phone calls or in-person reunions. You may decide that you want to choose your child’s adoptive family but keep any communication between the adoption agency. There is no right or wrong way to make an adoption plan. The decisions are all yours.
Step 5: Make a Birthing Plan
Another set of choices expectant/birth parents have related to the birthing experience itself. Your adoption agency can help you design a birth plan that best meets your needs. Before sitting down to write your birth plan, ask yourself questions, such as:
- Who should be in the delivery room with me?
- Who will hold the baby first?
- Do I want time alone with the baby after the birth?
Some expectant/birth parents choose to allow the adoptive parents in the delivery room. Others want privacy and that is understandable, as well. Whatever you decide, your Arizona adoption agency should support you and ensure that your needs are met with compassion and respect.
Step 6: Consider the Next Chapter
Once the adoption is complete – you may feel that you can move forward to the next chapter of your life. The recovery process – physically and emotionally – takes time. Adoptions With Love encourages all birth mothers to continue their counseling services. As you begin to heal, you can start to work on your own goals. Your personal and professional dreams may be pursued, all while knowing that your child is well cared for and loved. Thanks to open adoption, choosing to place a baby for adoption in Arizona is no longer a goodbye. It is, in fact, the beginning of an incredible journey.
Learn More About Adoption in Arizona
If you would like to learn even more about how to “give your baby up for adoption Arizona” (remember: Adoption is NOT giving up!) contact Adoptions With Love today. Call 800-722-7731, text 617-777-0072, or contact us online.